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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 24, 2003)
TO THE EDITOR ON VICTORY Now we have the heralding of victory in the air. The real question, of course, is not could the U.S., the strongest military might in the world, win a military victory over a country whose might is decades old. The real question is what is victory? I didn’t oppose this war because I thought we couldn’t win militarily; I opposed it because I don’t believe in the victory of war; I believe in the victory of food, clothing, health and security. Have we, in spite of our “Liberation of Iraq,” succeeded in any of the above? I think not. Will we ever, and if so, how? All of these issues must be faced before we can begin the process of “bringing democracy to Iraq.” I know there are organizations working to bring food, clothing and health to Iraqis and hopefully they will suc- ceed in delivering relief soon. But what of security? The region is more un- stable than it was before, the Muslim fundamen- talists have much more to fan their flames with and the U.S. has brought more derision to the world, even amongst its “friends.” Over and over again we see the tearing down of a statue of Hussein in Baghdad’s center. How many Iraqis were really there rejoicing? Clearly, most of the Iraqi population is still watching and waiting to see “what now.” What will victory re- ally look like? Susan Onaclea Leaburg buy sell trade ease. But now more troubling questions: Does support for the troops require support for a swelling military budget that deprives the coun- try– including the families of these troops – of health care, education, transportation and safety? Does support require that we give up the freedom to protest the rationale and conduct of this war, a freedom that they are risking their lives presum- ably to preserve? You, Nancy Pelosi, have said, “Despite our differences on policy, when we go into battle it will be one team, one fight.” Does that mean if President Bush, flush say with “victory” in Iraq decides that Iran is next, once he sends the troops in we will again be “one team.” Isn’t that like giving him license for any next war he’s up for? I can’t stress enough how important it is to get answers to these questions. If you cannot give them to me, I will have to look to leaders who can. Hannah Wilson Eugene Tristan, If our buyers were any less demanding, you wouldn’t love the clothes 131 E. Fifth Ave (between Oak & Pearl) eleventh D e s t i n a t i o n EXPECTATIONS AND BIAS In a perfect world news sources would be ob- jective and unbiased. But I do not live under this illusion. There will always be opinion mixed with news and one-sided views. Every time I pick up EW, I know what to expect, the same way that I know what will be on when I turn the channel to Fox News. Now I am not really a Fox News fan, but I just find it funny that your publication would print something like, “Fox is so blatantly one- sided, it’s appalling.” Is EW any less one-sided? Feel free to dispose of this letter and instead pub- lish another “Impeach Bush” letter. Aaron Canaday Eugene Buffalo Exchange buyer BUFFALOEXCHANGE . COM a n n u a l I m a g i n a t i o n Plant Sale Saturday May 3rd ~ F e a t u r e d P l a n t s ~ Japanese Maples Alpines Perennials Woodland Plants Trillium Hardy Cyclamen Heirloom Plants Grasses Medicinal Herbs Herbs Trees & Shrubs Hosta Native Plants Ferns Water Lilies 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM Alton Baker Park n ve nd e o w rs eugene, or Profits will support the Destination Imagination (formerly Odyessey of the Mind) at Pleasant Hill Schools APRIL 24, 2003 7
