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SKEWED PRIORITIES The slow response to the recent disaster in the wake of Hurricane Katrina has made it clear that we have not made national security and the well-being of American citizens a priority. Why aren't we able to respond to emergencies and take care of our own people? It is because our money, resources, military and National Guardsmen and women are tied up in Iraq instead of here, ready to deal with the huge problems developing in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. I hope that some good will come out of this desperate situation — that people will open their eyes to the problems this administration ignores. George W. Bush and his war hawks are spending billions of our tax dollars trying (and failing) to secure a country on the other side of the world when we need help here: on flood prevention, FEMA disaster response, fighting poverty and urban decay. Our most capable, strong people are over there fighting Bush's war while our infrastructure is crumbling at home. Without food, water, shelter, sanitation, security or medical attention, the people in the Gulf States are now paying the price of the money-sucking war in Iraq. Bring the troops home. We need them here. Laura Strobel, Eugene
MASS REVOLUTION Mardi Gras is over and Katrina is one big factor of why the party's finished. Or changing. The end of the oil economy will contribute and speed things up exponentially. Social unrest must brew and transform to a mass revolution like heat transforms into a tropical storm, then into a hurricane. There are so many ways the suffering could have been prevented. So much neglect of the most needy. Many are waking up to what we have let our country become: greedy and selfish. The party is changing and must include all life. May suffering end for all beings. May we work towards that goal. Pam Driscoll, Eugene
KILLER ADS An ad on recycled paper with sunflowers, and talk of beneficial insects and earth-friendly agricultural practices — must be for something good for the planet and your body. Or is it? In fact, it's just the latest in a string of misleading advertisements for American Spirit cigarettes, that when used as intended will kill just as effectively as any other tobacco product. The ads do not claim their products are safer, and they do include a required warning, but the implicit claims are an association between natural, organic and health. Check the Internet and you'll find hundreds of posted comments from misled smokers who buy the myth that organic cigarettes are somehow healthier for you. But, burn a 100 percent natural organic cigarette and you can actually inhale higher concentrations of tar and nicotine than regular cigs, and the smoke has greater levels of toxic agents such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and carcinogenic hydrocarbons. That's right, these nasty toxins are not added by evil tobacco companies, they occur naturally as a result of burning a dried organic material called tobacco. The problem is "lighting organic material and sucking it into your lungs" as Michael Erikson, chairman of CDC's Office on Smoking and Health put it. This clever but misleading marketing of Natural American Spirits also suggests a small, environmentally conscious company that is affiliated with Native Americans. Neither is true — they are owned by one of the largest U.S. tobacco corporations — R.J. Reynolds. EW should take a more informed and socially responsible position and reject future tobacco corporation ads. Julia Martin , Eugene
WRONG QUESTION The Orwellian-named Communities for Healthy Forests recently conducted a poll to demonstrate what the public thought was the best way to approach post-fire landscapes. The story that ran in most news outlets highlighted the fact that 54 percent of those polled said they "strongly support taking steps to restore federal forestlands after catastrophic fires by removing dead trees and planting new seedlings." This question could also be phrased: "Do you support massive clearcutting efforts in designated old growth reserves which would seriously affect imperiled species and water quality? I'd bet you'd get a lot lower percentage here. Interestingly, both will yield the same results: degraded waterways, clearcuts in designated old-growth reserves, and a legacy of stump fields for our children and grandchildren, all funded by taxpayers like you and me. This skewed poll is aimed to help grease the skids for Sen. Smith and Rep. Walden's impending legislation being discussed that would mandate massive clearcutting projects and artificial conifer replanting after fire events. Just wait. Real scientists (not the wannabes that are hired by the Douglas County Commissioners or the Communities for Healthy Forests), tell us that aggressive post-fire logging in these fragile landscapes is one of the most damaging forms of management being practiced. Fire is an integral part of the landscape, like wind, rain and snow, and has helped shape the mountains of our continent for millennia. Just look at the remarkable, recovering landscape at Yellowstone. Josh Laughlin, Executive Director Cascadia Wildlands Project
CUTS TO STUDENT AID As a recent college graduate, I believe everyone should have an opportunity to attend college because higher education has given me the skills and knowledge to become an active and engaged citizen. While we live in a great democracy, this cannot continue without our new generations becoming active citizens. Unfortunately, congress is proposing a bill, HR609, which would force students to pay billions more due to a proposed $11 billion cut to student aid. The bill freezes grant aid levels, increases student loan costs by an average of $3,000 and increases taxes on loans. Meanwhile, taxpayers are subsidizing billions of dollars to the private lending industry, which could be applied to student aid programs. This is the single biggest cut to student aid in history. I urge our members of Congress to restore funding to student aid. Kira Lebsack, Corvallis
BEHIND THE COUNTER In response to Alissa McLaughlin's complaints (8/18) about poor customer service in our city: I would first like to say that as an employee who works hard to serve with a smile, I am offended at her generalizations about people in the service industry in Eugene. Some of us do work hard (at a wage that barely pays the bills!) to give good service and McLaughlin completely disregards us. After working more than four years in food service, I have come to believe that many customers are too far removed from what it is actually like on the other side of the counter. Many people either never have worked in service, or have forgotten how hard the job can be sometimes. I would also like to add that while there certainly are a number of good tippers in Eugene (thank you!), many people don't feel the need to leave a tip. This may be related to the difference that McLaughlin found between our city and other bigger cities where people tip better. I am not complaining about the tips I make, only asking McLaughlin and other unhappy customers to examine this often overlooked aspect of the service industry. McLaughlin wants change in Eugene, and I suggest that this change can be achieved if she and other customers begin appreciating those of us who do work hard to make them happy instead of complaining and generalizing about negative experiences they have had. Lora Bailey, Eugene
IGNORNANCE IS BLISS We've grown accustomed to the violence, bloodshed, death and gore. Two thumbs up for this movie. They say that in time we'll win the war. Two thumbs up, it's alright, they said, it had to and still has to be done. After all, we've got an OK from the White House, the Congress, most of whom have never been fired upon. So two thumbs up, just keep on drivin', ignorance is bliss. Regardless how the oil is acquired, as long as we get our fix. Art Vilums, Eugene WAR ON ERROR Searching questions on the fourth anniversary of 9/11: Are we fighting a war on terror? No, we're fighting a war in error. You can tell it's a war in error because in a true war, a specific and unchanging goal is declared, a meticulous outfitting and deployment of troops is undertaken, contributions and restraints are mandated such as: 1) Gas rationing and other conservation measures. 2) A war effort on the part of citizens (e.g. bonds to buy, Red Cross work to support.) 3) A suspension of month-long presidential vacations. Moreover, you can tell it's a war in error because Bush cannot answer Cindy Sheehan's question, "Why did my son die in Iraq?" without honestly confessing that her son died for nothing more than the greater power and glory of George Bush, who appears desperate to immortalize himself as a war president. Honest confessions of error being out of the question, Bush roves about the truth, speaking with forked, loose, and stubborn tongue: it deceives, accuses without evidence and wags in only one direction. Democracy is swallowed up by such a tongue, and so, alas! is America. A new Uncle Sam is at the helm: Uncle S(elf) A(nointed) M(essiah). This new Uncle SAM makes enemies unthinkingly and globally, in turn promoting terrorism the same way. He has no respect for "them" and no desire for peace. Unlike his real namesake, George, he knows nothing of a "policy of humanity," let alone a policy of truth. His America the ugly is driven by greed, arrogance, and barbaric practices. It is an America in which national fears have been converted into a fearsome, vengeful nation whom none dare challenge. Bush will undoubtedly go down in history. The question is: Will he take America with him? Maxine Sheets-Johnstone, Yachats
HELPFUL LABELS If you believe people can become "mad," "crazy" or "mentally ill," then by any commonly accepted definition of these terms all living beings fit, from womb to tomb, 24/7. This is neither bad nor good. But it's true. Science understands that none of us has a grip on reality. To think, to live, to exist we are all literally on the edge of the same darn boat. I read with interest that Jon A. Young (8/25) is committed to advocacy for those who are diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities. Thank you, Jon. I agree we all need respect, good jobs, equality and more. However, I'd encourage Jon and others who would like to help those of us with psychiatric labels to please re-consider using the phrase "mental illness." Please don't say we all have a "disease." Many of our members define their problems and differences biologically, but many of our other members passionately define their problems and differences in terms of spirituality, psychology, income, empowerment, nutrition, ecology, art, politics and many other factors. There is no perfectly inclusive phrase for all of us, but a better term would be "mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors." I respect an individual's right to define their mental and emotional problems as a "disease." But please do not apply that medical perspective to us all. I have asked for even one scientific citation or test that establishes any major psychiatric disorder as a biologically-based "disease" or "chemical imbalance." I'm waiting. David Oaks, Director, MindFreedom International
TOO LONG I have lived in Eugene for about 15 years and am an avid appreciator and user of the city's parks and open spaces on a daily basis. As such, I am compelled to respond to a City of Eugene employee's comments (Eric Jones) in the EW article titled Upstream Battle for Salmon, where he states that the city is protecting salmon habitat from pollutants, "particularly pesticides." PLEASE! Yes, the "concepts" that Eugene adopted over 15 years ago regarding integrated pest management (IPM) ideals meant to reduce the use of pesticides were progressive at the time. However, the city has failed to take the steps necessary to turn these "concepts" into a written policy to guide pest management techniques or pesticide use on city properties. Thus, there is currently zero public accountability and zero guarantee that the "concepts" of IPM adopted years ago are being implemented, not to mention at a level that ensures salmon protection. As a result, I have seen archaic aesthetic practices being implemented in some of Eugene's parks, such as three-plus applications of pesticides (herbicides) a year for green-free rings around trees, drinking fountains, picnic tables and other park structures — along the edge of the Willamette River (River Park between EWEB and the Rose Garden). This is an absolute NO-NO in modern salmon safe IPM policies. And, it is an example of why Eugene's City Council, its Salmon Protection Planning team, and the public want the city to create a written policy. The city of Salem recently developed and adopted an IPM policy for salmon and human health protection that includes 150-foot no-spray buffers along the Willamette, no-spray on all playgrounds and picnic areas, public education programs for pesticide use reduction, and clear posting for the public when a pesticide is applied. Eugene's current IPM "concepts" require none of the above. Get on it, Eugene. We park users are ready for it. We don't want brown tree rings anymore; we want parks that protect salmon from pesticide pollution and protect the public from unnecessary pesticide exposure. Pollyanna Lind, Eugene
ANNUAL PROMOTION Despite the appearance, post-Oregon Country Fair each year, of letters to the editor from unhappy fairgoers, the annual EW article about the OCF continues to be promotional in nature. Why doesn't EW explore both sides of the OCF and do a fair and balanced article? Please don't tell me that advertising money spent by the fair precludes such scrutiny. Personally, I believe that the fair suffers from entitlement. Old members feel entitled to misuse their power in various ways; attendees who haven't earned a pass feel entitled to sneak in. Homely old men feel entitled to slime on young women; jugglers feel entitled to go through women like toilet paper. Some folks live the ideals. Some don't. Let's have the whole picture from the alternative paper whose ideals are supposedly more trustworthy than those of the R-G. Ruby Colette, Eugene
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