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REJOICING AT LOSS? It's difficult to begin a response to Nick Urhausen's pyrrhic victory over the students at our elementary school. I read how he was "elated" when informed he had effectively removed our music and P.E. classes. I can enhance his euphoria. We'll now be using the money our students and families fundraise to try and retain the facilitating math teachers needed for our blended classes. Prior to Mr. Urhausen's successful campaign against our kids, we were able to use these funds as a means to bring in numerous artists, generally through the Lane Arts Council. What the city levy didn't cover, donations ensured. We could have at least one full day of music instruction and two days of P.E. Thanks to the tireless efforts bankrolled by outsider Don McIntire, our kids will be denied most, if not all, of this. In a newscast, Mr. Urhausen grinned as he proclaimed himself the champion of students in Springfield and other neighboring districts whose citizens did not vote for levies similar to the ones in Eugene and Bethel. I'd like to respond to this assertion. I would tell Mr. Urhausen not to insult our neighbors by assuming they are rejoicing at our loss. The citizens I know from Springfield are made of much finer moral fiber. They would never rejoice at the diminishment of another child's education. I'd tell him that we'll dust ourselves off, assess the damage, and get back to work. In the end, the hardships inflicted will be turned into a learning experience. A harsh one, but necessary when teaching our young people how to be good, productive citizens. Joseph H. Alsup, Principal, Crest Drive
FATHER KNOWS BEST When I was a kid my father taught me how to be responsible for my actions. I had broken our neighbor's window hitting rocks with a baseball bat. My father was pleased that I had confessed my guilt, but made me clean up the glass and replace the window with money out of my piggy bank. We have heard Bush take full responsibility for taking our nation to war on lies. We have heard Chertoff, the head of the Department of Homeland Security, take responsibility for not reacting to the levees flooding New Orleans. We have heard Dick Cheney take full responsibility for shooting his friend in the face with a shotgun. What we have not heard is how they plan to take personal responsibility in cleaning up the shattered mess and pay for it. I guess their daddies never taught them how to take responsibility for their actions. I suggest we take their paychecks while they are still in office and give the money to the victims of their confessed actions. Michael T. Hinojosa, Drain
REPUBLICAN RETORT I am writing in response to G. Dennis Shine's letter to the editor in the 2/16 EW. I am afraid that Mr. Shine is the one who is misinformed when he accuses me of wanting to discontinue federal timber payments. Nothing could be further from the truth and it is completely disingenuous of Mr. Shine to suggest otherwise. If Mr. Shine had actually read my statements, or heard me speak on the subject, he would see that I support the re-authorization of the timber payments. As a native of Roseburg I am painfully aware that federal timber payments to our counties are vital to their daily operation. Furthermore, I commend our county commissioners for their hard work in seeing that the funding is continued and hope that our congressional delegation is successful in working with their colleagues to increase the funding. Those of us living in the affected counties must also remember that until we have an open and honest discussion about how to best manage our natural resources we will once again find ourselves in an untenable position of securing funding for our schools, roads and public safety once this timber receipt re-authorization has run its course. It's unfortunate that I've lost Mr. Shine's vote over such a gross inaccuracy. Perhaps now that the record has been set straight, I can work to win his support.
Jim Feldkamp, Republican Candidate,
4th Congressional District
EDITOR'S NOTE: Dennis Shine tells us his comments were based on a news story in the Albany Democrat-Herald Feb. 3 quoting Feldkamp saying the federal timber funding is a "welfare system, which is bad."
DEAR MR. CHENEY I wish to you to express my sorrow in your recent hunting accident. I do wish your friend a quick and full recovery. In what must be a very trying time for you and your staff, I would like you to also be able to focus on the positives that can come out of this incident — the proverbial silver lining if you will. First, it sure is great that we live in a country with freedom of the press so that all the citizens can wish you well. Secondly, it is good to know that White House doctors are assisting with your friend. As Americans, we deserve the best in health care. By the way, since these doctors are helping out, could they spare some time, at public expense, to give me a hand? I am one of the 45 million Americans without health care insurance. I work at minimum wage even though I have a college degree. Again, I wish your friend a speedy recovery. Afterwards, I would appreciate the same expert medical help as other U.S. citizens. Oh yes, one other good thing: I won't need to get the proper hunting licenses this year, as I expect to be given only a warning. It's something about equal treatment under the law. Daniel Vierck, Springfield
INSIGHTFUL FORUM I attended a forum recently in Coburg, hosted by Labor Commissioner Gardner, Sen. Morrisette and Rep. Barnhart. The meeting was specifically focused on how to create more quality jobs in Oregon. They spoke of buying Oregon-made products as much as possible, and using the state's purchasing power to reinvest in our local economy. I particularly like Gardner's idea of creating an interconnected relationship between high schools and apprenticeship programs for the building trades. I think students would benefit greatly from developing skills in welding, electrical engineering, and carpentry, just to name a few. Jobs in any one of these fields are good paying jobs with health care and retirement. After this meeting, it became clear to me that we need more people in office who are passionate about addressing the real issues, the complex issues. Not only are they addressing these difficult issues, they take the time to ask what I think they should do. I am impressed. I would like to thank Gardner, Morrisette and Barnhart for holding this meeting in our community. Your efforts make me more confident in the direction our state is headed. Dan Dias, Eugene
KEEP THE SPIRIT About 10 years ago, a major mainstream magazine listed Eugene as "one of the 10 best places to live in the U.S." Why Eugene? My perspective: It's the values of the people living here. I moved here more than 12 years ago, choosing a lower income, an increase in my expenses and acceptance of a lower hierarchical job to live in a community that supported my values. I found two major factors that have maintained Eugene in "higher standards." One is our urban growth boundary laws and the other is the community's support of locally owned small businesses. Supporting these businesses keeps the money and power in Eugene and in Oregon, and is a major factor in having locally grown (therefore more nutrient rich/healthier) foods — decreasing fossil fuels for transportation, helping create a greater sense of community, etc. I have found Eugene to have a unique and different spirit than the majority of places in this country. We have small, locally owned, excellent natural food stores scattered throughout our residential areas. Having these stores in our residential areas indicates the core spirit of Eugene. I am extremely disappointed that Kitty Piercy would support and encourage the Whole Foods development project! Destroying the small, scattered, residential locally owned natural food stores and replacing them with a central downtown location will force people to use their fossil-fuel burning vehicles for transportation to obtain food, create traffic congestion downtown, cost taxpayers money to build parking structures, etc. For what and whose benefit? Eugene is one of the "last remaining frontiers" that has resisted most national corporations. That is one of the main factors that makes Eugene such a wonderful place to live. Athena Yemaya-Perkins, Eugene
PAT THAT BACK Congratulations to Eugene and KOPT 1600 radio station. Bringing Al Franken to Eugene was a real coup for our city. Five hundred people packed the house at LCC at 9 am Friday, Feb. 17 to listen to Al's insightful and humorous outlook on the world. Mayor Kitty and Peter DeFazio were world-class guests on this world-class show. A pat on the back for Eugene for a job well done, while the country was listening in! Lara Sheridan , Eugene
SHAME, SHAME Not only no! but hell no! The UAE should not manage U.S. ports! If most Americans knew that any U.S. ports were being managed by foreign based companies, they would be appalled. How can we trust an administration that has been wrong on everything to do with homeland security so far and now they want to sell our security to the highest bidder? Shame, shame, shame. Are we Americans incapable of managing our own ports? What will we outsource next, our souls? R. L. McCall , Eugene
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