Oregon, You Are Worth It

Oregon, You Are Worth It

Oregon, you are worth it.

I know we left three plus years ago but you still hold a place in my heart.

I grew up here, still consider myself an Oregonian, but you aren’t the Oregon I remember.

Everything changes, I get that, but you didn’t just changed you lost your way.

You started to ignore your past and let “progress” destroy your character.

Your beauty is intoxicating.

Your openness inviting.

But you failed to understand what made you Oregon.

Pioneers, dreamers and folks trying to escape the control big cities often bring, came here.

But rather than holding to your values you caved into weakness and what made you special became your demise.

Oregon is weird.

But in the past that weirdness was open to all and honored independent voices.

Somewhere you began worshipping the weirdness rather than honoring the differences.

You got caught up in a false virtue that opened the door to craziness.

You forgot about your past, your people and the rural Oregonians.

It became all about feeling good, looking good and comfort….that’s not Oregon.

When alternate voices chime in, you don’t listen, you speak louder and push harder to coerce not communicate.

That’s not Oregon

Oregon used to accept all, yes, especially those who marched to a different drummer.

Oregon is now a place with one choir and those who sing off tune are nullified, muffled and muted.

That is not Oregon.

The Oregon dream turned into a nightmare for many.

People want out.

Those who think they are in charge of the choir don’t care.

This is their Oregon and to Hell with anyone who doesn’t agree with the status quo.

That’s Not Oregon

The rugged individualists who found this place were overrun by strangers who didn’t want to assimilate or honor the Oregon tradition but instead seek to eradicate the old with a new kind of Oregon.

Oregon, you’ve lost your identity.

I leave you Oregon strongly encouraged by those who stay here to fight for you. (I will continue to fight from Montana)

Online and in person, your people tell me how tired they are of the bullshit but how ready they are to take you back.

Yes, you lost your way, it happens.

You tried to be woke but instead you broke.

You allowed strangers to retell and in some cases try to rewrite your history, but you know who you really are and you can be that again.

Oregon, don’t let them down.

I know you’ve had an identity crisis but your people are ready and willing to take you back.

Oregon, you are worth it.