Shamanic realm

I am thanking the Columbia Center for the Arts for the March 21 presentation by Phillip Charette, the Native American artist. His perspective on the band’s shamans was wonderful. His art work is magnificent. A return presentation would be most wonderful. Perhaps a longer lecture?

I noted that there were many questions which Phillip was not at liberty to answer regarding shamanism. As a shamanic practitioner, I am able to answer some of those questions. While my training is in core shamanism as taught by Micheal Harner and Hank Wesselman, I cannot speak to the specifics of Phillip’s shamans, but am able to teach from my base of knowledge. If anyone is interested please feel free to call me before 8 p.m. at (541) 399-3561. If there is enough interest I could make a presentation.

Steve Curtiss
Hood River

Wilderness thanks

I’d like to thank Representatives Greg Walden and Earl Blumenauer as well as Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden for their help passing a new wilderness bill that will protect over 25,000 acres in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

The new wilderness includes the stunning Gorge ridgelines near my home in Cascade Locks. The waters and old-growth forests above Multnomah Falls will now be protected, as will treasured Gorge landscapes like Eagle Creek, Gorton Creek and Oneonta Creek.

Wilderness designation protects our forests from clear cuts and reckless development, safeguards clean drinking water, preserves habitat for wildlife, and ensures that future generations will be able to enjoy the stunning beauty and outstanding natural diversity of the Columbia Gorge, just as we do today.

Carol A. Taylor
Cascade Locks

‘Speed trap’

Okay, not in the sense of the town with the police car behind the billboard waiting for you. But those towns were well-known and words of caution passed at the gas station before you drove through West Virginia, or down to Florida through that town in Georgia, or over on the coast in California.

“Speed” here refers to getting that shopping done in time to avoid a ticket. In a time of increasing dependence on what may be a reduced tourist industry, the mayor’s proposal (five-minute grace period) deserves a second look.

After all, you may have slowed down in those speed-trap towns, but you certainly didn’t stop.

Dick Swart
Hood River

A proud day

Having enjoyed the magnificent scenery and trails in the Columbia River Gorge for over 30 years, it is greatly heartening to me that Congress has protected nearly 26,000 additional acres on the Oregon side of the Gorge with Wilderness designation.

Extending roughly from Angels Rest east to Viento Ridge, much of this new Wilderness adjoins existing wilderness surrounding Mount Hood; this legislation will help ensure preservation of this resource for future generations, and is a statement of our commitment to preserving the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area.

Many trails leading to well-known waterfalls, magnificent stands of old-growth forest, and fields of wildflowers are included in the new wilderness area — Oneonta Creek, Multnomah Creek, Herman Creek, Eagle Creek, Gorton Creek and others.

Oregonians should take pride in this accomplishment and visit this remarkable area often to enjoy this national treasure.

Chris Edwardsen
Portland

Build Afghanistan

The Afghanistan problem is about to become our new Iraq — and we have no strategy to prevent it. Sending in more troops will simply repeat the past failures of the British and the Russians to militarily subdue Afghanistan.

And we should consider the danger to our troops. More “feet on the ground” in the forbidding mountains of Afghanistan could prove disastrous. Afghanistan’s vast and rugged terrain invites ambush around every corner where solders are picked off like so many ducks in a shooting gallery. The terror they live through each day on patrol is unimaginable to anyone who has never experienced it. Upward of 40 percent of those who do make it home spend years disabled with PTSC and suffer the highest rates of suicide.

What needs to happen in Afghanistan is what finally worked in Iraq. We must make a concerted effort to work with the tribal leaders to make the lives of their people safer, healthier and more prosperous.

If they need clean water, we should help them drill wells; schools, we should finance them; roads, we should work side by side to build them; clinics, we should equip them; and jobs, we should create them if necessary. Only then can we help them achieve a better life.

And if this just happens to weaken their loyalty to the Taliban and undercut its power, what better way to conduct Middle Eastern foreign policy?

David C. Duncombe
White Salmon, Wash.

Heart of Hospice facts

As an active member of the Lions Club I have had the opportunity to learn about many organizations and programs in our community, that is why I found the article about Hospice of the Gorge, printed March 18, to be rather misleading.

The article implied that they are the only hospice in our community which provides palliative care. That is not the case at all. Heart of Hospice provides palliative care.

1. It’s a fact that Heart of Hospice has a board-certified palliative care physician, Dr. Sonia Schuemann.

2. It is a fact that Heart of Hospice has been running a palliative care program since May 2008.

3. It’s a fact that Heart of Hospice has the most experienced hospice nursing staff in the Gorge.

Beyond simple facts, it is the caring staff and their “Heart to Heart” program that makes Heart of Hospice different. It is the level of compassionate care and service that sets them above other hospices.

In addition to their hospice and palliative care programs Heart of Hospice has a nonprofit foundation which goes above and beyond expectations. The Heart of Hospice Foundation serves the needs of their patients and families by providing extras that the families cannot afford, and that Medicare will not provide.

1. HOH has provided numerous plane tickets so family members can visit.

2. HOH has built wheelchair ramps for patients.

3. HOH provides lift chairs and Geri chairs for patients.

4. HOH celebrates birthdays and anniversaries with their patients’ family and friends.

5. HOH provides the little extras that define living life.

Heart of Hospice is about living life.

Wayne Tengwall
Hood River