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CULTIVATE LOVE Hold on to hope. As we witness chaos, insurmountable pain, destruction and suffering erupt within us and around us, we must hold fast to hope and loving peacefulness. We expand what we focus upon. Yesterday's hurt is today's understanding rewoven into tomorrow's love — and out of chaos evolves the dance of balance. Cultivate love within yourselves and bring it forward. If anything will carry us forward in these times, it will be this. And remember the wisdom of Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." Onward in peace, Tiersa Turner, Eugene
TWO-ACRE ISLAND When I read Nancy Nichols letter (12/9) responding to the 11/24 Viewpoint, "Gathering Space," I felt compelled to respond. For 28 years my family has lived two blocks from Madison Meadow (not within the very limited area of homes which might gain in property value if this space is protected). We along with many other neighbors have enjoyed countless hours in this special place, watching seasons change and children grow up. We do have city parks nearby, which offer destination ballfields, playgrounds, Frisbee golf, basketball and tennis courts. These are all valuable recreation assets but not the same as an unmown meadow where a child can wade through tall wildflowers and spot a little snake or a butterfly. It may be hard for a Deadwood resident to grasp how precious this two-acre island of green has become to the hundreds of families who support saving Madison Meadow. A very few homeowners may see an increase in property value when the Meadow is protected, but if our community balked at acquiring open space because of some incidental benefit to adjacent homes, then our public parkland would be sparse indeed. There is a reason that so many people have donated to save this hidden gem, and it's not property values, but a community sense that we must hang on to at least a little of the last open land, for children and other small creatures. The Meadow provides many environmental benefits, including habitat for nearly 100 species of birds and other animals, improvement of air and water quality, and the potential for nature educational outreach. Our city is getting denser every year in our effort to maintain the urban growth boundary. At some point we need to realize that this growth requires a balance of greenspace as well. I would like to invite EW readers to visit the Meadow at 22nd and Madison and see what we hope to save. There are so many worthy causes, social, political, and environmental, that deserve our support, and Madison Meadow is one of them. Susan Jerde , Eugene
NO LOONY LIBERAL Please Christians, read the New Testament again, and stop trying so hard to interpret it. It is as clear as a bell. Jesus was not a loony liberal. He said do what I do and they will know you are Christian. When Jesus fed the poor, drove the moneychangers from the temple, walked with lepers, defended the harlot, and healed the sick, he was not practicing wanton immoral liberalism. He did not mislead anyone into believing. He was just himself, honest and loving, take it or leave it. He was showing us how to live our lives as he did, honestly and lovingly. He exemplified the moral values which he lived and died for, yup, Christian values. Let's keep an eye on these values during the next four years and see how many poor people are helped, how many sick people are able to get healthcare, how many hungry people are able to feed their families. You know, let's look for and insist on that compassion as advertised. Take up thy cross and follow. Amen. Kathleen Rosa, Eugene
NO VOTE FOR JESUS I feel compelled to write in regard to the "Jesusland" map printed in the slant (11/11). Jesus did not stand for the political ideas of George W. Bush. Jesus was a revolutionary. He lived his beliefs of love, non-violence, faith, honesty, non-attachment, and acceptance of all people despite military, governmental and public opposition. If we want to relate Bush to a biblical figure, he would be well represented by one of the money changers having his table overthrown by Jesus in the temple of Jerusalem. He is a man shamelessly selling violence, dishonesty, discrimination, and environmental destruction in the guise of Christianity. All this in exchange for power, prestige and profit. A vote for Bush was not a vote for Jesus, but against him. Heather Ladd, Eugene
VOTING FOR WAR I'm 64 and I remember the Vietnam War very well. I was active in the antiwar movement of the late '60s. The present war with Iraq is a bad time for us all, probably the worst since 1968. It won't get any better, however, until we all stop lying to ourselves about what happened in the recent election. John Kerry is a worthless war pig. He voted for the war; he said later that he would have voted for it even if he had known there were no weapons of mass destruction, and he said during the debates that he was determined to "win" the war. If Kerry had won the election we would still be in the same position as far as Iraq goes. The only power you have to stop a war, unless you're willing to go to jail, is your vote. Most of you voted for Kerry, which means you also voted for the war. So now those in power have your permission to do whatever they want. What you could have done was withheld your vote from Kerry and sent a message that it is not acceptable for a Democrat to support this, or any other, war. You could have also supported Ralph Nader, who was the only serious peace candidate. There will be another election in two years. You need to be sending a message to all politicians that they will not have your vote in 2006 unless they vote against any more appropriations for the war, publicly oppose it, and introduce legislation to end it. Lynn Porter, Eugene
PERCEIVED ENEMY Many thanks to EW for the thoughtful article, "Vietnam to Iraq" (11/24). I am looking forward to the sequels on the subject of anti-war activism. A suggestion for those who find it difficult to muster up the energy to join in creating real activism against the war on Iraq: Choose a quiet spot and while sitting still for several minutes, visualize an American soldier creeping around the corner of, let's say, the ruins of a small house on an eerily quiet, dark lane in Fallujah. Suddenly the perceived enemy is upon him. He fires his rifle, killing the young man before him, or the girl, the woman, a child. Then imagine yourself, in turn, as soldier, young man, girl, woman, child — and WAKE UP! Kathleen Epstein, Eugene
SILVER LINING There are two great benefits to the Democrats from losing the presidential election. First, the war in Iraq is now solely on the backs of the Republicans — if pro-war Democrats like Kerry, Edwards, Liebermann and Gephardt can manage to keep their big fat mouths shut. Second, the Democrats now have a badly needed opportunity to look in the mirror and see what they're doing wrong. In an article in Socialist Worker Online (socialistworker.org), Lance Selfa uses exit poll data to debunk the theory that Kerry lost because of "values." "If you compare the composition of voters between this year and 2000, you find that the percentage of evangelical Christians remained the same; the percentage of people opposed to abortion remained the same; and the percentage of people who say they pray every day didn't change either. Slightly more evangelicals voted for Bush in 2004 than in 2000, but there wasn't a great surge of the religious right to the polls — at least on a nationwide level." Nor did Bush win because of a rural vs. urban split: "According to those [exit] polls, Bush actually lost a little ground in rural areas, compared to the 2000 election. But he polled a full 10 percentage points better in urban areas." Kerry lost because he offered nothing real to his base and failed to energize it, while Bush fired up his base. The Democrats' main problem is that they're owned by the rich people who finance their campaigns. Their corporate sponsors want a cheap labor policy in the U.S., with desperate workers who will accept below living wage jobs with no health care benefits, and Democratic leaders don't dare to go against that policy. Which leaves them with nothing to offer their former working-class base except fear of Republicans. That just doesn't cut it. Lynn Porter, Eugene
EXPAND OUR CIRCLE I'm glad to see people upset about the media not covering the grim realities of the war. Essentially, we are talking about what most of us believe to be absolutely unnecessary violence. Recently tens of millions of innocent turkeys were slaughtered after living a short, horrific life in a factory farm for our wonderful holiday. One can get all the nutrients needed for a healthy diet without animal products. We live in a time when plant foods are plentiful and you don't have to worry about a tough winter killing your crop. Turkeys, like other farm animals, are sentient beings that certainly wouldn't sacrifice their life for a mouthful of flesh. By the way, the animal food industry that is dominated by Republicans is one of the top polluters of our waterways (another form of violence), is subsidized with our tax dollars, and not even close to being a sustainable practice. It makes no sense. There will be no mention of this in the news today. Just like the occupation of Iraq, we will not see the atrocities we are supporting. Let's expand our circle of compassion to all beings and ultimately live healthier, happier lives. Joshua Welch, Eugene
ASHAMED I am writing in agreement with Brian Peterson (11/18). How dare Oregonians, who claim to be accepting and open to everyone, ban the union between ANY two people that love each other. I may not be gay, but I have friends all over the country that are, and they are no different than heterosexual couples in love. The fact that society feels they have the right to tell others they can't get married or be recognized because they are gay is arrogant and self righteous. Love is blind and sees no gender any more than it sees color of a person's skin. I must say I am ashamed of the way Oregonians voted. Tamara Lindsey, Springfield
DISTORTED PICTURE Thank you for the recent article "The Real History" of Thanksgiving (11/24). It is very important we continue to learn the deeper truths behind our cultural traditions. In that light, I would like to share another dimension of Thanksgiving which I feel is greatly overlooked: On Thanksgiving Day, many Native Americans and their supporters gather at the top of Coles Hill, overlooking Plymouth Rock, for the "National Day of Mourning." The first National Day of Mourning was held in 1970. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts invited Wampanoag leader Frank James to deliver a speech. When the text of Mr. James' speech, a powerful statement of anger at the history of oppression of the Native people of America, became known before the event, the Commonwealth "disinvited" him. That silencing of a strong and honest Native voice led to the convening of the National Day of Mourning. The historical event we know today as the First Thanksgiving was a harvest festival held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and their Native American neighbors and allies. It has acquired significance beyond the bare historical facts. Thanksgiving has become a much broader symbol of the entirety of the American experience. Many find this a cause for rejoicing. The dissenting view of Native Americans, who have suffered the theft of their lands and the destruction of their traditional way of life at the hands of the American nation, is equally valid. To some, the First Thanksgiving presents a distorted picture of the history of relations between the European colonists and their descendants and the Native People. The total emphasis is placed on the respect that existed between the Wampanoags led by the sachem Massasoit and the first generation of Pilgrims in Plymouth, while the long history of subsequent violence and discrimination suffered by Native People across America is nowhere represented. (From www.pilgrimhall.org/daymourn.htm) Eden Sky, Yachats
WHO'S IRRELEVANT? George W. Bush read a prepared speech from the podium of the United Nations. This speech, presented to the U.N. General Assembly and the world, was mainly for the U.S. audience. A message contained within that speech prepared the citizenry of this country to allow the president to expand the congressional permission given to use the threat of force to make Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, comply with UN resolutions and cooperate with U.N. arms inspectors. Also, within that speech was the charge that if the U.N. did not act according to the parameters prescribed by the administration, that the U.N. would become irrelevant. One hundred and ninety-seven nations of the world and the people of the U.S. were being pressed by a president from a bully pulpit because this administration knew they did not have the support of the 15 members of the U.N. Security Council. Now, almost two years later, the U.S. and this administration have become irrelevant in the world — the most militarily and economically powerful nation in world history, a nation that secured worldwide esteem for its government and its citizens because of its reliance on the rule of law, not its reliance on raw power to force others to respect our nation and our policies. Our military, the highest trained and most powerful forces in history, are now embroiled in a no-win situation. They will be withdrawn under the guise of "Mission Accomplished," but I believe many in the military will have questions. The European Union designated Britain, France, and Germany (without involving the U.S.), to negotiate separately with Iran concerning its nuclear weapons capability. North Korea is reluctant to negotiate its nuclear weapons capability with the Five Nation Partnership without assurance this administration will not rely on use of force. Because of President Bush and his administration, the U.S. is not actively involved in negotiations with two nations, presumed to possess nuclear weaponry, and is irrelevant. Charles L. Crawford, Sr., Philomath
PATHETIC DISMISSAL Vanessa Salvia's dismissal of Wishbone Ash's appearance in Eugene (12/2) was truly pathetic and a disservice to your readers. Was the arrogant attitude displayed in her column just an awkward attempt at being "cool," or did it accurately reflect her lack of musical gravitas? I'm guessing the latter. Not only were her facts wrong (Muddy Manninen is not a founding member) but she dissed one of the most talented and long-lived bands around, and classic rock in general. Wishbone Ash has displayed the virtuosity, creativity, and tenacity that most new bands can only dream of. I say this as a fan of many newer bands and music — but the fact is that many of these newer acts lack any appreciable assets other than their youth and the ability to play three chords on a guitar. While I don't think her column did any lasting harm, other than scaring people away from one gig, it did demonstrate that her musical horizons are far too narrow for her to be considered credible. By the way, I went to the Wishbone Ash show in Vancouver, B.C., soon after the Eugene show. It was packed with appreciative, enthusiastic fans who saw a great show. Too bad that your "reporter" likely robbed many Eugene locals of that experience. Larry Wechsler, Seattle
AMORAL SOCIALISTS Anybody who criticizes Wal-Mart's predatory, parasitic practices is branded a "socialist" by conservatives. But then those same conservatives flock to Wal-Mart during the holiday season to buy goods predominantly made in communist (let's say it again, one more time loud and strong, communist) China. Conservatives are also usually anti-abortion. I realize that consistency is not a strong point with conservatives, but do they realize that communist China has a policy of forced abortion after a couple has had one child? So although the conservatives support communism and forced abortions with their pocketbooks, it is the liberals who are amoral socialists? Douglas Hintz, Eugene
DUALING WHINERS At this time of renewal and goodwill, both winners and losers are whining about their gifts from the voting. The notion that we can bury our arrows of discontent (hopefully not in each other) and come together is a distant dream at best. Both major parties are whining about their current situation. On the Democratic side there's a continuing evaluation of what went wrong and when it happened. Their actual focus is stall and ignore most portions of the Republican agenda, even those policies that are possible and add to our quality of life. All of the party strategists are pointing fingers as to who and when with little or no focus on the what. The Democratic message was one of hope with no real direction with a confusing schedule when and how. Their real agenda is to ask for what they want, take what they get, and work on the difference. The Republicans are whining about victory. They have the House and the Senate along with the White House and still they are trying win it again and again and AGAIN. The GOP did the job. Karl Rove had a plan that worked in it's simplicity, hit hard, hit dirty and hit often. In addition to George Will's comments, the GOP's message was simple and to the point. The perception was that he was everything John Kerry wasn't. The truth is they are the same coin with different sides. The GOP message had a "moral" imperative that resonated with the conservative right that caused them to focus on the issue of gay marriage. If the voter agrees with 1 issue, then the whole platform must be good. With the 3.5 million additional popular votes the GOP should have been happy to rule. It seems that winning is not enough. The GOP continues to whine about who, what, where and how of current policies and who to blame. George G. Brooks, Eugene
FAILING THE TEST Many decades ago, when I was an impressionable teen, my mom was my intellectual mentor. I remember her remarking that the difference between genius and insanity is only in whether the end result is productive. In the recent election and the current post-election fog, I've been watching my large, Ohio-bred family and contrasting some of the ideals with which I was raised with the ideals at-large in my adopted home. I respectfully submit that the culture of angst and resistance in this town, so eloquently expressed in recent articles in this paper, fails my mother's test. There are two aspects of this issue that may seem impossibly Midwestern to those who support the culture of pre-emptive alienation. First, if there are two Americas, the break-down is not 50-50, it's 90-10. During the Revolutionary War only 10 percent of colonials supported the resistance. For the rest, one George was as good as another. The business of daily life was, and rightly so, the only worthy cause: working, parenting, loving, living. It is the differences in our natural resources and our geographic location that distinguish us from our sisters and brothers in the Ukraine or Uganda. Sign-carriers on downtown Eugene street corners will be lonely for at least another century. Another aspect of this issue glares at me: If there is a conservative agenda, liberals running away to a Canada-of-the-mind supports it nicely. Peter DeFazio is doing something. The guy who directs Eugene PeaceWorks is not. When the idealists on one end of the see-saw refuse to sit down, the result is going to be obvious. The nature of politics allows no vacuum. Let's be honest about what "working outside the system" is and is not. It's self-expression. It's therapy. It's even stimulating to read about it. But my mother would not approve. Steve Downey, Eugene
SEXISM REIGNS Our Constitution is being much touted these days, and now there's a suggestion that foreign-born people be allowed to run for U.S. president. Hey! First let's pass the ERA (equal rights for women) into the Constitution. Sexism still reigns in certain areas. Let's fix that. Nancy Slagle, Springfield
SLOW EROSION The election Nov. 2 introduced an insidious threat to the integrity of our voting system— the use of electronic voting machines that produce unverifiable and virtually unauditable election results. Regardless of whom you voted for, the future consequences of the use of this method must be eradicated. Unverifiable voting machines jeopardize not only our federal presidential vote, but our votes on local issues and propositions as well. The potential for malicious manipulation is overwhelming. This is how a democracy is overthrown; not in a dramatic military coup, but eroded one layer at a time right under our noses, by our own people. It's done by evolution, not revolution. We must be vigilant to jump immediately on the slightest infringement on our rights. Would-be usurpers' tactics must be nipped in the bud no matter how petty or inconsequential they may seem. In this kind of internal coup, if you give the insurgents an inch, they'll take a mile, and then turn around and demand 10 more miles from you as if it were their right. Most Americans don't seem much concerned about this flagrant violation of their constitutional rights. Some even mockingly dismiss any dissent as paranoia or sour-grapes rhetoric. Where is the outrage? Is blind acceptance the default reaction of the general voting public? Perhaps a nation of such sheep deserves to be led to the slaughter? Pat Sheppard, Cottage Grove
ENVIRO R'S When you think of environmental protection, you probably think of Sierra Club or NRDC. Another organization, however, works equally hard to preserve our air, water and land. That organization is Republicans for Environmental Protection, or www.rep.org. Sound surprising? Not really, when you consider that it was Teddy Roosevelt who set aside more than 100 million acres of national forests, Dwight D. Eisenhower who helped create ANWR, and Tom McCall who guided more than 100 conservation bills through the Oregon Legislature. Sadly, many of today's Republicans are trashing some of the same environmental protections that members of their own party labored to create. Fortunately, there is REP. Founded in 1995 by conservation-minded Republicans from around the country, REP seeks to restore the GOP to its proud tradition of environmental preservation. If you are a Republican and value a healthy environment, I urge you to contact REP. Roll up your sleeves and work alongside other compassionate individuals who, like yourselves, seek to protect this sacred planet upon which we all depend for life. Brian W.S. Moore , Eugene
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