EDITORIAL New OCA initiative makes little sense The Oregon Citizens Alliance announced Thursday it will begin filing anti-homosexual initiatives in 32 Ore gon counties and cities for special elections this June. OCA loaders hope the new. softer initiatives. filed specifically in the regions that passed Ballot Measure 9 last November, will build support for anothor state wide measure on the 1994 ballot. It is not a surprise that the OCA followed through on its promise to propose a kinder, gontler Measure 9. If it had not been for Multnomah and Lane counties, Mea sure 9 would have passed easily. The CX'A knows that omitting the descriptions of homosexuality as ‘ab normal and perverse”will ease citizens' concerns about the original measure. What is surprising is how tamo the now lan guage is. It basically denies "minority sta tus, affirmative action, quotas, special class status, or any similar concept based on homosexuality.'' At the The OCA has raised a different question with this initiative — what is the point? same time, the lan guage prohibits firing an employee based on sexual preference. In other words, the language does what the(XIA orig inally said Measure 9 did; it denies special rights for homosexuals. Measure 9. however, went much further by condemning almost every aspect of homosexual life, desnite OCA claims to the contrary. The OCA has raised a different question with 'his ini tiative — what is the point? The sole purpose of Mea sure 9. ridiculous as it was. was to define homosexuality as immoral. The OCA wanted to impose its own morality on Oregon based on a dislike for gay and lesbian citizens. The new OCA initiative admits homosexuality is a private matter, and that nobody should be fired from a job based on sexual preference. However, the crux of the initiative, which w-as denying minority status to homosexuals, was never an issue in the first place. Homosexuals have never wanted special rights with in society. The famed "homosexual agenda” is to sim ply ensure that homosexuals are not denied the rights given to ovory person. In other words, sexual preference should not harm a person's ability to rent a house, apply for a loan or find a job. The OCA claims gays want affirmative action, and that for every 10 job openings, several go to homosexu als In actuality, gays want to make suro homosexuality has no bearing on hiring. Gay citizens are rightly con cerned that they could be denied employment because of their sexuality. The main concern for homosexuals is the now initia tive. if it passes, will be open to broad interpretations. Citizens from the 32 counties should recognize the futility of the initiative, and its thinly-veiled discrimi nation, and turn it down in June. Oregon Daily Emerald New* Editor Editor tat Editor Gr aphic* Editor Entertainment PO DOi )iw CuGffrf OftfGO«*<»'4C) The Oregon Da-> Emerald s published daJy Monday through Friday during the school yea; and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer by the Oegon Daily Emerald Publish mg Co inc . at the Ur*verity oi Oregon. Eugene. Oegon Tne f ^e*aid operates independently of the University enth oHtce* at Suite 300 ot the (rb Memorial Uruon and is a member o< the Associated Press The Emerald >i private property The unlawful removal or use o* papers >» prosecutable Editor Pa! Matach JaPe Berg Freelance Editor Hope NerSson Martnf.sher Editorial Editor R ve*s Janssen Jew Paaiay Sport* Editor Dave Chartx>nneeu f drtorf r eya Morn Supplements Editor CaAey Anderson Night Editor Cheater AX#n Associate Editors Tammy fiate> Shxienf Government A<~h*»he» Ju»i.n 8rown. Sa»ah Dark. Ctyar OiuWrv Meg Dedoiph Amy Devenpcvt Amanda Ferr*e A _■<% f e" j- Teresa Hunts*nge' tisa Krvee'el. 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"H. frttAu AJK\*< &om STIU IN OuvAyrMG PoP nj£ GftAGO PCize TO IP Tb ofluv-ov — LETTERS Earth change Stephanie Sisson's column, "Earth will adjust to catastrophes." {ODE , |an 11) displayed an amazing amount of ignorance. I agree the Earth will surv ive regardless of the burdens we place on it Our planet's abilitv to continue sustaining life, however, is truly threatened by environmental destruction Life on Earth is made possible by the intricate and delicate balance of species and conditions Every species on the planet depends on another for survival Without plants, we could not breath; conversely, plants could not live without the carbon dioxide animals produce Nothing could exist without the ozone layer to shield us from the sun's radiation. Sisson's contention that statistics are "created to make Americans feel guilty about the harm we're doing to our planet" is truly ridiculous These statistics accurately reflect the devastation occurring to our ecosystem on massive levels Even if the United States' level of pollution is indeed "the lowest of countries comparable to ours in economics, government and industry" (whatever thut means), we have done more than shift the environmental burdens of our rampant consumption to developing nations like Mexico, where environmental restrictions are minimal or unenforced. 1 strongly disagree that "the Earth must change with us." Unfortunately our planet, which has taken millions of year to evolve to its present state, will not change in a few short generations to meet our greedy demands We need to change so our planet will continue to sustain life Kevin Durant Undeclared Go George I. for one, as a God-fearing Americ an, ain getting sick and tired of the lilieral press giving so much attention to the inauguration of Presidentelect Bill Clinton. We can't forgot that tho honorable President Bush still has a low days to go Think of all the possible historiuil events that can take place in that amount of time (another great war in the Middle Hast) keep it up (reurge! Bush will tie pi.ii ed among other greats of our wonderful government, like Rn hard Nixon (the best) and | Kdgar Hoover, when that sad day comes Stay true to the flag fight, fight, fight Dennis Gubbins Anthropology Insult . 1 found Stephanie Sisson's column "Earth will adjust to catastrophes" (ODE . Jan. 11) an insult to anyone who has a mere cursor* knowledge of the current worldwide environmental crisis She uses superfu ial facts and figures to make her argument that human-caused catastrophes are not to be worried alxiut be< ause Mother Nature will prevail In effect, her argument allows for the fact that man will render extinct a few thousand plant and animal species and a few hundred of his own cultures in the name of progress I would like to point out that her language of progress is bused on the assumption that humans are separate from the nutural world Her statement that "mankind's existence demands progress” points to a eurocentric attitude that has been the basis [or destroying other cultures, including those that existed before the arrival of Europeans to this country. The idea that we are somehow moving forward into better lives through technology and progress is pure illusion. In fact, a technological society is pushing itself and the world closer toward doomsday all the time Progress, a purely Western idea, is disrupting life support systems worldwide The statistics are not "created to make Americans feel bad": they are ,i reflection on our o> el i v consumptive, wasteful society. Take a look at a reputable source like the Worldwatch Institute's publication State of the World It's clear that humans are destroying their foundations for survival it is the imbedded attitude that we are somehow apart from Mother Nature we should fear most Andrew Fischer Environmental Studies PIRGs Since the early 1060s. the battle for a ( leaner environment has been fought in Congress and on a grass roots level With the election of Hill Clinton, the environmental movement in the t Jailed States stands to have more influence than ever before There are estimated to he as many as 10.000 environmental organizations in the country today Despite their size and influence. environmental legislation is threatened by large corporations with their political action committees. The Public Interest Research Croups, along with more than 70 national organizations including Common Cause, Public Citizen, and the I .vague of Women Voters, are pushing for comprehensive reform of the congressional < anipaign svstem Before Clinton's election, he promised lo support such legislation in order to stop special interests from buying our politicians' legislative powers. Without this legislation, the United States government will continue its disturbing legacy of ignoring legislation to protect the environment and consumers in favor of special interest lobbyists and corporate inuntn Throughout this term, OSPIRG will organize a "Campaign for a Clean Congress" on campus. If you find this issue to bo important, this is a perfect opportunity to get involved in a campaign that will channel political power where it bulongs — in the hands of American citizens. Margaret J. Tibbetts OSPIRG