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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1982)
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Cnvtfot ? suitable for comment He didn t want me to see him pluck and eat berries from the bushes outside the EMU Quickly he stufted the ones he had m*o hts ta**ered coat poorer and waked oft And I know that hungry Stranger is only one of many citizens bareiy surviving in E ugene — ar>d everywhere Th s morn 'g t read about trsytis _ tobfess homeless too proud tor chamy wats — •mo 're under leeways in Los A--ge es Descriptions of **o notd-uos «n Eugene last wee* •ead suspioousiy «e that of desperate jobless peop+e The food banks and charity organ zations are hooded with cans for 3*0 The calls for help are being mef Prom Un versify students faculty and staff saving aJ! but a handful of 300 duct's and geese in the Mi trace to 18 000 more pounds of food this year than ast year temg given to Port land s St Vincent de Paul Christmas baskets Money however is tight and chanties note that gifts and time are more plentiful It makes sense — few people have extra cash Most people can ma*e time Twefve days are eft for giving time gifts food or money to someone or charity before Christmas Perhaps rt's the ego involved n charitable giving that makes rt sc gratifying — having "more than someone else Charity can be insurance coverage 'If m ever that down on my luck, I hope someone helps me out ” On less cynical days giving to the needy is a sigh of relief — ‘ na admission that we depend on each other some to a greater extent No ego involved ft crossed my mind the other day to ask that 25-30 year-old hungry citizen if he would like a sandwich or something But I imagined the worst of him and walked on letters Reluctant Thts is a reluctant response to Margaret Laurine'9 question (Emerald Dec 10) about whether the fundamentalist preachers on the courtyard need be allowed to fill the air — and her ears — with their words and ideas I don t like being screamed at either not that I take it person ally I do, however, believe speakers should be allowed to speak A university is public property, but it is also one of the few places in this society where divergent ideas can collide in relative freedom Collisions frequently make a lot of noise The audience on the courtyard is subject to the noise of colli sion but is surely sturdy enough to survive The real issue is exactly as Laurine states it Freedom of speech is a value we give lip service to (no pun intended). It is mainly a protection afforded the speaker The value placed on this protection, especially at a university, protects everyone even if it means putting up with disagreeable or repulsive ideas Would we really have it any differently? It may no longer be in vogue to believe in the free marketplace of ideas, or in the inherent rationality of people trusted to make the "right" choices In fact, given the human capacity to be profoundly irrational in almost any context, belief in the ul timate triumph of truth in a free and fair fight with un-truth wiirrn awfully naive Despite thus, I still believe free speech means suffering the oc casional babbling of people with whom I do not agree (It usually seems like babbling to me') There is always the chance they will present an idea that has some value So, yes, free speech does mean having this version of Christianity "shoved down our throats We needn't be convert ed unless something in us requires it The same holds for any ideas promoted on the courtyard It isn't an easy thing to put up with but then, who said it was supposed to be9 Raising this issue agains is a way of using free speech to ad vocate repression of free speech. Yet, even this is pro tected from repression It is open to debate I am thankful for that Doug Stanfield graduate, journalism Duck thanks Many thanks to the communi ty of Eugene, the University Physical P'ant, Lane County Animal Regulation, the Outdoor Program and the students who responded so quickly to the cry of the ducks in the Millrace last Friday Without your generous help, we could not have gotten the ducks out of the millrace as quickly we did Survival Center I letters Presentation I would like to express my aopreu ation to Michele Matas sa for a well-written article Agency, anti-draft spokesmen differ on federal ruling s effect The young reporter m a profes sion which often has problems fairty representing the views of those who do not blindfy accept the corporate-media image of America as a benevolent mili tary giant effectively presented the essence of what I had sad I do have minor objections to the sentence indicating that I agree with Selective Service Unit Commander Michael s statement." registration must go on as usual While legally eighteen year olds may be required to register, that law is both a denial of in dividual rights guaranteed by our Constitution and a rejection of the principles of the Declara tion of Independence It acknowledges that the conscience of the individual with rts unique interpretation of the essence of life (God), supercedes the power of the state One is required only to have decent respect for h»s or her fellow citizens Ron Phillips CORD Christmas list The evolution of language s a fascinating subject and tells us much about the peoples whose languages are studied Several of our political leaders and na tional administrations have made distinguished contri butions to language evolution Pres Ronald Reagan, although in office only a brief two years has already shown great promise Here are my suggestions as to actions communities might un dertake in the Christmas spirit, to bring a greater degree of good cheer and well-being to thesr citizens In honor of Pres Reagan I call it My Reagonoid Christmas List AH of you can doubtless think up further helpful ideas 1 Children's Safety Enhan cement Loaded handguns should be given to all the chil dren in our third to fifth grade Sunday school classes with the explanation that we are giving them these guns so that they will never be used 2 Safety of the streets The city council should direct that all streetlights and other outside lights be turned off at night This would conserve energy, save money and make it safer for citizens to walk the streets at Oregon dotty emerald The 0*900 Oe*y timer**} it pubfithed Monday through tridar except dumg ana* nee* and racahon* by g«e Oegon Da*y Emerald Pubtwhmg Co at the Unwerpty gt Oregon Eugene Of* 97403 The Emerald operate* independency ot the Umwerpe* am* ofhee* on he *vrd hoor ot the Ert> Memorial Oreon and • a member of the Annotated fh*n CM-4343 MMM1 N9M1I E«**o» Harr* Eaten* Man«9>ng EMx Xwntamx Awwtant Editor EdNonal Pape Conor Pt>0*0 Ed*Or Sport* ES«o* AaaOC«tt Spot* Editor Entartammar* Eddor ttrgW Eddor Anactata Itfcn IflKtr Education Oapartmarrt* and SeftoOM Studani Qwrwitrs Eaatura* ~mac i CoMMurwry Oawacat Matt Advortwng Manapar Ctaawtdd Adnartnmg Production Marvapar Oowroatir Jotw ►*•**» Manan Oaan CorttamaM Jo«n ttytand u*r Aaanpar Pasd Darvrer jaruttna" Say* jotm H*a»» «* n*r« lun Snan tAaaa*rt VriwrWanu Oaad Moan Owitamt Ctera Sa*»Ot»r v«to>a «*c* Ja*n Oandtay night since muggers and po tential rapists could not see them as well 3 Toward fuller employment and job security: The city should fire all its non-essential em ployees, such as parks, plan ning, and maintenance person nel. and give the money saved to the richest citizens in town — explaining to the people laid-oft how this will stimulate the economy and promote fuller employment and increased job security Bayard McConnaughay Drunk driver The holiday season is soon to be upon us Unfortunately, this means alcohol consumption will be increasing This also means the number of drunk drivers on our roads will be increasing and many innocent people will be murdered by these menaces to society What can we do to combat this problem? Plenty People who come into con tact with intoxicated individuals should try to persuade them not to drive But if persuasion fails then one should call the toll-free number set up by the Oregon State Police for reporting drunk drivers That number is 1-800-452-7888 In reporting a drunk one should describe the drivers' vehicle, give the license number and the location of and direction the car is traveling You are not required to identify yourself By reporting a drunk driver you might save the lives of one or more innocent people the drunk might crash into while he or she is on the road Mlcheel Cross Springfield letters policy The Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing fair comment on topics of interest to the University community Letters to the editor must be limited to 250 words, typed, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is turned in to the Emerald office The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length, style or content Your turn is an Emerald opinion feature submitted by members of the University community. "Your turns" must be limited to 500 words and typed This editorial column will not be edited by the staff, but selection will be based on appro priateness Letters to the editor and "Your turns" should be turned into the Emerald office, Suite 300 EMU Unsigned editorials appearing in the Emerald are based upon the majority opinion of the editorial board
