Learning a lesson from the cooperation of penguins

When messages in advertising and politics appear with loaded words to elicit specific responses, it’s important to apply critical thinking skills and ask: Who stands to gain? If the majority responds in the desired, predictable way, then what is the projected outcome?

Unfortunately, much of the messaging in this country focuses on individual success and contentment. As a consequence, little to no concern is being given about chronic systemic problems — and the march toward climate chaos, wealth inequity, and a growing sense of despair will continue.

We need to take a lesson from the penguins of the Antarctic. During every harsh winter, they huddle to keep in their warmth and rotate to the outer edges, thus sharing the risk and the protection. Their survival happens through cooperation and coordination.

It’s time to make a shift, to rise above the values that have led us to this predicament, and to consciously choose to make the common good a priority.

In order to make this shift, consider taking significant actions such as: volunteering, helping neighbors and community, voting, encouraging others to vote, supporting the elections process, and engaging with all levels of government to solve problems.

Like it or not, each of us is part of something bigger — our society — and the choices and actions we are making and taking now have consequences to our collective future. It’s time to critically think about that.

If the penguins can survive, then perhaps we can too.

Flavia Franco / Ashland

Departing Expo manager deserves our gratitude

Before Helen Baker moves on to her next adventure after managing the Jackson County Expo, I want to call out her stellar leadership three years ago when the Almeda and Obenchain fires coursed through our community.

I was at The Expo the day of the fire and for much of the next week, and I watched Helen calmly and effectively manage the chaos that emerged after the disaster.

She identified resources, managed volunteers and response agencies, addressed media needs, and transformed the fairgrounds into an effective emergency response operation. Her above-and-beyond commitment to the welfare of fire survivors got the community through those first desperate days until other agencies could step in. Heartfelt thanks to Helen Baker for her service to us at a time of crisis. We will remain forever grateful.

State Rep. Pam Marsh / Ashland

Broadband availability depends on various factors

High-speed internet is essential for home, business and agricultural needs, but estimates show that there are more than 185,000 unserved and underserved locations across Oregon.

The good news is that Oregon was just allocated $6.9 million in funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program to expand broadband internet to areas across the state.

Oregon officials now have important decisions to make about how that funding will be used to ensure all residents have reliable and fast broadband connectivity. In our experience at U.S. Cellular, we’ve learned that a mix of technologies will be needed so that thousands of people aren’t left unserved.

There are parts of Oregon where fiber will be the right solution, mainly in urban areas where the infrastructure and terrain make it easy and affordable to install. In many rural areas, 5G fixed wireless (FWA), using cellular technology to provide both home broadband and mobile connectivity, is best because one cell site can serve multiple locations without having to dig up long distances to avoid crop fields or hanging aerial fiber on unevenly spread poles over rocky terrain.

Importantly, these decisions aren’t an either/or between wireline or wireless, fiber or 5G FWA, urban or rural. When considering how to connect Oregon residents, we all must think in terms of “and” instead of “or.”

We urge state officials to keep open the option to use all available, reliable solutions to get Oregon connected as they take advantage of its allocated BEAD funding.

Erryn Andersen / Medford U.S. Cellular