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HISTORICAL REALITY I am a bit surprised to be called a vigilante in EW ("Flames of Dissent II," 11/9), and would like to make a comment. Just a few years prior to the history told in Kera Abraham's article, I had been nearly killed twice during street rioting in Kathmandu while covering the revolution as a photojournalist for a European news agency. That revolution brought down one of the world's last monarchs, and was bloody and dangerous. People standing next to me on the street were shot dead, bone and brains disgorged. To be confronted in my own neighborhood in Eugene not long after by radical politicos shouting intimidating bullshit slogans, who were not honest and who were targeting the innocent for brutality, was for me like being heckled by bantams. What most surprised me was that many of my neighbors were afraid and confused, yet of good heart and right intent. Kera got the timeline slightly confused, understandably so for a story so complex. It was first the Scobert Park incident, in which the citizenry went through an intense and proper public debate about how to end the debauch taking place there, that showed the community that the newly arrived rads were bent on hijacking public process, not on joining and participating. It was, for them, about cop-baiting, and Whiteaker was their chosen bait. For Whiteaker residents, many of whom intentionally live here because of our diversity, radical ideologies are welcome and the choir wishes to be preached to. But as with other radical movements we've seen, the Charlie Mansonoids eventually arrive, the poison Kool-Aid is served and the choir sings off-key. Sadly, the beautiful green tones of the movement morphed into jagged black dissonance. When one of the black-shirts fired a rifle through the front door of the Red Barn one night as his way of counting coup against life's cruel injustices, my gloves flew off. There was significant injury done to the community by both the anarchists and the heroin/meth epidemic during this time. Whiteaker, like the Balkans, has been a crossroads and a dumping ground for other jurisdictions' social problems and political failures. A very high percentage of all social services for the region are located in Whiteaker, as are the cheapest high-density apartments, the state's parolees and the 400-bed Mission just next to the railyard. People get tired of a stacked deck, and eventually there is a social disaster and a public reaction. Complicate this scenario with an unresponsive city government and a new influx of angry outsiders with their own agenda, and a lot of hostility can be generated. In our case the citizens eventually won but paid a high price, and I suppose I shouldn't mind being called names over it even at this late date, as long as there is some appreciation for the historical reality that if no one ever has the courage to stand up and shout bullshit to fascist posturing, even while the choir sings a different tune, mayhem and malevolence in the guise of liberty and justice will again take the stage. We deserve a happier script. Dennis Ramsey, Eugene
POLITICAL CONTEXT Kudos to Kera Abraham for her brave attempt to cover the eco-radical movement in Eugene! It's a tough issue to write about, and she's giving it a heck of a good shot. I do feel the need to clarify my quote in the second article ("Flames of Dissent II," 11/9): "If it's violence and mayhem [that bring attention to the issues], then fuck it". The context of that was that the mainstream media seem unable to report on anything but violence and mayhem. To penetrate the wall of corporate propaganda, people who have something to say often have to go to the streets in order to say it. Something else that could have been stressed more in the article is the political context in which these protests occurred. In 1999 we didn't have the Bushes to blame for the state of the world, and we did not have the hope of electing a Democrat who would make things better. We had a Democrat in power, and what did we get from it? We got the Salvage Rider, outlawing any form of legal challenge to many old growth timber sales. We had the president's unmitigated support for neoliberal trade policies that were effectively enslaving and even killing farmers and workers, from Nigeria to Korea to the maquiladoras in Mexico. Even with a Democrat in power, our country still refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol or take active steps toward nuclear disarmament. These are not abstract issues that a rational, responsible person can simply ignore or timidly debate. They were, and still are, life and death issues that must be confronted and resolved, by whatever means possible. Chris Calef, Eugene
FIGHT THE POWER Michael "Ike" Terrance (11/16) is "extremely appalled" by Kera Abraham's "history of eco-terrorism in Eugene." His letter is patronizing, self-righteous and all too typical. So many know-nothing know-it-all liberals feel the need to denounce ELF at every opportunity, declaring their loyalty to "law and order" and the status quo instead of the community and the natural world. Memo to Ike: Social change is made by people willing to get their hands dirty. Power concedes nothing without a fight, never has, never will. No amount of tofu eating and ass kissing by the likes of you will change this historical fact. Expecting big business and government to do anything other than carry on trashing the planet, invading countries, looting resources and exploiting people is fatally naïve. That does not make the ELF beyond criticism. Their tactics are often flawed, and illegal clandestine groups are no substitute for a social/environmental mass movement. But comparing these people to al-Qaeda and giving their captives harsher punishment than right-wing vigilantes who target minorities or sexual predators who target children is inexcusable. I applaud Kera Abraham for her background series on anarchism and environmentalism in Eugene. Contrary to what Ike says, many people are interested in this piece of our history. There are many lessons to be drawn from the experience. Steven Gider, Eugene
THINK GLOBALLY Many have averted their eyes to the genocide in Sudan. But many have cared. People have rallied: On April 30 Mayor Kitty Piercy issued a proclamation calling for action, and Women's Action for New Directions collected and sent hundreds of cards to the White House. Op-ed pieces have been written. A coalition formed at a community meeting in Temple Beth Israel, November 2005. Ordinary citizens pledged action at First Christian Church on April 5 this year. Volunteers spoke in schools, to community groups, on campus and at fairs. Photos were displayed in the Eugene Public Library. Coalition members collected blankets (over 200) and led a campaign that made education kits for children in refugee camps (4,562 kits sent in October). We must make the White House follow our lead and act. This will only happen when the phone lines are filled with our voices demanding action. We are not asking. Every day means more women raped, more children killed, more survivors whose lives are forever deformed. Call every week until the slaughter ends. Call President Bush, 202-456-1111; Sen. Smith, (202) 224-3753 (ask to talk with aide Dan Knezevic); Sen. Wyden,: (202) 224-5244 (ask to talk with aide Ben Widness); Rep. DeFazio, (202) 225-6416 (ask to talk with aide Tom Vincent). Cynthia Kokis, Eugene
NO CONTEST To James Ready's letter ("It's Just Sports," 11/9): I'll go further than to question "lethal" as an appropriate billboard caption for a sports team. Competition itself is harmful and leads to violence. Our words and actions are important. Sensitivity is what we need. Our entertainment, education, politics, military and sports have all helped to condition us to value obedience and enjoy violence. I study and help others learn Nonviolent Communication. I enjoy competitive sports less and less and value cooperation more. I'm concerned with being dismissed as crazy and thus invite you (all) to read No Contest: The Case against Competition by Alfie Kohn, and Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication. Please enjoy your sports, but let's also take responsibility for perpetuating our enjoyment of violence. Mark Roberts, Eugene
OLDER & WISER Walking through campus in the crisp air of autumn evokes thoughts of new beginnings. A stampede of students looking young and fit fills 13th Avenue. Occasionally gray hair punctuates the group. These are not professors emeritus but retired people who have returned to the university. They are answering the question for themselves: "If not now, when?" "It was time to fulfill a dream of going back to school and pursuing subjects just because I wanted to learn about them," says one student grandma. "My fear was that my mind wasn't working as well as it once had; what I didn't realize was that my body had 'left the building' without my noticing." She expresses how glad she is for her wheeled backpack. "It probably seems dorky rattling along pulling a pack but I am old enough where being a granny trumps dorky." Does it sound easy to start over? No, it is not easy. "Anyone who tells you that getting old is all in your head — ain't old." Is it worth it the physical, mental and financial burden that school presents? "Absolutely yes!" was the answer given by all. The benefits come from many unexpected directions. Being in classes with bright, articulate and idealistic students gives the elder scholars confidence that the world will be in good hands someday. Kim Golden Bentley, Junction City
A BETTER IDEA I have been following the push for a Lane County income tax. The odds of the public buying such a tax are not high. Even with the false advertising in the recent Voters Pamphlet, the proposed tax didn't fly. I have a better idea! We can make millions simply by disbanding Lane County's Land Management Division. Since no attempted development is ever illegal in Lane County, what need have we of an organization allegedly in place to regulate development? All we need is a low level clerk with a rubber APPROVED stamp and a list of fees for development. The bigger the fees, the better. These fees can go directly into the general fund instead of the LMD budget, and the results will be exactly the same only more streamlined. Norm Maxwell, Lorane
CONFUSING ELECTIONS Election returns left me a little puzzled. Why did voters refuse Measure 46 and yet pass 47 when 47 couldn't be implemented without 46? Why did voters refuse to support LCC when LCC is so desperately needed to improve the lives of so many in our community? How did we elect two conservative judges? Even if 47 is implemented, therefore reducing pressure of corporations to steal our tax money with breaks and subsidies, Russell Sadler explains why the Legislature cannot give us tax reform. He writes in the Nov. 13 R-G: "In 1996 voters approved an initiative requiring that any tax increase or tax exemption be approved by a three-fifths vote in each house instead of a simple majority. That restriction is why any radical change under a Democratically controlled legislature is unlikely." Do I hear plans for a "tax reform" initiative? Ruth Duemler, Eugene
POISON WIELDERS Regarding your article on "School Sprays" (9/21), it is very disturbing to see the timber industry and now some school officials pushing off the subject of herbicides as a non-issue. The timber industry clearcuts our forests, burns our top soils (herbicides) poisons our waters and mono-crops our mountains all in the name of "good forest practices." We are done as a community being guinea pigs of their poisons! We call for a boycott of all Weyerhaeuser, Roseburg, Roseboro and Seneca Jones Forest products until they change their horrendous forest practices. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood is a responsible alternative. We applaud your unending dedication, Mrs. Bowers. Thank you. Dan Gee, Eugene
BEER BARBS This letter is in response to Teri Fahrendorf's letter (11/9). In this letter, Teri references the staff pick "Best Reason to Stay Alive One More Day" that was on page 28 of the Best of Eugene issue. While I will acknowledge the "localness" of Eugene City, High Street and Steelhead as breweries, it is a shame that Teri chooses to attack Ninkasi. The fact that Ninkasi is local, brews locally and is locally owned is obviously upsetting to Teri. Unfortunately, for Teri the real problem is that since Ninkasi brewer Jamie Floyd left the Eugene Steelhead after being the driving force behind their beer, the quality of Steelhead beer has deteriorated. I say this not as an attack, but as fact. There have been and will continue to be repercussions for Steelhead that Terri's touting Steelhead's local connections cannot and will not change. In my opinion, the simple fact is that Ninkasi does make a fine one-of-a-kind quality local beer. Moreover, despite that Ninkasi is sold beyond the geographic boundaries of Eugene, Ninkasi's beer inspires me as a believer to both buy locally and respect quality. And since we still live in a society where all opinions are valued, I will support Ninkasi and all of the local breweries, with all respect to Trevor at Eugene City and Lane at High Street, that inspire me by providing quality product. Furthermore, by promoting Eugene's total domination, Ninkasi as one of our quality local brewers continues to contribute to Oregon being Beervana and Beertopia. John "Chewie" Burgess, Eugene
THANKS, EW We're new, we're local, we appreciate all the contributions from other brewers to our combined quality of life here in Eugene and hope to establish ourselves as a responsible and quality business that gives back to the community which has thusfar given generous support to us. Whether or not the semantics of the Weekly staff pick were correct, we appreciate their intention and hope to continue to keep people here happy for many years to come. Eugene is a great town; we plan to live here, do business here and do our part to make it a better place for everyone. Nikos Ridge, Co-owner, Ninkasi Brewing, Company
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