Mightier than the Sword

In 1970, a shy, somewhat introverted 13-year-old stood up before his classmates in the school auditorium to encourage them to write letters to Governor Tom McCall asking him to stop the proposed multi-lane highway up the Deschutes River from Maupin to Whitehorse Rapids and beyond. I'm sure most of the students present had never seen Whitehorse or any of the basalt canyons framing Oregon's iconic river or had much interest in the wild Redsides that had become so important to this young advocate. Still, the students did write letters and mailed them to the governor's office, with a few, no doubt, being spell-checked by parents, teachers, and other voting-age adults. That year, Oregonians decided to protect special waterways when they voted two-to-one to establish the Oregon Scenic Waterways Program, paving the way for the Deschutes River to be federally protected through the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1988, again by a vote of the people of Oregon.

When wielded effectively, the pen is indeed mightier than the sword. When carefully arranged on paper, words drawn from experience and the heart have a lasting impact. They carry a sense of formality that cannot be erased with the stroke of a delete key. Once written, these words continue to resonate in the hearts and minds of both the author and readers, making your letters a powerful tool for change.

While dismissing the power of a single letter is easy, the power of many voices is hard to ignore. Your words are needed once again to save the Deschutes. Your contribution is crucial, and your action is valued in this collective effort to protect the river.

Our friends at the Deschutes River Alliance are asking everyone who loves the Deschutes to write to Governor Kotek, encouraging her to do something to save the river. The Deschutes River is not just a body of water but a vital part of our ecosystem and a source of beauty and inspiration for Oregonians and visitors. We must let our elected officials know how important the river is, and we need her to hold the Department of Environmental Quality accountable for PGE's violations of the Clean Waters Act. Your voice counts! To learn how you can contribute to this effort, please visit the DRAs website and write your letter today!