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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 1999)
NEWSROOM: (541)346-5511 E-MAIL ode@oregoa uoregon.edu ON-LINE EDITION: www.uoregon.edu/--ode EDITOR IN CHIEF Ryan Frank EDITORIAL EDITORS Kameron Cole Stefanie Knowlton The jury needs to focus on the facts in a landmark abortion case n a country that so prides itself on free and open discourse as the United States, it seems ridiculous that people turn to violence as a means of self-ex pression. Sadly though, they do. Wednesday a Portland jury began deliberation in Planned Parenthood v. American Coalition of Life Activists, a case that many agree will have far-reaching implications in the national debate on free speech and abortion. At issue in the case is whether a series of anti-abor tion mate rials that features in formation about abor tion doc tors— Wanted style posters, a ‘‘Deadly dozen” list of abortion providers and a Web site called the "Nuremberg Files” — constitute a threat to the safety of those doctors. Legally, these materials have been difficult to stop because they avoid lan guage that implicitly calls for violence, which places them under the wide um brella of free speech. But the principle of free speech has always been a difficult one. The fact that doctors and clinic workers who have been featured on the posters and the Web site have been wounded or killed certainly does muddy the wa ters. The Web site is of particular interest in this case. While the site does not call for violence against abor tion providers outright, it does pro claim them guilty of “crimes against humanity,” lists their full names, the cities in which they practice and the names of their spouses and children. The most disturbing aspect of this site, however, is the one that is most cited by the plaintiffs and the media. When one of the people listed on the site is wounded, the name is listed in gray. When one is killed, the name is crossed out and noted as a fatality. It is not just tactics like this that make the site and the other materials threatening, argue the plaintiffs. This is where things get sticky. Their argu ment is that the current climate of the abortion debate is so charged that any thing that advocates violence toward abortion providers, even indirectly, can be construed as threatening. This is the issue the jury has taken up. Violence against abortion providers and their families is reprehensible and should be punished to the fullest ex tent. But if Planned Parenthood or any one else believes that the violence will end if the “Nuremberg Files” Web site is taken down or if anti-abortion groups are prohibited from producing and distributing posters, they are mis taken. The criteria the jury must apply to this case is whether a “reasonable per son” would view the materials as a threat. If the jury finds in favor of the plain tiff, it will send the message that the perception of the doctors has more cre dence than the intent of the anti-abor tion activists — whatever it may be. This would open a door that a society that prizes free speech should be wary of walking through. This is a case where, more than any thing else, the jury needs to be focused on the central issue. We hope they will find it beneath the layers of rhetoric, emotion and subjectivity. This editorial represents the opinion of the Emerald editorial board. Responses may be sent to ode@orvgon.uoregon.edu Letters to the Editor Bike theft Your article on theft (ODE, Jan. 22} noted that bike theft is a problem on campus. The good news is that we can reduce bike theft by doing a few simple things. First, DO NOT use a ca ble as the primary means of locking your bicycle. Cables are just stands of wire that are very easy to cut. A cable will attract a would-be thief while a solid steel U-lock or O-lock will most often deter one. Second, lock an en closed part of your bike’s frame — not just the wheel. Third, register your bike. It is required on campus. In case your bike is stolen and recovered, the registration provides us with a way to locate you. Registration is available at the Office of Public Safety (OPS) and it is free. If you have any questions about how to reduce the chances of your bike being stolen or vandalized, please contact me at 346-5425 or email: bikes@oregon.uoregon.edu David Niles University Bicycle Coordinator Editorial accurate Regarding the editorial article enti tled “Who’s watching the kids?” (ODE, Jan. 26): This very accurately represents the issue at hand: that hun dreds of students here at the Univer sity are struggling to keep their heads above water when it comes to balanc ing school, work and caring for their children, not to mention the countless other factors that affect all of our lives. Although some may feel detatched from this issue, I can guarantee that it affects all of us, whether it’s yourself, a friend, family member or even that person who sits next to you in your 11 a.m. class. Please ask yourself what you can do to help. Simply volunteer ing a couple of hours at the ASUO can make all the difference in the world. That is what I did, and I have come away with a satisfaction that far out weighs what I put in. Devon Streed Freshman Political Science Thumbs TO MORE MONEY: The Universi ty’s plan to offer automatic $1000 and $2000 scholarships to incoming in state freshmen with high grades should go a long way toward at tracting top stu dents. TO CUTTING SOME SLACK. Though they don’t want it to happen again, the Chinese gov ernment allowed the results of a recent township election to stand, even though it took place with out formal gov ernment ap TO REMOVING RIGHTS: A recently proposed bill in the Oregon Leg islature would make it illegal for teachers to goon strike. TO MOVING BACKWARD: Some Ore gon restauran teurs are seek ing exemption from paying their employees minimum wage. At $6.50 per hour, Oregon boasts the high est minimum wage in the country.
