“Cheers and Jeers” is a new feature of The World, presenting our editors’ viewpoints on various issues. We’d love to publish your opinion, too. Send your letter to: news@theworldlink.com.

Semper fi!

Cheers to the 200 people who turned out to welcome home Marine Lance Cpl. Casey Cox from Iraq. Regardless of your opinion on the war itself, our troops deserve all the support we can muster. Speaking of which– heartfelt cheers to Cpl. Cox and all those who do dangerous work on America’s behalf. Thank you, Corporal.

Get up & go!

Cheers to Blossom Gulch and Madison elementary schools in Coos Bay, hiring their first physical education teacher in a quarter-century. Kids raised on video games and Happy Meals will benefit from organized vigor. (Question: How fast would Steve Prefontaine have been, if he had spent his childhood playing Guitar Hero?)

Political disaster

Jeers to the Bush administration, for proposing to slash $70 million in disaster aid promised to West Coast salmon fishermen. The salmon disaster isn’t as dramatic as a hurricane or a flood, but it’s devastating to coastal communities. Also, unlike a hurricane or a flood, this disaster is government-created. Give us a break, Mr. President.

Pomp, etc.

Cheers to all the hard-working young scholars who graduated from South Coast high schools this month. As your graduation speakers so wisely told you: You are the hope of blah, blah, blah, leadership for a new blah, blah, always remember your blah, blah, blah, and blah. Now go have a great life!

The fast & the foolish

Jeers to the leadfoot trio that roared through Coos Bay and North Bend last weekend. At 90 to 100 mph, they endangered themselves, the police, and anyone else on the street. Since Coos County has no vacant jail beds for minor league miscreants, how about creative sentencing? For road rampagers, maybe community service in a rehab hospital?

Wave proudly

Not just one cheer, but three, for the red, white and blue. Flag Day (today) celebrates our beloved national symbol. While Americans argue eternally about the meaning of patriotism, Old Glory flutters grandly above the debate.

Missing money

Additional jeers to the politicians whose stubbornness created our jail bed shortage, and our short-staffed sheriff’s department. Oregon counties are hurting because of lost federal timber revenue — a problem that could be solved if Congress would pass a measure pushed by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore. While Congress dithers, the Dukes of Hazzard go free.

I came. I sawed ...

Two guys who shouldn’t take up precious jail space are the hapless pranksters who kidnapped and dismembered Charleston’s “Charlie the Tuna” statue. Caught in the act, they apologized abjectly – and publicly. Jeers for the vandalism, but cheers for an honest expression of shame. Besides, the wood was rotting anyway. Go easy, Your Honor.