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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 12, 1992)
EDITORIAL Homeless dilemma needs real solution County Commissioners ferry Rust and Marie Fra zier were among the chief organizers of an "emergency housing summit" on Friday, in hopes that some solu tions could be found for the county's growing homeless dilemma. The commissioners, various political candidates, concerned public members and rhe homeless them selves all attended the meeting. And while nothing sol id was determined by the meeting, it produced several promising ideas that could develop into solutions. The need for such a meeting arose from the Oct. 1 eviction of several homeless families that were located on a bank of the McKenzie River across from Arm it age State Park. Since then, many of the evicted homeless moved to county land near the old Armitugc site. Rust has shown integrity in his decision to let them live there temporarily. But holding a meeting for permanent solutions shows a lot more than integrity. It shows genuine com mitment. Among the proposals is a plan to open an aging campground at Armitage State Park. Unlike the pre vious site, this campground has bathrooms and actual camping areas, thereby making available working facil ities. Currently, the site isn't being used for anything and would provide a good, if temporary, residence that the homeless could adopt as their own. Another idea is to open part of the Lane County Fairgrounds for homeless camping. While this idea is also good on a short-term basis, it's problematic be cause the fairgrounds arc used frequently during warm er months. It would be better to give the homeless a place they can truthfully call home. The concepts to open abandoned downtown build ings for shelters and starting a program to build home less dwellings ure also good ideas. The downtown shel ters could be used as gathering places from which homeless citizens could seek work. Plus, helping the homeless build their own houses would give them valuable job training that could prove useful in the fu ture. A final suggestion is for citizens to open up their houses to a homeless family. Whilo this is probably the most compassionate solution, it's also the most unreal istic. Most families are probably unwilling to open their homes for more than a week or two. And that won't make a long-term difference. Perhaps the individual ideas don't need praise as much as tne entire meeting itself. When the homeless campers were first evicted from Armitage. the state showed little compassion to ward the struggles of the homeless. Conversely, the "emergency housing summit" was a huge step in the right direction. Rust, Frasier and many others met for nearly six hours discussing solutions. Although many of those so lutions may not work in the end. the county has shown a willingness and a commitment to helping those in need. Oregon Daily Emerald O UOK I'iJ lUGIN* OHLGOH9UOJ Tho Orogon Mr EmanM » puMthod dory Monday through Friday during tho tchoai yoor ond luaadoy and TtwuMgi during mo tummai tty tho Orogon Mr Emandd PuMohmg Co tnc . a tho Untoortay ol Orogon, Eugana. Oragon Tho E mortal unaa tndopondonoy a tho Urwartty wan othooo a Suao 300 ol mo E rt> Manorial Unran ond to a fflompar ol mo Aooocanod Prooo Tho EmoraU • prMao property Tho urdavtul inwd or uoa ol popart It protormhlt or too FdOnr Pol --- .Mi* Barg Martin FMftar JaflPaatar Fra»a Horn Erootoneo Editor Don Pwn Editor lot Editor »von Jnw Sport* Editor D«vo Cnwtxmnaau St^iptamonU Editor Community Ton N*n Po Utica Ran* DaCa* tPrliT On—wMiIWIm: Tammy Batay Faghar tBuiUUaUdMlrlllilllnn: Coiaan Pohag Rapartora: ChaMar Man. Mandy Bauoum. Mas Bandar. Sarah Clam. Dorma Gavin. Uaa Knaatal. Damian Met aorv. Slava Mam. Enea Studancha. Jaoquaana Woga Copy [Man: Juaan Brown. Amanda Farrva, Aaoa Ferrari. Thaiaaa Ftunawger. Mary KMn. Twin Ml iHr. Titpa Moot. Elan Shaw. Marian Suaor. Amy Van Tuyl minir»>^T-T-*~-*tnr Graph* ARM: FMaPiar Aauar Dartuaea TaaAaMaaa: Uaa UapparTy Maa Morin. lAcha* ThompaorvAguiai. Todd IMF lama n» irnalnp- —an Banian. Boon Dana. Jmvki MucMna. Jana Inna. Chn» Kano«, Tom Loach. Jaramy Maaon. GMan On, Ouatm Sladal. Sharon Vai. Angie Wmdhean naaiBiB Peggy McQrm. Manager Barry lagan. Sharon Sauva. Suaan Updagra* Buaimaa: KaMy CarBona. Stpemear Judy Connony rinBumlin WhOa. Aodkcatm Coonanaaar Knauna Grangar. Daa M£oM. Siacy IHdal. jerwAar Roland. Jarmdar Smah. Anna Siaphanaon. Oaralyn Trappa General Manager Judy Ftaif _M-HII _M-U1I .SM-1712 PUptow Atfvwlftna Ct«MW— -Ut 4*0 v/vVV. aA\vV\ Vva, vVA^vAA^v^. >> GOUN MURPO, WHO CARES IF X. MOitee A LESftiAN tiKU WHO ^ 2 SOLD HERNtVteORNCHUDOV % TW& ftlAdt f^Rm-^ESniLi r*/" " 5a x \ GrVJMS AA X rGEE, MAM BE VJAS £\GUT „ v' ■*> THE DM AFTER; ELECTION 'll Bike races When you see the Dike Nazis am active, please warn people who urn headed for trouble. Let's keep this campus a place whore students work together against bureaucrats On another note, Put Malach wrote in Write Angles (ODE, Oct. G) that "racist" comments made about the Chinese affect ed "an entire race of pooplo.” Take a few credits of anthropol ogy. Pat Fred O. Roelllg Peace Studies Holy smooch A quick note about Lilian Perkin'* letter of Oct. 7. "Greeting each other with u holy kiss" has never boon clas sified a “sexual behavior" In my mind. I guess that’s because I’ve never greeted a brother of mine in such a way us to be "sexuul behavior." Even though I don’t use a kiss because of all the sexuul connotations this society has attached to it, one looking from the outside might consider the hug I give a brother to bo sexual bohavior. It is not. because I do not desire to perform a sexually related act with that person. I'd rather hug them to sym bolize an ombracoment of that person's well-being, and our unity in a Christ who is very different than the one who seems to be getting the bulk of attention these days BobWIfpl Lab Tech Respect Hitler? I would like to thank the Ore gon Dally Emerald lor printing tho commentary by Darrell Fuller [ODE. Oct. 6). It was clear after reading his piece that I have, at long last, ac quired an understanding of the basis of logic on which the OCA functions. Let's see, it goes like this: The OCA is trying to stomp out homosexuals for the benefit and protection of society. The (X'A is prepared to deny homo sexuals their constitutional rights. And because of the OCA’s willingness to be "con trovorsiul," wo should look up to thorn. I have but ono question: Wasn’t this the sumo idua that Hitlor hud more thun 50 yours ago In douling with tho Jews? If you road tho uhnvo stutoment using "Hitlor" instead of "tho OCA” und "Jews" instoud of "homosoxuuls” it is easy to see that “controversial” doesn't al ways moan “correct.” Well, thoro you go. Using Fuller's form of logic, wo should givo tho (X^A tho same respect that wo givo Hitlor. David Tubb Student Who’s right? The article In the Oct. 8 Ore gon Dully Emerald about my coming out ("Homosexuals shuro tholr experiences") was disappointing 1 went to lengths to provide the reporter with, severul incidents evolving into and emerging from my coming out. but they wore not includ- . ed. My personality was not present, there was no action or drama, nothing about death threats, depression, bolng thrown out and no mention of an Instrumental character (I only made true statements about a dead man). Wore those adventures not written in, or were they edited out? Thu point of coming out is to declare one's uniqueness. The article presenled me as angry and almost as a victimized, bound Prometheus. 1 felt some what liko the inhabitant of a po trio dish. Was It a mailer of space? (I posed for pictures that wore not used.) You included an article on Bill Clinton resting his voice. We need to know this? The administration. ftnoncial aid office, registrar's and local businesses all endeavor to re duce us students into a heap of magnotic tape and Social Secu rity numbars. When one stu dent volunteers to say, "This is my story,” what is the response of tho journalistic left testicle of Oregon Hall? I was approached for a coming out story, not a high sign and a “Yo! I'm guy!” Andrew Shaffer Russian Yes on 9 Ballot Measure 9. the meas ure that restrains government from promoting homosexuality as just another lifostylo, has turned into a major confronta tion — dominated by unrelent ing liberal media hostility. Thoso choosing to engage in high-risk dysfunctional sex are designated the heroes, and those opposing societies ac ceptance of it are labeled big ots. Those woaring lavender trl anglo buttons are called toler ant cltlzons. Thoje wouring "Support Family Values” but tons are mocked. To not support homosexual behavior is pronounced “irra tional hulrod" by the American Civil Liberties Union and "mean-spirited" by the Secre tary of State. A procedure (condoms) with a failure rule (yielding possible death or lifelong disease) of 2 percent to 5 percent is culled "safe sox" and is promoted us sexual "responsibility." A pro cedure (maritul fidelity follow ing pre-inurilal chastity) with u zoro-porccnt rate of death or disease transmission is labeled “fundamentalist zealotry.” Out hero's the real issue: Should society (viu government institutions) encourage chosen behavior that is known to be highly unsanitary, diseased, in fectious and enormously ex pensive in terms of personul anguish, health, lives and dol lars? Is It loving to model this destructive behavior pattorn for our children as acceptable and inovitablo? Is tolcranco more Important than truth? Must wo sunction any-and-all behavior under the ail-encompassing umbrella of “tolerance"? Must we be brand ed by some as funatlcal bigots for refusing to do so? Despite tho massive liberal onslaught, I believe that think ing. compassionate Oregonians will vote this Nov. 3 in recog nizing that governmental pro motion of homosexuality is not good for Oregon. Vole 'Yes' on 9. Jon Wollandar Eugana