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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 11, 1987)
Editorial Indian ceremony a religious right The Oregon Supreme Court heard arguments this week on a Klamath Indian’s right to take the drug peyote in religious ceremonies even though it conflicted with his pro fession. Alfred Smith was fired from his job as a drug counselor after he took peyote during a Native American Church service. Although Smith knew he was breaking the rules of his job, his religious rights should be upheld. The conditions of Smith's employment stated that he re main free of drugs and alcohol. Smith was born on a Klamath Indian reservation but raised as a Catholic. He was drawn back to his native religion after overcoming alcoholism. Forbidding Smith to take peyote would be denying Smith his religion. The drug is a vital part of the religion. Comparisons have been made to a Catholic taking wine as part of communion. According to the conditions of Smith's job, taking communion would be a justification for firing a person. Communion is a symbolic rite used to demonstrate Christ’s hardship. And while many Christians see the sacra ment of Holy Communion as a symbolic rite, members of the religion practiced by Klamath Indians believe peyote is more than symbolic, and it can be the object of their worship. According to Sandy Schmidt, a staff attorney for the Native American department of Oregon Legal Services, tak ing peyote is an integral part of the religion. "It functions almost as a deity, a power, a healer," she said. "It also is used as a tool or mechanism to get closer to the deity." Unlike communion, peyote is actually worshiped, she said. Peyote is used in a night-iong ceremony. The drug br ings on positive feelings and a sense of brotherhood and uni ty between the people, Schmidt said. Using peyote in this sense is not abusing the drug or us ing it for recreation. Smith commented that people do not enter the ceremony as a reason to get high. "The Native American people don’t define peyote as a drug; it’s a sacra ment. This is the age-old misunderstanding between white people and Native Americans," Smith told the Oregonian. Smith's religion has been misunderstood and he has suffered for practicing it. The stipulations in his job contract were clear and understandable — as a drug counselor, Smith should not abuse drugs. But the conditions do not allow Smith to acknowledge his Native American heritage. The program director of the drug and alcohol program where Smith worked said he was hired to reach out to other Indians. However, he must do this by denying a common bond he shares with other Indians — his religion. The ceremony did not interfere with Smith’s perfor mance on the job; it only violated a principle. But the rules of his job do not fully consider the benefits it gives Smith. The ceremony is a peaceful expression. Schmidt described it as a "cleansing and healing process." Smith did not abuse the drug and was aware it violated his job conditions. Nonetheless, his freedom to express his religion should take precedence over his employment stipulations as long as they do not interfere with his work. This case is an extreme because peyote is so central to Smith’s religion. But it is not an excuse to take drugs. The ceremony is a centuries-old experience and a form of ex pressing the Klamath Indians' closeness to their God. In this case the conditions of Smith's job asked him to sacrifice too much of his personality and heritage. Letters Hanukkah Although the holiday of Hanukkah may not be as religiously significant as Rosh Hashana or Passover, (its timing usually in the Christmas season) has made this holiday well known. However, it is important to understand that Hanukkah is not the Jewish Christmas. While Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees (a Jewish family/tribe) over the Syrians led by Antiochus IV. If you are interested in a more thorough explanation of the “miracle” of Hanukkah, or would like to celebrate Hanuk kah. 1 recommend that you at tend the Hanukkah Celebration Tuesday Dec. 15 at 7:30 at the Koinonia Center. Happy Hanukkah and best of luck with finals! Stephanie Kustner, Director Jewish Student Union Oregon Daily Emerald P.O. Box 315*. Kujo», Oregon *7403 The Oregon Dally Emerald Is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., at the University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon. The Emerald operates independently ot the University with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and Is a member of the Associated Press. The Emerald is private property. The unlawful removal or use of papers Is prosecutable by law General Staff Advertising Director Susan Thelen Production Manager Michele Ross Classified Manager Kelli Mason Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Rick Mali/Sales Manager Ten Boring. Gary DeLossa, Tom Leech. Catherine Lilja, Rick Martz. Laura McKinney, Joann Nelson. Julie Paul. Barbara Rogers, Scott Thorkildson. Joan Wildermuth News and Editorial 686-551 1 Display Advertising and Business 686-3712 Classified Advertising 686-4343 Letter Perfect Graphics 666-S511 Production 666-4381 Circulation 686-5811 Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editors Sports Editor Photo Editor Graphic Design Editor Special Issues Editor Entertainment/Sports Night Editor Stanley Nelson Scott Maben Carolyn Lamberson Angela Muniz/Steven Hoenisch Aaron Knox Shu-Shlng Chen Lorraine Rath Kelly Kortekaas Segment Editor H.C Hutto Stanley Nelson Associate Editors Community Stephen Maher Higher Education/Administration Michael Drummond Student Government / Activities Will Holbert Features Kelly Kortekaas Reporters: Betsy Clayton, Paula Green, Frale de Guzman, Craig Harris, Gary Henley, Andrew LaMar, Jeff Morgan, In grid Petersen, Camt Swanson, Kelvin Wee Photographers: Sherlyn Bjorkgren, Christophe Chabaudle. Andy Cripe, Cliff Etzel, John Glustlna, Bobbie Lo. Gregor Okorn, Andre Ranieri, Ted Shepler, Michael Templeton, Dan Wheeler Production: Sandra Daller I Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre. Ronwin Nicole Ashton, Virginia Baniaga. Laura Carhart. Eva Cohen, Stephanie Drynan, Dolores Fer rero. Shannon Gaither, Lisa Haggerty, Stephanie Holland, Delrdre Kelly, Eliot Knight, Chris Knox, Jung Lee, Bobbie Lo. James Mason, Ross Martin, Angela Muniz, Ted Shepler, Linda Sperling. Lisa Svanevlk, Ingrid White, Kelly Williams, Serena Williams. X. Kang Xle To the guardians This letter is to the seif appointed guardians of Eugene's morality. “Woman is the nigger of the world.” What do you think of that? I suppose now you are going to tell everyone to burn their Beatles albums and boycott record stores that sell such demeaning trash. Eric Johnson English literature Rational writing I write not in response to a particular column, but to the manner in which the editor delivers his viewpoint. I am not offended by his “liberal” editorials. However, I do object to the abusive, unfair insults thrown at anyone not towing the liberal line. The editor does not respect a person's right to a different point of view, or consider reasons supporting that view. He just slams them. Let's have a free flow of ideas, persuasively written, not per sonal attacks. The editor will not win anyone, except angry, irrational people, to his cause. The editor needs to argue ra tionally, not hurl invective. Robert Burns Law Man with the ties I’m madder than a pit bull with a toothache at the furor created by the liberal press about Paul ‘Red’ Olum’s dismissal by the state board. Good riddance to the leftist oriented rubbish. I, for one, stand behind the board and its so-called ’secret' agenda because this is the 1980s, and almost the 1990s, and not the 1960s. We need a university president with ties to the CIA, NOT the Kremlin, if the University is ever to garner any of the weapons research dollars the board so obviously covets. Therefore. I fully support the nomination of the man who most obviously fits the board's needs, a man who has the ex perience in backroom dealing and secret operations necessary to operate the University in the years ahead. Ed Meese, you have my support! J.P. O’Neil Eugene Respected I would like to take this op portunity to express my regret at the resignation of Incidental Fee Committee member Sandra Thompson. While I rarely agreed with Sandra philosophically, 1 always respected the fact that she was dedicated to the business of the committee, and actively sought to gather as much information from as many sources as possible before reaching a decision. When the ASUO Excutive decides who to nominate as her replacement, and the ASUO Senate deliberates confirmation of that nominee, I hope they will set standards no lower than those Sandra set for herself, selecting a new member who has both the background and experience, as well as the com mitment to the committee, that will be required as we go into months of budget hearings, and that they will not permit political considerations to sway their decisions. Bob Baldwin IFC Chair
