Newsroom: (541) 346-5511
Suite 300, Erb Memorial Union
P.O. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
Email: editor@dailyemercdd.com
Online Edition:
www.dailyemerald.com
Monday, January 6,2003
-Oregon Daily Emerald
Commentary
Editor in Chief:
Michael J. Kleckner
Managing Editor
Jessica Richelderfer
Editorial Editor
Pat Payne
Free from Oregon’s MOLD
I’ve lived in Oregon my entire life, and I’ve
had a certain pride about living here — the
forests, the beaches and the open-mindedness
of people.
It wasn’t until I met someone from Missouri
that I realized there was so much more out
there. Oregon isn’t everything that I thought
it was.
At first, it was just the little things that he
pointed out to me. When I said hello to people,
the smile never reached
their eyes. It was the way
people didn’t hold doors
open for others. And if I
didn’t express the same
views, I was called igno
rant and obtuse.
One day we went to a
restaurant here, and to
our surprise a man held
open a door as we walked
through. I was delighted
and said thank you. He
said, “I just didn’t want
you touching the glass.” Apparently, he had just
cleaned it. Well, that’s fine, but he could just
have said, “You’re welcome.” This is just one
crude instance that has made me think twice
about wanting to be an Oregonian.
What really makes people true Oregoni
ans? Is it their unwavering stance to “Save
the trees,” or to believe they’re right all the
time? Must I love the Ducks just because I at
tend the University?
During my time at the University, I’ve real
ized that Oregon is open-minded — but only if
you believe what everyone else is saying. You
must also believe that saving the trees should
be our No. 1 priority. And to talk bad about the
Ducks is just short of blasphemy.
During the summer, my friend and I went on
a road trip to Missouri, having never really been
anywhere outside of Oregon. This was just the
experience I was looking for. We went through
Idaho, Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, Okla
Salena
DeLaCruz
Say it loud
homa, and Missouri. The minute we crossed
the Oregon border, I realized people were so
much friendlier. People smiled and waved at us.
When we made it to Missouri, it was like a
dream, at first. People welcomed me with open
arms, or maybe it was just the family. Thanks
to the Barrons.
In Missouri, in the mornings or afternoons
we’d sit on the porch and drink homemade
iced tea and people would drive by and wave,
whether they knew us or not. When people
said hello, their smile actually reached their
eyes. I had conversations with people who
may not have believed my views but were
able to take in what I said without calling me
stupid or ignorant.
When I write my columns, I want people to
disagree. I want the heated debate that comes
from them — but how can I consider your
views when all you say is that I don’t know
what I’m talking about or I’m stupid and un
informed? Tell me why you think these
things. Give me examples; maybe you can
sway me to your way of thinking, but at least
ideas create discussion without the mudsling
ing. I’m not a politician.
So, I may not think the Ducks are the No. 1
team, I may believe that some trees and forests
need cutting. And hey, I may not be right all the
time — but at least most or the time. If I’m
wrong, tell me.
But if you are like I was, living in my little
Oregon shell thinking everything was perfect,
then get out there and see what else there is
to experience. I hate to break it to you: Ore
gon isn’t all white, nor is it as open-minded as
you think. There are many different people
out there of all different races, ethnicities and
beliefs, and the only way to know that is to
take the leap. May I suggest the Midwest?
Thanks, Nick.
Contact the columnist
at salenadelacruz@dailyemerald.com. Her views
do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald.
Peter Utsey Emerald
Online poll
Each Monday, the Emerald
publishes the previous week’s
poll results and the coming
week’s poll question. Visit
www.dailyemerald.com to vote.
Last week: How should the
University address diversity
issues?
Results: 122 total votes
Focus on recruitment —13.1
percent, or 16 votes
Focus on retention — 1 7.2
percent, or 21 votes
Hire more faculty members of
color — 18.9 percent, or 2 3
votes
Things are fine as is — 33.6
percent, or 41 votes
What is diversity?—6.6
percent, or 8 votes
Leave me alone! — 10.7
percent, or 13 votes
This week: Has the KUGN
issue been sufficiently
addressed by the cancellation
of Michael Savage?
Choices:
Yes — enough already!;
Yes — good compromise;
No—this is censorship;
No—KUGN is still "the voice of
the Ducks";
The University had no
influence;
Leave me alone!
Letters to the editor
Bush threatens
free thought
As an ardent opponent of the Bush
administration, I often find myself
(hourly) wondering how, in the face of
obscenely obvious evidence of extreme
hypocrisy (corruption, greed, megalo
mania, etc.), the current administra
tion continues to enjoy high approval
ratings For all those who share my sen
timent, I propose five elements that
land us in this predicament.
First, a number of the people have
had their intellect paralyzed by greed.
Second, a number have had their in
tellect paralyzed by hatred. Third, a
large number have had their intellect
paralyzed by fear. Fourth, a large num
ber have actively abandoned their in
tellect in favor of self-righteous dogma.
Fifth, the rest, who lie in the great ma
jority, have no means to stop their in
tellects from being arrested by the
ubiquitous hated, fear, dogma and
greed that the first four groups manage
to force into the daily lives of nearly
every American.
If my assumptions are correct, a
greater and greater percentage of
Americans with intact intellects
will begin to feel alienated from
their own “homeland.” I wonder
what the alternative will be for the
many who were born into, but do
not wish to live in, a society gov
erned by ignorance, fear, hate, dog
ma and greed. Will there be num
bers and organization enough for at
least a few to demand autonomy
from that which-they morally>op-*
pose? Will many emigrate in search
of freedoms that we are supposedly
guaranteed? Will Americans’ most
threatened minority become those
with the capacity for free thought?
William Moglia
junior
German
There’s no economy
without resources
I am writing this letter in response
to Julie Lauderbaugh’s article, “Let
your conscience be your guide”
(ODE, Dec. 4).
In her article, Lauderbaugh wrote
that she felt refraining from buying
anything on Nov. 29, the biggest
shopping day of the year, would be
“un-American” and would only fur
ther hurt our economy.
Short-term, ethnocentric and uned
ucated views like these are exactly
what Adbusters, the organizers of Buy
Nothing Day, are trying to address with
their campaign. Americans are so wor
ried about the “failing economy,” we
forget most countries don’t even have
this luxury. Yes, we are currently ex
periencing a bear market.
Our gross overconsumption of nat
ural resources, however, is a much
larger and more threatening prob
lem. Without natural resources to
support it, our economy will not just
suffer, it will cease to exist.
We live in a country that has a na
tionally endorsed and highly market
ed day of gorging. I don’t think it is
too much to ask of American citizens
to stop and think during the holiday
season * about • their 'Consumption
habits and how they affect our planet
and the other nations we share this
planet with.
Because, while we Americans eat
heaps of homemade mash potatoes
and pumpkin pie and buy that new
Ralph Lauren jean jacket to help
strengthen the economy, people starve
to death and natural resources are
stolen from those in third world coun
tries who need them much more than
you and I ever will.
Jeanmarie Arnold
senior
multimedia design
Photographs
contradicted facts
While the article (ODE, “Adding
their voices,” Nov. 21) by freelance
reporter Jenny Sherman accurately
reported the events as they occurred,
I am extremely disappointed with the
two front-page photographs.
The photos, one showing a hand
ful of “Bush Cheney” signs and the
other showing 14 or so students
milling in front of Johnson Hall, ap
peared to purposely misrepresent
the enthusiasm, power and voice
that were present at the
rally/march.
Indeed, by just looking at the pic
tures, one would imagine a small
Republican soiree was staged, and
not, as actually took place, an anti
war protest which attracted nearly
300 supporters.
It must be said, however, that while
the photos were a discouraging contra
diction to the entire article and to the
« actual1 facts,* they did provide-a* very •
good example of poor journalism.
Marya Lusky
sophomore
Spanish
Apology misses
one point
The Emerald published an apolo
gy (”An apology to the community,”
ODE, Nov. 25), written by editor-in
chief Michael J. Kleckner, for print
ing two completely unrepresentative
photos of the Nov. 20 anti-war rally
and march.
Unlike most newspaper corrections
or retractions, this one was substan
tial, thoughtful and very visible. It was
honest and gracious, not defensive,
and I appreciated its professionalism
and thoroughness. It addressed most
of the issues I think are relevant to how
opposition to the (proposed) war is
represented in journalism.
The issue Kleckner missed noting
— and it is a political one — is how
amply the voices supporting a war in
Iraq are represented in the main
stream media. This makes it not just
regrettable, but actively harmful,
that the Emerald’s photos misrepre
sented the opinion of the vast majori
ty of those attending the rally. As we
know, the media don’t just report
public opinion—they help shape it.
But thanks again to the Emerald
for covering the event, for printing
Jenny Sherman’s story on it, and for
offering a reflective apology for the
badly chosen photos.
Gina Psaki
professor
i .......... Romance Languages