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GREATER THREATS The FBI claims the Earth/Animal Liberation Front to be the number one domestic "terrorist" threat in the U.S! Surely our government doesn't expect the American people to be cowering in fear of a handful of vandals who have never hurt, nor even threatened to hurt anyone. While I am not condoning these crimes, and believe that arson should be a punishable offense, isn't it true that there are greater threats out there to the safety and well-being of the public? What about the violent anti-abortionists who have committed seven murders, 17 attempted murders, multiple bombings, assaults and kidnappings? What about the Ku Klux Klan or the Aryan Nation, groups that openly advocate for hatred and violence towards African Americans and Jews? What about the people who sent anthrax through the mail to government officials in 2001? Aren't these groups more likely to harm my loved ones and me than the ELF, which targets only specific large corporations with property damage? Why are those other groups not the focus of nine-year investigations? It's clear that our government is more concerned with guarding property owned by the wealthy than protecting the physical safety of its citizens. Even if one insists on using the term "violent" to describe these vandals, shouldn't there be a distinction made between violence against property, and violence against people? One of them threatens my life, the other does not. With a limited amount of resources to combat "domestic terrorism," shouldn't we be arranging our priorities more carefully? Regina Rogers, Eugene
OUTRAGEOUS WRITER Sally Sheklow's "Boulder Holders" piece (12/15) had to be the funniest thing in a long time. She is an absolutely fabulous writer. A friend read it out loud at our Christmas party and had everyone in stitches. My sweetie (Bob) made a bunch of Xerox copies, and I found it on the Internet and shared it with my friends all around the country. When my sister read it the next night, she laughed harder than my sweetie had ever heard her laugh before. She could hardly read out loud — it cracked her up so. When I looked her up on the Internet, I found out Sally stirs up a bit of controversy. Good for her to be able to be herself, a wonderfully outrageous, creative, amazing writer. Cleone Lyvonne, Bandon
BALANCING ACT Sally Sheklow's last column (12/15) brought me such laugh-out-loud enjoyment and later, read aloud, it was the joy of a gathering I attended. In fact, it reminded me to tell you that I appreciate all of her columns. She brings insight and new "food for thought" whether the subject matter is downright funny or more thoughtful. In these intense days, I appreciate her lighter touch that still has impact. She brings terrific balance between humor and seriousness that invites and provokes contemplation. Doesn't get better than that in my opinion. By the way, her last column brought new attention to Eugene Weekly for those not regular readers! Happy holidays and thanks for the work you do. Onward!
Judy Moseley, Eugene
EDITOR'S NOTE: We received more letters on the topic of Sally's brassiere adventures than we have room to print.
IDLE CHATTER Could it have been your mechanic who told you that warming up your car's engine in the morning (by idling) is a good idea, or just your own preference for a warm steering wheel? It's very bad practice, either way. Idling the car to warm up its engine has technically only drawbacks: The engine warms up very slowly, running for a long time in "enriched mode" (very incomplete combustion), which generates much more of the hazardous air pollution. The air pollution is not neutralized because the catalytic converter, being cold, isn't doing its job yet. So, better ignore the bumper stickers that say "Breathe Deeply." By the way, cold and therefore thicker oil at low engine RPMs can't lubricate the engine as well, resulting in increased abrasion. Worse yet, micro corrosion of your cylinder walls due to briefly condensing water vapor makes your engine feel very unloved, believe me. The upshot: Warm-up-idling harms your engine, and poisons the air that you, passing school kids, and I breathe. So, please just start the engine, and get going. Just don't rev it up like a race car. By the way, regarding the comfort of a warm car: If it's cold out, you're likely to be wearing a coat and gloves anyway (perhaps almost enough to keep you warm on a bike?). See you on the bike path? Peter Reppe, Eugene
THE PRETENDER This so-called president says he did not break the law. This ignoble simpleton, to begin with, has not the capacity to understand the law (i.e. the Constitution), never mind follow, respect and honor it. All he is is a mouthpiece for a cadre of lawyers, advisors and consultants. The previously corporate private sector "game" of public relations has been totally adopted, embraced and adapted to the present pretender to the highest office in the land. Although it is debatable if he has ever read a book or magazine from cover to cover, it is a fact that he is the only individual to have occupied this cherished office with no volume in print or published papers. Holy Christ, he can barely speak the English language. It is time we, as a people, ask ourselves how much longer we shall tolerate this buffoon. George Washington must surely be turning over in his grave, not to mention Jefferson, Adams, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Kennedy. In such times of madness, all a man or woman can do is have faith and say or think or pray, "God save us all. God save our precious form of government." Surely this tactic is better than eventual armed revolution in the streets of America. Terry Heintz, Eugene
FEAR AND APATHY Jeff Free Luers gets my vote for Best Activist. He not only risked his freedom in an attempt to awaken people, he's still speaking out from prison. Vip Short (12/15) may choose to overlook the facts, but that doesn't change them. Trying to reform our failed democracy is a losing proposition, and violence is something done to live beings, not inanimate property. If one follows world events closely, it is clear who the terrorists really are: the transnational corporations and their participants including Bush, Cheney and company. The WTO, NAFTA, and the IMF contribute to increased destruction of Earth's land, water and air - depleting world resources while blatantly disregarding anyone in their way. Deadly chemicals created and released by corporate interests are directly responsible for many cancers and respiratory ailments. All for greed, power, imperialism. Bush and Cheney have already pocketed the profits and will continue. And why? Because the American public is paralyzed by fear and/or apathy. The most recent FBI arrests of alleged "eco-terrorists" shines a light on these issues. The intent is to spread fear deep and wide among environmental activists who may gain support or inspiration from others confrontational efforts. Focusing energy on Free's unreasonable sentence of almost 23 years is not a wasted effort; support of political prisoners is essential in these times when more people in the U.S. will be serving time in prison for their political beliefs and actions. Please don't discount the importance of that support. Sherry Franzen, Eugene
MURDER FOR MONEY OK. To review, quickly: The vast forests of our land have met the same fate as the indigenous human population as white settlement became permanent industrial society — disease and genocide. Clearing for other uses and exporting raw materials brought both to become tiny remnants of their former selves. One can write a book or make a film extolling the many economic virtues of industrial extraction and production, but such positing always, necessarily, leaves out the murder involved — the destruction of ecosystems and peoples for money. My point is this: Just because most of the ancient Oregon forest ecosystem has been converted to settlements, clear-cuts, tree farms and roads, it doesn't follow that we need it to stay that way. I have no fear of forestry. I have a healthy fear of mechanistic thinking applied to profiting from the web of life. Forests are multidimensional organisms and the destruction of them in recent years has been done by highly automated, oil-dependent wood products. Industry and governmental agencies subsidize the costs involved. What would a society be like that decided to re-wild vast stretches of formerly forested areas (even corporate property) and also protected remaining untrammeled land so that it could live out its natural life? To do this, that society would need to value corporate expansion and profit much less than the gift of an intact temperate rainforest given to our children. Anthony Willey, Cottage Grove
DUMB OR EVIL Regarding the current voter choice, the way I see it at this point is that we have a choice of two kinds of government; dumb or evil. Perhaps dumb isn't exactly the correct word. Too many Democrats are either dumb or gutless. Either way it works out the same. With all the polls showing the Republicans gasping for air, the Democrats still haven't figured out what to do about it! I could go on about all the issues they're missing the boat on, but I think we all know what they are. And what about leadership that virtually condones torture, indulges in disastrous pre-emptive war, pummels the neediest with budget cuts while stroking the richest 5 to 10 percent with tax cuts, and so on, and so on. If this isn't evil then it's the best definition of despotism I can think of. So there we have it: Dumb or evil, which will it be? Dumb government will make costly mistakes in the name of compassion, but evil government can and often will get you killed. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be broke than dead. John DeLeau, Springfield
GRINCH REPORT? A tribute to Dr. Seuss: The headlines did say the news is as such/ Budget cuts are coming and they will be much! The Seniors will have less finding for nursing home care and it's back to work for single parents on welfare/ Deadbeat parents who fail to pay for child support go free/ What more damage could there be? Student college fund money/ biggest cut in history / Why I'm feeling so glum is no mystery!/ Home health service payments in a pinch/ this MUST be the work of a GRINCH! This horrible trend, this social programs cutting binge/ Has basic care for people become part of the fringe? While some fight about what holiday name to be calling/ Is it just me, or do others find the budget cuts appalling? Fran Gillespie, Eugene
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