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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 6, 1992)
EDITORIAL Ballot Measure 20-01 makes good sense Coalitions are notoriously transitory things. Often, they are short-lived, pooling resources for just a sim ple, one-time task. Cooperation is the best — and most times, the only — way to get things done. And one coalition, bringing together such groups as Oregon Guides & Packers and the Oregon Rivers Council, to name just a few. is doing something right. By cooperating, the varied interests have collec tively put forth a county ballot measure that would protect the McKenzie River for future generations. Bravo. Measure 20 01. the McKenzie River Water Quality and Recreation ordinance, seeks to clarify some of the vague county statutes on developing riverfront property. The way the law reads now. county com missioners have far too much leeway on what zoning variances they can approve. The McKenzie is, as of now, a tranquil place, good tor fishing, boating, By setting strict guidelines now, it can be hoped further development of the riverfront can be controlled. ratting or just plain sight seeing Hut backers of the ordinance say that won't be the case unless strict rules are set down to regulate fur ther expansion. The McKenzie could go the way <>f oth er Oregon rivers — damned up to a trickle, a virtual quagmire with little aesthetic value. The measure would prohibit development — or clearing more vegetation than a 25 foot wide strip — within 25 feet of the river in residential zones, and 50 feet in other places. In addition, pesticide and fertilizer use would be restricted within 100 feet of the river. Darns, boat docks, vehicular bridges, mining and water quality guides also fall under the plan. Hackers of the ordinance are acting to preserve the quality of the McKenzie before it liecomes a problemat ic issue. By setting strict guidelines now, it can be hoped further development of the riverfront cun be controlled In this way. everybody involved — the business sector, homeowners, environmentalists and recreational users — can all enjoy the river and get something out of the measure. The plan is neither to restrictive nor too lax. The ordinance truly seeks to do what is best for the river, and most convenient for people. It's not often groups take the initiative and fix a problem before it becomes one. This plan would do just that. In the upcoming May primary, vote yes on Measure 20-01. 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I uni i) Christian, and ! like the Buddha Hi-ri• «,u u man who look a long look at the human condition He would not settle for less than an all ou! vplorntIon of his own identity, and fie would not buy into the illusions of the world Having re|ei led every rell gious path available to Ins pi.II e and l line (Ind la sixth i ent u r v it ( ), lie p refer red death to ignorance In the end. enlightenment came to him that resulted in a tuu( lung of non at tuchment to the world and a commendable ethu a I system As a Christian, there are many tilings I respect about Mohammed He surveyed the hodgepodge beliefs of his day and dime to the realization that Cod is a unity a being who is perli’it and personal Armed with this knowledge. Mohum mod insisted upon a reform and unification of mk ml and family life that reflected the cohesive and single minded w ill of AI lull Ihe Islamic view of unity creates a different social struc ture than the pluralistic sm iety Americans are used to Howes er, I do view Islam with a qua I i lied respect As a follower of Jesus, 1 find Nat is e A met it an spirituality intriguing and at times, heroic I'o respect nature as our com mon and congenial sister, and to take no more than one needs to survive are virtues I wish to adopt Native American humor, art and courage are all roofed in their world s less Idle worship ol the spirits of nature and the reverence paid to an all perva xivr Creat Spirit is a structure different from that of the Hible Idle Native \mern an culture adds rn hness to the total labrit ol Ament -in sis lets 1 < mild go on and tell you ssli.it I tell about other religions and cultures, but by noss you must have guessed I am going to tell sou ss by 1 am a follower ol !• xus mste id of ., Buddhist. Muslim \nm ;st or any thing else So 1 svil! get t:) the point There is something wrong svith life There is something wrong with me 1 Ins planet of beauty and wildness is being destroyed, and the voices Here was a man real to the core, passionate about people without doing harm, a lover of nature and a man who overcame death itself. raised in protest are still In the small minority It has really never tieen much different ex i ept now we have vast powers of tec hnology that magnify our alienation with nature 1 tried to make tile last two sentences as eloquent as my poor skill would allow so that you would regard me as a sin cere person However, 1 am one cd the culprits How often am 1 aide to live up to my own ideal ism either in the wav I deal with the world or in the ways I treat people? Not often, so I look for a sedation it would be easier if I could |ust pull the covers cd exislen lialism. nihilism or mere apa tliv over my head and get on with living until I die Hut there is something alxiul life I contitl lie to love deeply 1 know th.it my romantic ideals id beauty and love and hope for c iiange in mv own character are not. in tiie end, impossible. 1 am not looking for a new mythology, psyc licdogy or sc i entitle panacea These have al ways failed What I want is real hope Something tells me there is a Hod and that he is willing to tie straight with us. Jesus is Hod landing right on tiie money 1 do not mean Christianity is the answer, still less the church It is the Jesus of the first four books of tile New Testament that lives out the kind cd life that is refine ted by a blueprint deep in my soul, .1 potentiality lh.lt Vlas IICVIT re ultzed Here was ,i mun real to the coni, passionate about poo pic without doing harm, .1 lover oi nature and a man who over came death itself Look where von will, there not another person, religion or philosophy that goes about solving the human dilemma the wav Jesus did Kariier I ad mitted I have contributed to that dilemma That vs as not a journalism ploy I am no fan of debilitating psychological guilt Unfortu nately. there is enough real guilt in my life and the world at large to he .1 very great weight What (iod did was allow Jesus to take on that weight tiv dying for us I cannot explain boss that works exai tly It has some tiling to ilo w ith the total lai k of guilt In his own life For many it is either non sense or blasphemy to attribute a perfect life and an equality with (iod to a mere man How ever, nothing less would really 1 (range tins world around Any tiling short of lire life of Chris! would not convince me my life could retain the hope for para dise that lies buried deep !*■ Heath the years This week, some campus ministries have planned events to exjiress Jesus to the lommu nity Tins may (*■ done witli a mixture of eloquent thoughtful ness and tired platitudes He hind the words and events lives a magnificent invisible (iod who will he willing to talk straight with you Why don't vou take one of these Christians aside and ask some questions' Most of them I know will lie glad to talk with you Richurtl Dos wick is director 11I the Restoration Campus Min istry and touches comparative n'lijlions purl hmc ul Northwest Christian College COMMENTARY POLICY Commentaries should be between 750 and 1,000 words, legible and signed, and the identification of the writer must be verified upon submission. The Emerald reserves the right to edit for grammar, style and length.
