Extensions of Remarks

September 18, 1990 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 25019 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS OF OWLS AND PEOPLE massive job losses are expected to occur now sudden departure from anticipated harvest that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has schedules will force · the government to decided to list the northern spotted owl as break this debate, his testimony shocked a HON. AL SWIFI' threatened. lot of people who have been going around OF WASHINGTON Lee's research has been concentrated in saying, "Gee, all timber workers need is just IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES two areas: An extensive review of existing some job retraining; then they'll be able to Tuesday, September 18, 1990 studies involving resource dependent com get on with life." munities, plus a considerable number of in Not so says Lee. Mr. SWIFT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to depth interviews with displaced woods "The capacity and willingness of people to enter the article "Tearing America Up by the workers. adjust has been seriously over-estimated," Roots" by Jim Petersen into the CONGRES The news is not good. Lee told committee members. "There is a SIONAL RECORD. Mr. Petersen's article ap In testimony, June 14, before the Wash far more complex problem for which con peared in Evergreen, a publication of the Ev ington House of Representatives, Commit ventional dislocation adjustment assistance ergreen Foundation. The subject of the article tee on Commerce and Labor, Lee warned is only a partial remedy. While job losses that policy makers have seriously over-esti is an interview Mr. Petersen had with Dr. are an important cause for disruption in mated the capacity of timber communities people's lives, the unique character of Robert Lee, a sociologist, forester and profes to recover from the kind of economic chaos sor with the University of Washington. I en that is expected to erupt in the months timber-dependent communities, loss of trust courage my colleagues to study this article ahead. in assured wood supplies, lifestyle conflicts because it is the most articulate description I Although Lee went to extraordinary and vilification of the logger combine to lengths not to take sides in the list-no list complicate the adjustment process." have read to date of the plight of the timber Lee told committee members he believes workers in the Pacific Northwest. While re wood products industry. People are also af fected by a loss of trust in assured wood the impact of the spotted owl listing deci maining sensitive to the environmental con sion has been viewed in terms which are far cerns, we must also recognize the entire supplies, political conflict over fundamental social values, and the dehumanization that too simplistic. economies of certain areas in the Pacific accompanies attempts to degrade logging "Policy makers and the popular press Northwest are at risk. In towns like Forks on and other wood products occupations. have oversimplified the impact of imple the Olympia Peninsula and Darrington in the "Loss of a job is by itself often experi menting the ISC <interagency Scientific Cassades Mountains, local drug stores, gro enced as a life-threatening event, and can be Committee) recommendations by focusing cers, and the gas stations are entirely de followed by personal trauma and permanent on the issue of job losses," he testified. pendent on the forest economy. What hap psychological harm," Lee continued. "Insta "Job loss is only one of four major factors pens to the loggers and millworkers ripples bility in the wood products industry has affecting people who depend on the trust. through the entire community and leaves no been so prevalent that people have learned Investments in jobs, homes, and attach how to cope with losing and regaining jobs. ments to places will all be disrupted. Since family untouched. Job security was sought by developing a per people have been dependent on the parental TEARING AMERICA UP BY THE ROOTS sonal reputation as a good sawmill employee good will of their government, they will ex <By Jim Petersen) or logger. A sound reputation helped people perience a sense of abandonment, violation It is safe to say the name Dr. Robert G. cope with a cyclical industry by reducing and helplessness that will contribute to the Lee will never become a household word. It the trauma of periodic job loss, but it leaves already heavy burden of stress." is also safe to say the protagonists in the people especially helpless when there is What disturbs Lee the most is the loss of spotted owl-old growth debate are going to massive, permanent occupational displace what he describes as "traditional American get to know the good doctor very well in the ment. As a result, substantial individual and values," and he is concerned about the role months ahead. collective trauma can be expected to harm he believes the press and preservationist There was a time in the not-too-distant employees displaced by sudden departures groups are playing in this loss of cultural past, when the mere mention of his name from anticipated harvest schedules." values. among timber executives elicited the same Lee believes the emotional upheavel will "The popular press, and some environ sort of reaction you would expect if you be especially hard on families who have in mental protection groups, have character held up a mirror at a vampire convention. vested their life savings in businesses that ized loggers as primitive, overweight, beer Dr. Robert G. Lee was one of "them"-an serve small, out of the way timber communi drinking, not-so-intelligent laborers with environmentalist who, heaven forbid, ties. little regard for the future," Lee testified. worked in "the industry" before moving on "People who have invested all their sav "This has been most prevalent in Earth to the University of Washington, where he ings and life's work in building a business, First! literature, newspaper columns, politi is now a professor in the College of Forest experience a tremendous loss of self when cal cartoons, advertisement, and serial car Resources. they are forced to close," he testified. "Loss toons such as The Far Side, although letters But what's this? The good doctor is also a of a personal business is experienced as a to the editor of various newspapers reveal sociologist? AAARRRGGG! life-threatening event, and can be expected similar negative stereotypes are widespread Yes, Dr. Robert G. Lee is a sociologist to result in substantial stress." having earned his PhD in wildland resource Lee lays the blame for the coming upheav among members of the general public. Most science, with emphasis on sociology, anthro al on conflicting federal policies which he importantly, loggers and other woodworkers pology and ecology, at the University of believes are sending mixed messages to have come to see themselves as being cate California at Berkeley in 1973. timber communities. gorized as 'heathen tree-killers' or 'rural Lee also holds an undergraduate degree in "The federal government deliberately en bumpkins.'" forestry from Cal Berkeley. "Real" foresters couraged the development of local wood Lee continues, "Other stereotypes charac who graduated from "real" forestry schools, products industries throughout the west, terize old growth logging as an obsolete oc like Oregon State and the University of and stimulated the formation of timber-de cupation referring to loggers as 'horse Idaho, know it as Cal Berserkley. pendent communities to provide a perma shoers' or 'the last of the buffalo hunters.' Bob Lee is somewhat amused by all of nent home for these industries," Lee told The latter metaphor is especially effective this, especially the part about mirrors and committee members. at dehumanizing the logger because it con vampire conventions. "People bought homes, invested capital notes greedy disregard for the future, and Nevertheless, he is dead serious about his and formed attachments to town communi creates a negative emotional association work, especially the work he has been quiet ties on the basis of the government's prom with logging that extends to logging in all ly involved in for the past several months. ise of sustained wood production. People in forests. Such stereotyping is a classic form He has been trying to figure out what is timber-dependent communities trusted the of blaming the victim ... attributing to in going to happen in communities like Forks, government to maintain its commitment to dividuals' pathological character traits that Washington, and Roseburg, Oregon, where providing continuous wood supplies. A explain why they are suffering.'' e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 25020 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS September 18, 1990 Lee finds parallels between the negative spotted owl management plans and result Our district is rich in history going back to stereotyping of loggers and the nation's his ing declines in harvest levels. earlier colonial days. That is why it's fitting toric treatment of blacks. "Personal and family problems, ranging "Our history of race relations has taught from substance abuse and divorce to suicide, today that I bring to your attention an out us that negative stereotyping serves the po will be widespread. Those in remote loca standing citizen whose roots in New York and litical function of dehumanizing people so tions will also experience extreme difficulty in our district are nearly as old as this great that they can be exploited or treated unfair in selling their homes, and many will be Nation itself. ly; in this case removed from the land," he forced to declare bankruptcy and will lose H.

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