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NOVEL APPROACH I've just got to respond to the April 21 EW article "Up in the Air" about LRAPA. The article wasn't news; it was more like a novella. When I read something like "Former board member … sitting behind me coughs: a deep loud, phlegmy hack from the depth of his body cavity" as a part of a serious new article, I am skeptical. Is the author trying to give us news or describe her biased first impressions of everyone remotely involved in the covering the news? Yes, LRAPA is having organizational problems, and yes, they are newsworthy. However, the Weekly did not present the actions the board has taken to correct serious deficiencies in our leadership. We are looking for a new environmentally conscientious executive director who can lead the agency in keeping Lane County's airshed clean. The board is fully supportive of the goals of clean air and we look forward to the new director leading the way. My goal is that LRAPA won't be "Up in the Air," but with our feet on the ground looking up at clean air. Gary Rayor, LRAPA Board Vice-Chair
WHO GETS TO KILL I don't doubt that Christians intend to make the world a better place. I just disagree with the selective morality of some Christians. For example, many of them are against a woman's right to choice. They claim abortion is killing innocent people. They forget that America, in part, is based on the legality of killing innocent people. National politics from the "Trail of Tears" to the current Iraq War have killed hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of innocent people. Individual killings by civilians and police of unarmed people have taken thousands of innocent lives. The only discussion is about who can kill who and for what reasons. If women should be denied a right, then men should be denied the same right. One legal reason for killing innocent people is if you are truly afraid for your life, whether you are actually in danger or not. The most dangerous time in a woman's life is when she is pregnant or has small children. She is more likely to be assaulted or killed at this time. This is particularly true if the pregnancy or children are unwanted by one or more people. I think these women have a reasonable expectation to be afraid for their lives, not to mention medical complications of pregnancy that may put a woman at risk. I would love to discuss making it illegal to kill innocent people. However, it is my experience that many Christians want to keep the right to kill innocent people. They just want to have their choice of victims and impose that choice on everyone else. It is fine to have faith. But let's not enshrine anyone's faith in law. Charles Dalton, Eugene
PRE-COMPETENT Native American researcher Terry Cross describes becoming culturally competent as a developmental process. The cultural competence continuum has six stages. Each describes an attitude and has associated actions or inactions: cultural destructiveness, cultural blindness, cultural incapacity, cultural pre-competence, cultural competence, and cultural proficiency. The stated intent of Federal Indian Education was essentially to "kill the Indian in the Indian, and make him white" i.e. cultural destruction. A million dollar grant to a predominately white institution (UO) to train Native American teachers does not make that college more than culturally pre-competent at best. The college is at least culturally blind if it doesn't root out its historically culturally destructive DNA. While we're waiting, cultural competency must work both ways. A culturally proficient person of color must assume that white people due to white privilege by default will be culturally incapable or blind. The Native person who can't "cultural code shift" and look white folks in the eye and give a firm handshake must assume that the white person will not take anything else as a sign of cultural respect. While it's nice to want to hold white people to a standard of mutual respect and expect them to be educated to know what respect means in different cultures, mostly they don't because of their education. The few who educate themselves are cherished, but they aren't usually deans or faculty. We in the community have to both prepare folks to deal effectively with culturally hostile environments (colleges don't) and make those environments more hospitable. Mark Harris, Eugene
IGNORING DANGER I am disappointed that the House of Representatives passed a dirty, dangerous energy bill. What a dirty way to desecrate Earth Day! This bill won't decrease consumer prices at the gas pumps, but it will increase Oregon's dependence on oil, weaken environmental protections and squander billions in taxpayer handouts to wealthy special interests. It will also allow the federal government to ignore local concerns over Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities. Communities across the country have fought to keep out LNG, a dangerous business with a history of accidents. An explosion close to a city could kill hundreds and injure thousands of people. If this bill becomes law, it won't matter what local communities want and cities and towns along Oregon's coasts could be imperiled. Our representatives should be ashamed to vote for a bill that leaves local communities powerless to defend against potentially dangerous facilities. Fortunately, we still have a chance to do something about this. We can stop this bill by convincing our senators to oppose it. Erin Cianchette, Eugene
MUST BE A SNITCH Thanks for your short opinion piece (4/28) comparing the ridiculous 22-year prison sentence of local environmentalist Jeff "Free" Luers for burning three SUVs with the eight-year prison sentence of California's Billy Cottrell for burning more than 125 of them. There are literally countless examples of people committing more extreme acts than "Free" and getting much less severe punishment. Some local examples can be found at: http://freefreenow.org/sentences.html My speculation is Billy Cottrell probably got a lesser sentence because he "snitched" on his codefendants during trial. If "Free" had renounced the environmental movement and placed the blame on his co-defendant, he probably would have been given more lenient punishment. Prosecutors reward snitches; they don't reward standing by your principles. Thanks also for mentioning the June 10-12 Weekend of Resistance for "Free." More info on the activities can be found at http://freefreenow.org/june2005.htmlA great event is planned locally and people should contact breakthechains02@yahoo.com for details. Steven Gider , Eugene
HONEST HEADLINES Regarding Toxic Brew (4/28 news story): Doesn't simply honest reporting require headlines something like: "East Earth Herb Eugene's #1 Polluter," or "East Earth Herb Dumps six times more than No. 2," or "East Earth Herb's Recovery Lags, Flushes 55% of its Toxins"? If I read this correctly Mr. Pittman confirms that: East Earth Herb uses 887,000 pounds of toxic chemicals, and of the chemicals released, flushes "most of the chemical" toxins into Eugene's sewers. Hynix uses sulfuric acid but releases none of it. Hynix releases 15 percent as many pounds of toxins as East Earth Herb. Hynix releases 2.2. percent of the toxins it uses. For comparison, the second biggest user releases .5 percent of its toxins. The third biggest user releases "almost none" of its toxins. I congratulate EW and Mr. Pittman for including relevant facts within the article. Eugene would be better served if your story followed your facts, not your bias. Ed Thompson, Eugene EDITOR'S NOTE: The numbers only tell part of the story. It's difficult to compare the total environmental impact of any one company with another. How does alcohol down the sewer compare to carcinogens discharged into the air? Any local experts care to weigh in?
MARRIAGE SAVED Whew! Thanks to the Oregon Supreme Court for defending marriage! For the last year or so, due to the actions of the Multnomah County Commissioners, I have felt my 18-year-marriage crumbling. But in a rush, like mainlining Cialis, all is right with the world. Plus, I will save money now that I have decided not to take neither the hair dressing nor the interior decorating class. Will you please cancel my ad in the "Men Seeking Men" section? Doug Hintz, Eugene
KIND STRANGERS I am a person of limited means who used to be of even more limited means. I've been on the receiving end of charity in this town and have marveled at the creative efforts of the marginalized to hang on day and night. I see the canners and gleaners work the streets during trash night as I deliver my newspapers; I step over sleeping homeless people huddled in a concrete vestibule on rainy nights. I'm lucky: I had a family that could help me when hard times came. Jimi wasn't so lucky. She sustained a head injury which left her with few teeth and too unfocused to do her office job. She's a middle class person accustomed to paying her own way, so to eat, she collects bottles and cans and redeems them at local grocery stores. Her neighbors bring returnables to her house. I save and collect cans for her and a sad-faced retarded woman. Last week, Jimi was sorting through bottle discards (rejected by the machines) at one store when she was accused of stealing, marched out the door by two security men and banned from the store. She apologized, saying the cans had been rejected by the machines and left behind and she hadn't seen it as stealing. Nevertheless, she was stripped of the small shred of dignity she has left for doing something another store's manager encouraged. It is interesting that the generous manager works for a corporate chain whereas the inhospitable one runs a new local natural foods supermarket. How many paychecks are you from living at the margins of society? Be warned that such a life requires stamina, wits, and the kindness of strangers, so if you are low on any of those, you might really be screwed. Linda Powell , Eugene
CROSS, FLAG & SOAP Regarding the Cultural Competency bill in the Oregon Legislature: It's good to see Oregon House Republicans want to preserve a place for bigots and child molesters to teach in the public schools. It's unreasonable to demand that teachers hold specific values, such as valuing children's rights not to be touched in certain ways, or valuing the cultural knowledge that children bring to school. Children should obey the teacher and do whatever the teacher asks. Children should have their inferior cultural traits scrubbed out of them, just as their skin should be scrubbed as white as possible. Their mouths should be scrubbed out with soap if they tattle about things the teacher told them to keep secret. In Oregon, there is no place for legislation telling teachers what values to hold. In Oregon, we worship the cross, the flag and soap. Let's keep it this way. Ann Tattersall, Eugene
HERE'S YOUR SIGN Peggy Starr in her "Keep the Truth" (4/21) letter takes the stance and imposes the same discriminating behavior I experience a lot as a faith-practicing citizen of this community: claiming to be a part of a religious community, then turning around and complaining about a person of faith's ability to practice their chosen faith how they choose to. Starr focuses her discriminating behavior on "poster-proselytizing folks" who express their faith in words on their own property. She says that these posters are "intrusive and offensive." These signs are far less intrusive than the infinite number of political campaign ads that were generated by every form of media known to man. Then the guilt trip that gets slammed in every Christian's face: how our history includes "wars in the name of their God." If we all take a moment to trace our family tree we would find someone that has irreparably hurt others. The one common denominator is that man has a sinful nature that causes hurt and destruction. My poster-proselytizing friends and I happen to believe in a candidate that deals with that nature. We are offering our candidate to others as a choice in their election called life. Take Him or leave Him, we just ask that you leave our right to campaign for our candidate alone. Our campaign is up and running and we are making our new posters. We are leaning toward, "Jesus is the reason — always!" In the words of Bill Engvall, a comedian I like, "Here's your sign!" Karen Ibach, Creswell
TIME FOR EQUALITY For more than 30 years, Oregonians who care about fairness and equality for all Oregon citizens have asked the state to pass a law making it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation. For more than 30 years, the issue has been stalled, ignored or cast aside. There comes a time when it is no longer acceptable to be politically cautious or cavalier about doing the right thing— and that time is now. After all these years, it is now time for lawmakers to show the leadership and courage we expect of our representatives in the legislature by protecting same-sex couples and their families with civil union legislation and banning discrimination based on sexual orientation throughout the state. Oregon's promise of fairness and equality for all of its citizens is past due and it is time for Oregon to pay up. After a painful and divisive campaign season, we now have an enormous opportunity to find common ground. Most Oregonians — even those who voted yes on Measure 36 — believe that discrimination is wrong and want same-sex couples to have legal recognition for their relationships. To squander this opportunity would be shameful and at odds with Oregon's fundamental values. It's time, Oregon. Let Oregon be one of the states that is in the forefront in ensuring equal rights for all Americans. Let's do the right thing. Right now. Celina McClaren, Eugene
LOOK FOR EVIDENCE Learn from history about false threats to our neighbors. Aristotle, Socrates and Plato passed down a story that they had translated from the early Greek moral storyteller Aesop. "Crying Wolf, Too Often" tells of a shepherd boy who got neighboring grown-ups to come running to help him when he shouted out, "Wolf, wolf!" A moral was written with this story so people would learn not to lie. The moral is "Habitual liars are not believed." Some people don't get it. "America can be attacked in 45 minutes by Iraqi nuclear missiles." "Iraq has many tons of anthrax. A spoonful can kill a city." "We have maps showing where weapons of mass destruction are made in Iraq." These alarms were shouted by George W. Bush. American troops went to war. It wasn't true. "No Child Left Behind" and "Medicare Reform" were phony plans, too. Social Security is the safety net given to American workers and their families by Democrats after the 1929 stock market collapse that left America's economy in ruins for decades. Social Security works well. George W. Bush says it is in crisis. Nothing said this time comes close to the evidence at hand, either. Why believe a habitual liar again? Leave Social Security alone. Jerry Smith, Eugene
TAKE A STAND It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter. I have become increasingly frustrated and I feel very hopeless with decisions my government is making. I recently became aware that our city and county governments have an opportunity to voice our opposition against torture. The Lane County Bill of Rights Defense Committee has drafted a letter and is currently asking our mayor and City Council to sign on. In addition, the Lane County Board of Commissioners is being asked to sign. Veterans groups have also been asked to sign. Please join me in soliciting your representatives to sign. We have been reading for over three years now that the U.S. has been holding prisoners of war at Guantanamo Bay without benefit of the Geneva Conventions. We read of abuses at Abu Ghraib and cattle-cars of men who have suffocated in Afghanistan. One report estimates that up to 10,000 ghost detainees are never entered into the prison registry so they can more easily disappear. Who can forget Canadian citizen Maher Arar who was diverted in the U.S. from his flight home to be tortured in Syria for more than a year? Now is the time to say enough is enough! Please join me in contacting your representative, asking them to sign on to the Bill of Rights Defense Committee. A copy of the sign-on letter can be found at www.bordc.org/torturesignon.htm Shirley Gauthier , Springfield
TOLL OF WAR Against an already ominous and ever-broadening backdrop, a hushed and dimly lit Scene II is unfurling. The curtains part, and another set of real, and wrenching, human dramas unfolds featuring a cast of the physically and psychologically maimed. For the most part, their wounds will never be healed, their stories rarely heard. One quarter of the soldiers return with post traumatic stress disorder, an acutely severe and hard-to-treat condition which can render their lives a true living nightmare. Due to the lack of funding at the VA, many of these young men and women will be shell-shocked for life. (Online, a mother of one of the soldiers recently mourned that "all my boy wants to do is curl up like a baby and cry.") The figures on the number of suicides remain unclear, but reasonable estimates suggest that the number is already climbing into the hundreds. Sadly, I wonder how many will return in a persistent vegetative state. Isn't it time to not only end this tragic play, but to shut down the theater? Rob Simonson, Eugene
POSITIVE CAMPAIGN I read with interest that Eric Forrest, a Republican, has raised more than $11,000 for his 4J School Board race, with the help of friends like Jim Torrey, Jack Roberts, Chambers Construction and developer Ehrman Giustina. Republican group Eugene Neighbors United for the Future is also phone-banking for him. If school funding is so important, why isn't some of that $11,000 going directly to schools? Aria Seligmann, one of the candidates for position 6, has vowed to keep campaign spending to a minimum, consciously determining that spending a lot of money on a school board campaign is immoral when schools are struggling financially. Seligmann is running a positive campaign, meeting with neighborhood and school parent groups, knocking on doors to ask community members what they think about the state of the 4J School District, and discussing with others ways to close the achievement gap without affecting viable alternative schools. While Aria's campaign, like all, requires donations to pay for mailings, her friends aren't raising big bucks that could otherwise go to schools; they're making smaller contributions and volunteering for her grassroots campaign: knocking on doors, waving signs and telling their friends that Aria will be an effective, progressive voice on the school board. Aria Seligmann is following her heart in campaigning for school board. She sincerely wants to help improve the school district for the sake of all the children. The deadline for returning ballots is May 17. Please follow your heart, too, and vote for Aria Seligmann. Leslie Brockelbank, Eugene
SINDI'S QUALIFIED The election for Position 6 on the Eugene School Board offers voters an unusual opportunity. Nadia Sindi will bring to that position a remarkable set of qualifications. Nadia's appreciation of cultural and racial diversity in an ever-shrinking world will inform her judgements on the most fundamental educational issues. Nadia is acutely aware of the importance of educating our children to live peacefully in a crowded world with finite natural resources — only if our children grow up recognizing the necessity of international cooperation to achieve world-wide economic justice can they hope to co-exist with the threat of annihilation by nuclear weapons and other WMD's. If the world survives the current crises exacerbated by America's belligerence, its continued survival will be in the hands of our children. Nadia's ability to guide our children in the ways of peace is attested to by her long record of people-oriented public service. Franklin W. Stahl, Eugene
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