May 1, 2016
Web statistics on Frenchglen (where this photo was taken) inform you that, as of 2015, 111 people lived in this little Eastern Oregon Hamlet, 0 per square mile. Riddle me that. Located close to the Malheur Wildlife National Refuge – or what counts as close in these vast stretches of landscape around the Steen Mountains – it has recently seen a lot of traffic in the context of the armed occupation of the Malheur Field Station.
I will not write about the occupation today, much has been said, and said well, in recent months. But I do want to link to an article that is informative about issues that are now emerging in the aftermath. The article argues for the right of defense in any criminal proceedings, no matter how much you might loathe the motives, actions, or political beliefs of the defendant.
I could not agree more with this statement. This is particularly true for cases that have national visibility, are linked to political causes (of the left as much as of the right) and can be used for career advancement for some of the parties involved. There is more to it, though. As part of the adversarial nature of our legal system each side will use all available means to further its goal of a successful defense, or successful prosecution. In the Bundy case there is now a storm brewing as to whether one side is doing what is legitimate and/or ethical in pursuit of its goals.
We do have an ethics code for the profession that tries to insure that the means used to win a case are ethical as well as legal – and close inspection of the actions of all sides should provide answers about alleged ethics violations. I have no means (or inclination) to judge who has strayed from an ethical path without access to all the facts, but am in favor of strict requirements that ethical rules not be broken. Let us not forget, though, that these skirmishes are often part of the pre-trial strategy to influence public opinion and set the bar for things to come.
The photograph was taken during a blissful spring week last year, the yellow-headed blackbirds being my first introduction to the area. Can’t wait to get back there. And with this we conclude a week of bird images. Stay tuned for what’s next!
