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CRITICAL MASS
Three times this month alone I have nearly been run down by inattentive SUV drivers. I choose to ride a bike because I care about preserving the integrity of our community and our environment, because I don't support the wars that we are fighting of dwindling resources, and because I don't want to see any more natural areas destroyed through the extraction process. I choose to ride a bike because I value all the life that is being destroyed by car culture over the convenience that motorized vehicles are presumed to provide. Last Friday (6/24) I participated, along with nearly 100 other cyclists, in this month's Critical Mass. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, and thrilled to provide a positive example of alternative forms of transportation that are virtually harmless to our environment. People were able to talk with one another and enjoy the beautiful weather without the fear of death. Yes, cars kill can kill cyclists very easily. It's already happened a few times this year, here in Eugene. I know that not everyone shares my sense of priorities. Some people feel like cyclists shouldn't be allowed on the roads, but it would be nice if there were more that one hour out of the month that I could feel safe riding in my own streets. Yeah, I know many people feel like they don't have a choice about it, but come on, this is Eugene. How often do you really have to drive? Clayton Rivers, Eugene
WHY NOT A PIG? Much as I am not a supporter of the police mindset, with its emphasis on guilt and intimidation, I feel that EW does a massive disservice to the cause of clear communication when it uses stereotypical and intrinsically insulting imagery to make its point. The use of a half-eaten donut on the cover (6/30), together with a series of such images interwoven throughout the cover story "Lawsuit Threatens to Eat EPDs Lunch" serves only to separate and confuse an issue which is serious enough to stand on its own, without the need for emotionally charged imagery. I mean if you wanted to go whole hog, no pun intended, why didn't you print a picture of a pig eating the donut? Perhaps the editor was being lazy-minded: What on earth has a donut to do with sexual assault? Are you implying that the donut made him do it? Otherwise the image is not only irrelevant, but I have to say that if I were a cop, especially their public relations spokesperson, I would feel insulted, and much less inclined to make forthright efforts to communicate through your newspaper. What purpose have you in trying to perpetuate this Us and Them mentality? It's similar to the circular logic used by the neo-cons to confuse people when they are spreading their lies; they use emotionally charged imagery designed to make you believe that black is white: Some cops eat donuts, some cops are bad, therefore donuts are a gateway drug that causes cops to go over the edge and assault vulnerable women. I have had issues with EW's lapses into polemic in the past. The great potential that EW has is to present the alternative viewpoint. That effort suffers greatly when shallow cliches are used to illustrate a serious news story. Grow up! Peter Holden, Eugene
INSULTING REVIEW I am writing this letter because of my concerns about the recent (6/30) band reviews by Jef Stout in the yearly local bands special section of EW. We as a band in good faith gave our CD, Icelick Inner Truth along with pictures and a brief bio with the thought that we would be included in a local band directory. To our total dismay and disgust we were greeted by the most insulting and distasteful form of a review I personally have ever seen. The review was not only cruel but a total disregard for people who are spending their lives dedicated to writing and performing. We have put our hearts and souls into our music and formed Icelick, bringing 30 years of experience into fruition with the goal of helping humanity. Recently, we won a juried international song competition in the category of "Social Improvement" for the song "Have We Forgotten," from Artists Helping Artists, an international organization. We moved to Eugene because of its reputation for the tremendous support that they give their musicians and wanted to call Eugene our home base. I might add that we are native Oregonians and our thoughts were to tell the world that this is where we are from: Eugene, Oregon. To be told our CD is "like listening to your mother sing the songs she wrote when she was 12" and to be referred to as "Worse than videotaping your parents' XXX throw-down" is completely uncalled for, and I personally cannot believe that a magazine would let this type of trash be put on their pages. Another band was told that they might be able to play in a child's cancer ward without getting booed. It just so happens that this band has volunteered their music and time for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life along with other charities. I may be the only one who stands up and says this is not only wrong but I am appalled and disgusted. As professional musicians, we support and respect all genres of music and the musicians who create and perform them. While we appreciate EW, we do not condone this type of defamation towards artists. Dave Braulick, www.icelick.com
WHAT'S SO BAD? What an interesting article about Wal-Mart (6/16)! You made me want to go to their official web site and look over their claims. Now that I've read what EW thinks, and what Wal-Mart thinks, I have to admit, I'm having a little trouble understanding just what the point of the article was. Help me out here. Wal-Mart pledges $35 million to conserve at least 138,000 acres of "high-priority wildlife habitat" along with five signature projects by "allotting $8.8 million in Wal-Mart funds to conserve 321,000 acres," and this is bad? Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott admits that, "Protecting the environment is simply the right thing to do." And this is bad as well? Wal-Mart is found guilty of "Clean Water Act violations for polluted storm water runoff from its parking lots," agrees to pay millions in fines, fix the problem, then requires its "construction firms bidding on Wal-Mart contracts to certify their project managers in storm water management." Wal-Mart has happily reached the conclusion that storm water runoff is "zero tolerance," and this also is bad? I gotta admit guys, this article was quite the eye opener. Instead of crying victory over bringing Wal-Mart to justice, you keep whining and sniffling that it won't be enough until Wal-Mart is gone from the planet. After all the whining and moaning and bitching, you do not realize that the best way to handle a giant like Wal-Mart is to take their money. How many acres of wetlands and high-priority wildlife habitat does EW help pay to restore? Just how much money does EW pay out, in real dollars, to local charities? EW is just another pathetic, short sighted, special interest group who can't be pleased even when it does win, because it doesn't understand what the fight is all about. Paul Gillespie, Creswell
WAL-MART'S TOLL Thank you for the excellent piece (6/16) on Wal-Mart's efforts to improve their image by giving to environmental causes. You covered all the bases not only in reporting on their activities but also pointing out the terrible toll Wal-Mart stores take on the environment: parking lot and toxic product run-off into creeks and streams, piles of consumer items and packaging ending up in landfills, empty Wal-Mart stores dotting the American landscape. This new campaign by Wal-Mart is like the toxic polluter who wants to be congratulated for funding cancer research. I know the environment can use all the help it can get, but I don't believe that making a deal with a devil like Wal-Mart will result in any net gain for the earth. The only "green" this company cares about is the kind they can take to the bank. Wal-Mart heir John Walton died last week leaving a fortune estimated at $20 billion. He was ranked No. 7 on the Forbes Magazine list of the 400 wealthiest Americans last year. Ahead of him on that list were his mother and brother. That wealth was created, in part, by the work of thousands of employees who can't afford to buy into the company health plan, earn less than a living wage and have been forced to work unpaid overtime while locked inside Wal-Mart stores. It is way past time for this company to revisit its business practices. Giving a fraction of their profits to conservation projects will not make up for the great harm Wal-Mart has done to workers and the environment. Claire Syrett, Eugene
HEY, HOW ARE YA? I was very interested in Lynette Chiang's letter (6/30, "Hitting Concrete") and the earlier letter from Emily Wille (6/23, "Stuck in Eugene"), both having to do with alienation in a new place and finding friends in one's town. It can be tough to fit in with others in a new venue. But most people do not approach the problem logically and scientifically. I propose the following well-researched and practical approaches to meeting nice people in a new town: • Go to the Saturday Market, and stroll the downtown Eugene streets completely naked. When a passerby's eye catches you, give them your biggest, best wave and friendliest "How are ya?" • Run an ad in one of the local papers inviting people to be introduced to the newest, most successful strategy ever for achieving their personal dreams and ambitions. Once you get them all there, explain that the strategy is to be decent to others and always act with integrity. • Go to Texas Hold 'Em poker tournaments. (This is a surefire winner if you can stand staying up all night.) • Whenever one of your neighbors, work peers, impromptu acquaintances, etc. begins to rant about whatever their personal point is on politics, economics, personal affairs, whatever (and believe me, you won't have to wait long for this to happen), listen carefully to the whole thing. Then look them straight in the eye and explain to them how they are completely right about everything. • If all else fails, write to me. I'll be happy to be your friend. Matt Hannigan, Eugene
STENCH OF 'PATULI' "Support our own?" (Julie Rogers, 6/30). First of all, could you make Eugene sound like more of a cult? Second of all, not all locals are self-serving Democratic hippies. Not all of us enjoy shopping outside in bare feet and dreadlocks with recycled baskets of produce and eggs. Not all of us enjoy spending $8 a pound for meat because it wasn't given antibiotics and wasn't given steroids. There are way too many people in Eugene to expect us all to shop at some itty bitty over priced, underventilated natural foods store or some outdoor farmers market. Progressive means open to change, open to growth and the town is growing, not shrinking. People are different, with different needs. There is only one reason more families don't buy natural foods — because they cannot afford the ridiculous prices! Yet we can all agree people should eat more natural foods. This need will be addressed. A big box natural food store is welcome in my life. It is about time! Maybe this one won't stink like god-awful patuli, and I don't care if I spelled that right! Kamara S. Glenn, Eugene
FITTING THE CRIME Following is a selection of punishments for various criminal offenses: Six years for pouring hot cooking oil on face of sleeping boyfriend. Six years for deliberately running over boyfriend with car. Six years for strangling and beating a woman beyond all recognition after serving six years for a similar assault. Four and one-half years for sexual abuse of at least 10 women by Eugene police officer while on duty. Fifteen days for attempted rape of and coerced oral sex with children's nanny. Twenty-four years for serial killer who will be freed in 2006 (vicious random slayings of 13 women, targeted women he thought had evil eyes). Twenty-two years for execution-style murders of two Fish and Game Department officers, plus a jailbreak. Eighteen years for attempted murder of Pope John Paul II. Eight years for raping, cutting off the forearms of a 15-year-old girl, and leaving her to die (later convicted of killing a prostitute). No charges for Springfield vigilante-style restaurant murder in 1995. Fifteen years for 17 separate arsons of buildings and cars. Four years for setting fire to a school. Three years for Forest Service fire safety specialist, whose motive was overtime, convicted of 35 counts of first degree arson in forest. Twenty-three years for Jeff Luers' arson of three SUVs. While not condoning Luers action, I urge responsible Lane County justice system officials to support the reduction of his unjust, internationally denounced, politically motivated and absurdly long sentence. Jerome Garger, Yachats
SHOWING APPRECIATION Not enough do we show gratitude for all that we have, living in this magnificent area. As summer is here, I thought I might list a few of the wonderful things that are part of our community: Spencer Butte, the bike path, Dorris Ranch, Mount Pisgah, Amazon Pool, the WOW Hall, The Riverridge Trail, the ocean, Cougar Hot Springs, Alton Baker Park, the library, local organic stores, the Farmers Markets, the Saturday Market, the Oregon Country Fair, and all the wonderful, amazing people who love this community. May all of you enjoy all these wonders as much as my kids, dog and myself will this summer. We are Blessed. Darcy Haapapa, Eugene
FRANK OPINIONS In response to "Stuck in Eugene" letter (6/23): You are absolutely right, Emily. When it comes to jobs, Eugene SUCKS. Eugene is a "class" society mired in its conflicts and doomed to go nowhere. If you are not in the right class — you are out of luck. In response to the "Ill-fated WEP" letter (6/23): Sorry Rob — the WEP will go through. The career bureaucrats want it that way and they have the manpower, the budget and all the time in the world — you don't. In response to Kera Abraham's story (6/23) on school drop-outs: We spend an enormous amount of money on "free" education. And then these yo-yos drop out. Anyone who does not graduate from high school or get an equivalent education should be denied a driver's license until they are 25 or 30. Students should be told this when they enter ninth grade. Frank Skipton, Springfield
EDUCATION NEEDED While the FDA stalls on approving over-the-counter status for Plan B, women must act to promote the use of emergency contraception to prevent unplanned pregnancy. Less than 25 percent of OB/GYNs and family practice physicians talk about emergency contraception when speaking with their patients about birth control, and only 6 percent of American women report having used emergency contraception. We must educate the public about emergency contraception and its 89 percent efficacy in preventing pregnancy when taken within three days of intercourse. We also need to encourage women to talk to their health care providers about obtaining a prescription ahead of time for use in case of emergency. This way, women are prepared to prevent an unwanted pregnancy after an accident or an assault. Finally, women should reach out to pharmacists in their communities and encourage that they carry emergency contraception. Some pharmacists do not carry emergency contraception because they are not well informed about it or perceive that there is little demand for it. By providing information about emergency contraception and demonstrating that women in the community want access to it, many pharmacists can be motivated to stock emergency contraceptives in their stores. The FDA is stalling, but reproductive health advocates must keep working to help women prevent unplanned pregnancies. Barbara Hemstreet, Springfield
A LITTLE TWISTED I find it ironic that on the day when Judith Miller is going to jail for refusing to reveal her sources at the White House, I happened to recall this article I read in February 2004 in The New York Review of Books (www.nybooks.com)regarding the shameless way the White House used Judith Miller to beat the drums for war with talk of aluminum tubes and mushroom clouds. It's a bit twisted that a reporter who spreads Bush lies to deceive the American public and the world about Iraq is now a martyr for journalistic freedom. Hope Marston, Eugene
A VIOLENT CRIME Most of the members of the Jeff Luers fan club are too young to remember that the Eugene Fire Department lost two men fighting a blaze at a car lot in 1966. I doubt that any professional firefighter will tell you that torching vehicles with 40 gallon fuel tanks is a harmless, nonviolent form of political protest. Luers' cheerleaders routinely fail to mention that Jeff and his co-conspirator also attempted to blow up a small tank farm at Tyree Oil Co. Those of us who live in this area would rather not have clueless revolutionaries without a cause firebombing our neighborhood. I'm not qualified to determine an appropriate sentence for these crimes, but the fact that this guy shown no remorse for his actions indicates that he is in need of additional rehabilitation services at the State Pen. Douglas Newton, Eugene
DEMOCRACY FOR IRAQ? Again President Bush reiterated that he wants to bring democracy to Iraq. This is good as it provides a skeleton for success. However, he has failed to put flesh over the skeleton since the invasion. We should provide security for every Iraqi citizen so that they can safely leave their homes. We should provide jobs so that Iraqis can buy food, housing, medicines and clothes. We should provide electricity so that people can survive their 100-plus degree summers. What would your life be like without security, a job, or electricity? How can we expect a democracy to emerge in Iraq without providing these basic needs? Michael Mooser, Eugene
NOT ANOTHER VIETNAM Regarding the current multi-billion dollar farce on the other side of the planet: better to run away with our tails between our legs with only 1,700 (or 1,800) unnecessary deaths, than to run away with our tails between our legs with 50,000-plus unnecessary deaths. If there is anything to be learned from the Vietnamese debacle, maybe the aforementioned maxim might be applied to the Iraqi debacle. Terry Heintz, Eugene
UNION STAGEHANDS As a union stagehand who works at the Hult Center and Cuthbert Amphitheatre, I take exception to the implication in "Free the Cuthbert" (7/7) that a skilled union stagehand can be replaced by a volunteer. In our industry (yes, it is an industry), the combination of technical skills and physical requirements needed to load in, run and load out a show is commonly undervalued and often the first suggestion when discussing cost cutting is to eliminate union wages from the equation. A large portion of the money coming into the ticket office goes right out of town in artists' fees and promoter profits. I would like the community to remember that the wages we receive cycle directly back into the local economy. When road crews arrive, they are relieved to be working with a local union crew that can quickly and safely load their shows in and out. Eugene can be proud that, combined with great music fans, a union like ours exists to provide visiting artists and technicians a great Eugene experience. So when discussing the expense of putting on a show, consider that a union crew is not an "extra cost" (as stated in the article); rather, we are skilled members of the community and the performing arts. Mike Carpenter, Business Agent, IATSE #675, Eugene
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