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OUR VIEW Our View: Cheers to rain, jeers to rewriting history MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 11, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Dec. 11, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Cheers: To the rain and, especially, the snow that is making our daily commutes a bit more difficult and our outside chores occasionally miserable. We'll take whatever form of liquid abuse Mother Nature wishes to visit upon us, if it helps refresh our natural environment, restore our aquifers, cover our mountaintops in snow and fill our reservoirs. We should perhaps moderate our acceptance somewhat and humbly request that we are not treated to the amount of rain Portland has received in the past week. It's one thing to fill your reservoirs, something entirely different when you fill your streets and basements. Nevertheless, we'll happily accept the water in our shoes and drips down our necks, if it helps us limit the use of the D-word in the coming year. Jeers: To those who try to rewrite history by applying modern standards to centuries-old characters and deeds. At the University of Oregon, a group of students is trying to have the name of Deady Hall changed, because UO founder Matthew Deady was a racist who supported slavery. In the mid-18th century. What Deady believed and espoused is reprehensible to the modern mind, but was not so different from a vast number of his peers at the time. In fact, a majority of Oregonians at that time voted to ban free black people from the state. Those actions were a reflection of the times and the failings of a civilization that viewed everything and everyone as something to be exploited. But if we're going to start removing names of historical figures who were associated with slavery or any number of now-repugnant beliefs, we're going to have a lot of removing to do. We could start with the state of Washington and our nation's capital, whose namesake was a slave owner. Then there's the State of Jefferson ... . Cheers: To the organizers and members of the West Side Beautification Committee, who are making a visible difference in their neighborhoods by doing what it takes to clean up the trash and create more connections among neighbors. The effort grew out of some moms picking up trash along the route their children walked to school and has grown to include hundreds of neighbors and other supporters — nearly 1,000 are now members of the group's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/groups/westsidebeauty . Organizers like Randi Brock, Alastair Weston and Wendy Meri are taking to the streets and yards of the area with rakes, brooms, bags and determination. Last Saturday, in what was dubbed the "West Mess-ford Holiday Clean-up Event," participants hauled away everything from mattresses and couches to soggy leaves. And they are just getting started: See the Facebook page for details, or help them out with a donation at www.gofundme.com/westsidebeauty . Cheers: To the many, many, many organizations and people who are stepping up to help the less-fortunate at this time of year. This is a cheer, so we don't want to lecture, but if you aren't among those stepping up, what are you waiting for? MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 11, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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