Leave it to The Oregonian’s version of Debbie Downer to address the very serious issues of human rights in his column on the day the Ducks dominate the Bulls in the Sun Bowl.

If you want to read his column and his post on the column, go right ahead. It is a real human issue.

Casting light on dark side of Sun Bowl

What’s happening to the women of Juarez?

But here’s my question for Mr. Canzano: where is this not the case? Is there crime, corruption, and human rights issues within spitting distance of the Rose Garden? What about Safeco Field? AT&T Ballpark? The Coliseum? The Staples Center? Mr. Canzano, where in the wide, wide world of sports are these evils you speak of not within a stone’s throw of sporting events?

So, here’s my question to Mr. Canzano: other than write your column raising awareness of the issue, what have you done? Or is that it?

Up until the last year or so, I was a fairly political person. Actually, I’ve been interested in politics for most of my life. I haven’t always been politically active or involved, but I enjoyed them. That is until the last year.

After going on a short term mission trip to Thailand, my opinion on how you affect change in your sphere of influence dramatically shifted. I used to believe that most change happened through governments, elected officials, institutions, committees, and legislation. Can those things affect change? Absolutely. But that power rests in the hands of so few. And I don’t believe that any longer.

While in Thailand, and confirmed when I returned home, I learned that it’s what people do on a daily basis that affects the most change. And it’s not in the big things. It’s in the small things. Do I do something everyday that makes a difference? Probably not. But at least now I know I can.

Do you, Mr. Canzano?

- Jay Jones