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E-mail: editor@dailyemerald.com
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Editor in Chief:
Jessica Blanchard
Managing Editor:
Michael J. Kleckner
Editorial Editor:
Julie Lauderbaugh
Assistant Editorial Editor:
Jacquelyn Lewis
Thursday, October 11,2001
Editorial
Neighboring
cities should
make peace
Eugene and Springfield exist in a
strange sort of brotherhood. On the
one hand, the two cities, their
economies and social lives, are intri
cately intertwined. Residents of each town
work in the other; many friends and relatives
straddle the natural river boundary.
On the other hand, a somewhat unfriendly
sibling rivalry has always been a part of the
relationship. The battle over which city
would get the new federal courthouse was
not particularly amicable, at least in the me
dic and conversations around town. And this
rivalry extends to social practices, lifestyles
and customs.
But Limes chanye. And it’s about time that
the rancor of the sibling rivalry also become
extinct.
Let’s face it; the inter-citv rivalry isn’t al
ways pleasant. Visit a local bar or coffee shop,
and one can overhear nasty jokes aimed at
Spr ng fielders - always focused on the notion
that they are rednecks, or that they’re drug
users or some other crass, over-generalized
nonsense. In Springfield, comments and
jokes about the general elitism and smugness
ofEugeneans is common. But one can also
overhear sexist or racist or homophobic jokes
in bars; that doesn’t mean they’re acceptable.
Last week, the Emerald editorial board
wrote about the stereotypes and attitudes re
lating to Springfield. We did not say they
were true - we simply pointed out that these
ideas are often associated with Springfield.
We did so in the context of a discussion about
a different issue, and we paid the stereotypes
little attention.
We were remiss, however, in pointing out
that such generalizations not only aren’t true
- they’re unfair and rude. People of every
stripe live in both cities; people are generally
accepted, despite their differences, in both
cities. This is an important part of the livabili
ty of the region, and it should be celebrated.
It’s time for the sibling rivalry to end. Both
towns have grown into adults, and at a cer
tain point in adulthood, it’s wise to make
peace with one’s relatives and move on. Eu
geneans and Springfielders should fulfill the
values that make both communities such
great places to live, and respect each other’s
strengths and weaknesses. Let’s let it contin
ue from here.
Edit alp ■ •
;e e Mortals represent the opinio
of the Emerald editorial board. Responses cap be
sentto ietters^dailyemera&eQm. letters to the
editor and guest commentaries are encouraged,
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commentaries to SSOwords. Please include
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right to edit for space, grammar and style.
Editorial hoard members
Julie Latiderbaugh
editorial page editor
Jacquelyn lewis
assistant editorial editor
Jessica Blanchard!
editor-in-chief
Michael J. Kleckner
managing editor
6abe Shaughnessy Grant Lelfler
community representative community representative
newsroom representative
AVOIDING DEBT:
Mission Possible
v avv m v % \ xi
Steve Baggs Emerald
Sunday night, I was at the bank,
cursing the ATM machine for run
ning out of paper. I’m not an anal
person who keeps an alphabetized
file of every financial transaction, but I
wanted to make sure that the bartending
tips I just deposited left me with enough
funds to cover the rent check I wrote two
days before.
Normally, my wages and tips are more
than adequate to cover my basic bills.
However, the start of school three weeks
ago signaled an onslaught of expenses in
the form of tuition and books, leaving my
checking account in the low double digits.
Since I don’t fall into the fortunate
group of star athletes, future Einsteins or
aspiring concert pianists who are basically
paid to go to school, I have something in
common with the other 98 percent of the
student body: finding the winning combi
nation of cash from part-time jobs, loans,
parental assistance and beer bottle refunds
to pay for my education.
I could opt for the well-used option of
taking out loans. For people like me, who
have a fear of debt and signing my finan
cial future on the dotted line, scrubbing
gum off benches sounds more desirable
than owing the government large sums of
money. It’ll be great to get out of under
graduate school debt-free, knowing I ac
complished that myself. And that sense of
accomplishment will last about five min
utes, as I plan on attending law school and
have no hopes of an unknown relative
leaving me a large inheritance.
The other popular alternative for cash, if
parents aren’t part of the equation, is the
job. We all have one of these at some time
or another, or, in some cases, several at the
same time. Making the decision to work
during school may seem easy enough, but
there are more variables than initially
meet the eye. In my case, having to work
wasn’t even a decision; it was a given.
But in actuality, how heroic am I for pay
ing for my education? Sure, it may make
me feel like I have a character-building
jump start on all the little Ducklets whose
parents still foot the bill. I’d like to think
it’s worth it for the freedom that comes
with providing for myself.
Letters to the editor
Ending war on drugs
would reduce terrorism
Now, perhaps more than
ever, there is an even stronger
case for changing our govern
ment’s positioning in the War
on Drugs. In addition to disen
franchising hundreds of thou
sands of non-violent citizens,
wasting our tax dollars on pro
grams that get larger and deliv
er fewer results each year, and
helping the spread of corrup
tion among our police officers,
prohibition of marijuana and
other substances creates a
black market, which is an easy
source of funding for terrorists.
Yes, that’s right. Terrorists
profit directly from America’s
War on Drugs. They grow crops
and sell them at the black mar
ket’s outrageously inflated
prices.
That’s exactly what the Tal
iban was doing until this year,
when George Dubbya handed
over 40 million dollars to coax
them to stop. They destroyed
the crops, but how much do
you want to bet they will start
right up after Bush pulls any
future binding?
Ending the War on Drugs
would remove the threat of
prison from people who don’t
belong there, generate tax dol
lars that aren’t there now and
pull money right out of the ter
rorists' pockets.
Christopher Palkow
Norfolk, Virginia
Airdrops are appeasement
Resources spent on humani
tarian airdrops are resources
diverted for self-defense. It
shows our leaders putting the
lives of Americans below those
of citizens in enemy countries.
It is also appeasement. Some
fear Muslims will think we’re
warring against Islam. The air
drops are an attempt to show
this isn’t true. If we fear these
people will turn against us,
best we not help them?
We’ve been appeasing by try
ing to form a coalition with
Communists, in refraining
from attacking other terrorist
countries, in failing to declare
war and now in these airdrops.
Fifty years of appeasement led
to Sept. 11th.
More will mean worse.
Christopher J Grace
Aurora, Colo.
Students whose parents pay their bills
may not have to worry about making sure
the rent is in on time, but those of us who
work can pretty much spend our money
on whatever we want. I don’t have to justi
fy — or even tell my parents — if I decide
to spend $300 to fly to Vegas for the week
end because it’s my money. If I decide to
opt for a Ritta’s burrito for lunch instead of
brown-bagging it, I don’t have to feel guilty
that Mom intended for me to use that $5 on
toilet paper and mechanical pencils.
At the same time that I proclaim the bit
tersweet freedom that comes from pulling
my own weight, I’m a hypocrite. If my par
ents offered to pay my bills, I’d say, “Hell,
yeah” in a New York minute. You may still
find me working behind the bar, concoct
ing some great Martinis and Long Island
Ice Teas, but it would only be to continue to
accumulate great stories to someday write
about—not for a winter break trip to Bali.
Rebecca Newell is a columnist for the Emerald. Her
views do not necessarily reflect those of the Emerald.
She can be reached at
rebeccanewell@dailyemerald.com.