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SAFE DISPOSAL For the past 11 months, I have worked as a full-time AmeriCorps volunteer for HIV Alliance's Sana Needle Exchange Program. Sadly, the end of my term of service coincides with devastating budget and staffing cuts to the needle exchange. Whether people realize it or not, the Sana Needle Exchange affects and serves everyone in our community by preventing new HIV infections, keeping used needles out of our streets and parks, and significantly reducing the costs of hospital and ER visits in our community. We exchange approximately 50,000 needles a month, which means that these needles are safely disposed of instead of being thrown into our neighborhoods. People need to consider what will happen to our community if this vital human service program ends. Needle exchange programs save lives. More than anything, the past year has opened my eyes to how many amazing people live and work in our community. HIV Alliance employs some of the most compassionate, dedicated and empowered people that I have ever had the privilege of knowing, and I thank all of them for this experience. In the face of serious funding shortages, Sana Needle Exchange staff and volunteers still show up every day to offer help and fight for what they believe in. We see the difference we make each day and I know what an incredible impact the Sana Needle Exchange has made in our community. If you care about the health and safety of our community, I urge you to support your local needle exchange. Emily Graham-Berks, Eugene
DESTROYED LIVES I would like to thank Dr. Megan Schmidt for her Viewpoint (7/15). I agree 100 percent that it is time to hold EW accountable for the ads that appear in the back of the paper as well as those that promote businesses associated with the sex trade such as announcements of porn star appearances at Castle or mud wrestling at a strip club. How much money do these ads generate? How many lives are destroyed in the wake of those who respond to the ads? Where is the cost/benefit analysis? By my calculations, the costs far outweigh the gains, and perhaps EW should be held accountable for reparations to those families whose lives have been destroyed following repeated temptation broadcast through the pages of this paper. Counseling is not cheap, divorce attorneys are expensive, not to mention the potential exposure to STDs and physical abuse. I call for an end to this section of ads and accountability for the social distress you have promoted. Jason Blazar , Eugene
AWASH IN EROTICA In her Viewpoint of 7/15, Megan Schmidt claims that feminists and "other researchers" have demonstrated an "undeniable link" between the pervasiveness of porn/prostitution (to borrow Schmidt's melding technique) and sexual violence. The statistics presented leave me wondering about the nature of the research, and how the figures would look in a context of proper "sex industry" regulation, or with whole-population samples when looking at the effects of porn. After all, there are also studies that show lower rates of sexual assault in moderate European countries that are awash in erotica and have regulated prostitution. It seems rather obvious that those prone to sexual violence would have a higher rate of recidivism while using porn, just as alcoholics have a higher rate of relapse in the presence of booze. Should society prohibit anything that could possibly support abusive behavior? And what percentage of the large number of porn viewers around the world coerce others into sexual activity, or see women as subservient? Where's that study? It's interesting how someone with a pet issue can selectively latch onto stats that seem to support their views. As for gauging the willingness to choose porn or prostitution, I bet a larger percentage of people willingly engage in such activities, especially erotica, in cultures that don't readily stigmatize them. In this society, many people are conditioned to be uncomfortable with their bodies and their sexuality (particularly anything perceived as outside the mainstream), and this would no doubt influence their attitudes. But let's acknowledge that a percentage of the erotica out there is still truly non-commercial material released by people who do fancy being photographed or taped enjoying their sexuality. Shall we rail against all that freelance self-expression as well, because it might offend the sensibilities of ultra-feminists (a.k.a. anti-males) and those who feel they've been victimized? After all, there's a lot of stuff out there that could be classified under the "P" word. Alex F. Jenson, Eugene
GENDERED PLACE Three cheers for Megan Schmidt's words (7/15) about EW's willingness to subjugate women. I have wanted to write such a letter myself for some time now. Schmidt does an excellent job at exposing how reformist progressivism often covers for the fact that progressives rarely call for revolutionary changes in the very social, legal and economic structures of society, especially when it involves gender roles. I would like to add that in addition to the hypocritical political implications of EW's relationship with the sex industry, the sex industry ads affect readers' personal experience with the paper. When I see images of a faceless woman grabbing her bare breasts in a pose intended for an invisible voyeur, or a woman sucking her fingers while wearing only her bra (7/15 issue), I am reminded that we live in a society where women are most often seen to have worth only in terms of their physical looks and in terms of their ability to please men sexually (one ad proudly states "available for businessmen" next to the image). Thanks, EW for supporting these flawed cultural ideals and for reminding me, other women and non-heterosexuals of their gendered "place" in this society. Jen McWeeny, Eugene
A MAN'S VIEW By printing Megan Schmidt's succinct and direct appeal against EW's sexual advertising, the paper seems to be inviting comment. I weigh in on Megan's side. She discussed the subjugation of women, and I'd like to address the issue from a man's perspective. I turn gingerly to the back pages, hoping that "No Exit" will make me laugh, which it often does. But I know that in those pages, girls I've never met are going to be staring at me, and they WANT ME BAD. Only they don't. They want a hundred bucks or whatever. They want to exploit me and have no interest in my feelings or personality beyond what it takes to acquire what I've worked hard all day to earn. Possibly a man's job is already somewhat demeaning, but he gets the rent together and has a few bucks for beer and laughs. Rather than focusing whatever remaining attention he may have on the character of the police force or the changing ecological regulations, EW compliments him by assuming he's a valid target for some woman (with no face) holding her immense breasts in her hands, a girl in a bra sucking her finger, an immense pair of glossy lips, and "Naughty or Nice" Wendy, who looks entirely sympathetic and sweet, and is "very open minded and discrete." Are you encouraging this lonely, tired working man to spend his attention and his income on a prostitute, or might there be higher uses for the man's energy? There's no point in opposing the sex trade, which has lasted from cave man days. I guess your bod is yours to trade as you choose. But why does the area's most progressive mass medium mix insightful commentary, cutting edge news and a free exchange of progressive ideas with advertising that demeans both men and women? Are you reaching out to a less intelligent readership in order to finance the publication of your better stuff? Is that necessary? If you need the revenue to survive, perhaps there are better ways to raise it than prostitution. Christopher Logan, Eugene
PROTECT & SERVE I just witnessed a very twisted and frustrating turn of events in my neighborhood. I had been hearing noise from a domestic dispute for a few minutes before learning that some neighbors had called the police fearing that the man was hurting the woman. As she emerged from the apartment she was hysterical that the man had her cat in the apartment and was fearing for its life. The EPD showed up after a while in a very slow and relaxed fashion, rolling slowly through the alleyway and walking at below-average speed to the girl to ask what was going on. The man inside had locked the door and turned off the lights, pretending not to be there when the police knocked, to which the police responded by giving up after being assured by several witnesses that the man was certainly still in the apartment. After the girl drove off in tears, one of the officers approached a truck with loud music playing and proceeded to cuff and stuff the driver after only a few minutes. As this happened, the original man involved in the dispute came out and watched. The police were aware of his presence but did not say a word to him. They simply told a group of shocked onlookers, "It's cool," and left. I am appalled and disappointed by the way these events were handled by EPD. My eyewitness account seems to show "Protect and Serve" couldn't be further from their minds. Heath Kearns, Eugene
OFFENSIVE DRINK I am a foreign grad student at the UO. I am from Dublin, Ireland. I really enjoy your newspaper and usually find it to be a great resource when planning activities for visiting friends and family. I am writing about an ad from the Horsehead referring to a drink called "The Irish Car Bomb." Terrorism is unfortunately a very real and current issue in Ireland. There have been countless victims of the IRA and UVF and to mock the grief caused by these groups with a drink special is pretty offensive. I am sure that your American readers would be understandably outraged if you published an ad for a drink named after a terrorist event that claimed U.S. lives. Could you please consider your international readers when printing such material? Ruth Saunders, Eugene
UNCONVENTIONAL PATHS If gay marriage or abortion (pro-choice) becomes an issue in the November election, I suggest that views on those two issues could take unconventional paths with the gay marriage group on the pro-life side. In olden days religious leaders needed to encourage production of more babies so that their own religious organizations might economically prosper. In olden days before Social Security, subsistence farming couples needed to produce children to help on the farm and care for the couple in old age. Now the world has enough babies to support, if not enough to keep up the "afterlife insurance policies" of ancestors. Heterosexual activity, which might produce unwanted babies, should be regarded as immoral. Some uncharitable people might argue that producing multiple unwanted babies is even unfair to gay taxpayers. Abortion of unwanted babies is not, I contend, a moral choice. If sexual activity is to be regarded as entertainment for those of reproductive capacity, it's better that it be homosexual rather than heterosexual activity. Helen Woodford. Eugene
SCARE TACTICS This is for all of you "progressive liberals" who think that Nader should back out and support Kerry ("No Nader Now" 6/17). This is not the way it works. Kerry will get my vote when and if he ever adopts truly progressive policies, and not before then. As far as suggesting he should pledge his time and energy to reforming the Democratic Party, Kucinich and Dean are leading that front. The claim that Nader is running to satisfy his ego holds no water. Egotism is a trait found in all presidential candidates. You (Kerry supporters) have your work cut out for you. The use of scare tactics and name calling to coax people into voting for your candidate is not the way to go. So tell me again why I should vote for your man Kerry and please don't tell me "because he's not Bush." Mike McGlone, Eugene
EVERY VOTE COUNTS I'm from Florida where in 2000 George W. Bush "won" against Al Gore by around 500 votes. Some 90,000 Floridians voted for Ralph Nader. Even if just 1 percent of these Nader votes had gone for Gore, we wouldn't have W. and Cheney in the White House making war against all but the wealthiest Americans, innocent Iraqis, U.S. military veterans, public health, civil rights, AMTRAK, endangered species, wildlife, national forests, national parks, etc. Four years ago, Nader was telling voters: "Bush & Gore — Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee; there's no difference so vote for me. Vote your conscience, vote your dreams." In this world, in order to be relevant, persons of conscience should consider the likely consequences of their actions and inactions. Those who knew W.'s record in Texas aren't surprised his presidency has turned out to be a disaster. As Molly Ivins puts it in Bushwhacked, her new book about W.'s mean-spirited, stupid, and crooked dealings, "If more people had read Shrub, my first Bush book, they wouldn't have to read this one." For the good of the country, Nader should do like Dennis Kucinich, and ask his supporters to vote for Kerry-Edwards. Ralph Nader is not going to be elected president of the U.S. Either W. or Kerry will be. Every vote counts one way or the other. Richard Hiers, Eugene
NO TIME LEFT Ten years ago our nation stood by and watched as genocide claimed the lives of 800,000 in Rwanda. Once more we promised, "Never again." Now we are seeing the start of another genocide, this time in the Darfur region of Sudan. President Bush has been unwilling to call it genocide, and rather than taking the strong actions needed to stop it, he is proposing a round of sanctions against those responsible. Time is running out for the people of Darfur. They are trapped in starvation camps controlled by their captors. President Bush needs to call this genocide and lead a multinational effort to stop it, including the use of the military if necessary. If he fails to do that, a million more may die. Julie Mathey, Eugene
YOU'RE FIRED! All citizens who fear for the future of our country and the world must register and vote this November. Bush and his neo-cons must be fired before they do irreparable damage to our country. Bush has endangered and weakened this country in more ways than 250 words can convey. He is a walking contradiction. He's a "uniter-not-a-divider" who has united the world in its disdain for America, and divided us into conservatives and liberals, haves and have-nots. He is a self-proclaimed pro-life president who governed Texas through a shameful number of executions. Pro-life, yet he is responsible for the deaths of nearly 1,000 American soldiers and countless Iraqi families for his preemptive, unjustified war. Pro-life, yet does nothing to stem the slaughter in the Sudan. Bush favors states' rights when it comes to logging, mining, ranching and oil drilling, but favors amending our Constitution to allow the federal government to prevent states from legislating marriage laws that he and his fundamentalist Christian base find objectionable. Polls indicate voters are evenly split between Bush and Kerry, but the polls don't consider the untapped segment of the nation that could vote but don't exercise that right. You who will be turning 18 before this election, or who are homeless, or who may face a military draft next year, or anyone eligible to vote who has never voted before, please register and vote. Encourage others to vote. Then we will be able to tell Bush and his cronies "you're fired" this November. Cynthia Armento, Veneta
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