TO THE EDITOR
the fact that the tribes would have to use exist-
ing mills and exporting systems, supporting
big timber.
Senator Smith says that this is an act of
“good will,” and that it will help the people of
the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw tribes.
I say it is another attempt to undermine envi-
ronmental laws, public participation in public-
lands management, and a chance for the big
timber companies to take advantage of a tribal
organization with similar destructive and capi-
talistic aims.
Ray Cole
Eugene
HEALTHY GROWTH
I agree with Patrick Bronson (4/10) about
the benefits of keeping our community small
and the disadvantages of growth. I’m con-
cerned, however, that by pointing out only the
advantages of limiting growth, he ignores the
other side.
When we limit a city’s growth, we risk hav-
ing real estate and rental prices escalate so only
the very rich can live there. Would we really
want to become like Santa Barbara, Santa Fe
or Palo Alto? How would we feel when our
own children couldn’t afford to stay and live
here, or without growth, if they couldn’t find
decent jobs?
Limiting growth is worthwhile, but we
need to carefully strike the right balance and be
mindful of unintended consequences.
Martin Henner
Eugene
CAPABLE & FAIR
A recent letter criticized Munir Katul, a
member of the Eugene Police Commission, for
“defending militarization” and criticized the
ACLU for not “yet suing the city of Eugene.”
Dr. Katul is a capable and dedicated individual
with a progressive outlook and reputation for
fairness. He’s known to listen to both sides
while generally enjoying the respect of indi-
viduals from a variety of viewpoints. In order
to maintain ongoing effectiveness and some-
times accomplish the most good, one must be
pragmatic in how decisions are formulated and
communicated.
I have not always agreed with the positions
and organizations supported by the ACLU but
believe that it is well meaning and utilizes its
limited resources in an effort to protect our
rights. The ACLU would be well served to
have an individual of Dr. Katul’s integrity,
ability and sensitivity selected for its board.
Alan Cohn
Eugene
STRANGE VICTORY
While American forces fail to find any sign
of the weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)
that formed the pretense for our invasion, I fear
that the most dangerous WMD — hatred — is
growing. The R-G’s 4/30 report of escalating
Iraqi civilian protests and retaliatory violence
by U.S. soldiers in Fallujah is another sign of
growing hatred of Americans and increasing
danger to our troops in the Middle East. Since
hatred is infinitely capable of turning box cut-
ters (and many other tools) to the service of
terror, we must also consider the possibility of
increasing danger to Americans everywhere,
even at home.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration has
decided there are insufficient funds in the
Treasury to even bother to carry out an investi-
gation into the most massive security failure in
American history, the 9/11 attacks.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration has
decided there are insufficient funds in the
Treasury to maintain veterans’ benefits at their
current (miserably inadequate) level.
I support our troops by supporting in-
creases in veteran’s benefits, in contrast to the
Bush Administration’s proposal to slash these
benefits. I support our troops by pleading with
public officials to bring them home and take a
massive crash-course in learning how to use
diplomacy to solve problems. Ask any kinder-
garten teacher; they will be happy to explain
the basic skills.
Do we feel safer yet? Does anyone feel
confident about the recovery of this tanking
economy? Can anyone show me proof that
some sort of “victory” has occurred?
Dawn Lesley
Eugene
SYRIA NEXT?
The Bush administration manufactured the
war on Iraq, in part, to deflect the nation’s at-
tention from its abysmal record on the domes-
tic front: a troubled economy, unemployment,
the dismantling of environmental protections,
health care, lack of funding for education and
social services, irresponsible tax cuts, attempt-
ing to gut Social Security, state budget cuts —
the list goes on.
A widely held belief is that past campaigns
will be forgotten by the time the next ones
come around. I do believe we would not be in
this horrendous mess today had Al Gore been
permitted to take his rightful place as presi-
dent.
Is Syria next? If the politics of war are to be
stopped, let us not forget the 2000 campaign
and broken campaign promises, among them
that George W. Bush would not be a nation-
builder. If replacing the government in Iraq is
not nation-building, I don’t know what is.
Let’s make absolutely certain the 2004 elec-
tion results in a president who will emphasize
the importance of domestic issues along with
developing and promoting foreign policies that
will lessen the possibility of terrorist acts
against American interests at home and
abroad, instead of encouraging terrorism, as
those currently in power in Washington are
doing.
Pauline Hutson
Eugene
SAVE THAT OIL
While most of Baghdad was looted and
burned as “coalition” troops watched, one
closely guarded building remained intact: the
Iraqi Oil Ministry. While hospitals and schools
burned unchecked, crack firefighting crews
were dispatched to put out oil well fires.
Anybody still unclear about the motive for this
invasion?
Douglas Hintz
Eugene
PROTECT CREDIBILITY
Nineteen Saudis bring down the WTC. We
blame another Saudi for planning it, so we top-
ple the government of Afghanistan. Still no bin
Laden, so we topple the government of Iraq.
Now, no bin Laden or Saddam. I’m kind of
afraid of North Korea, so could we just demo-
nize Qadafi or Castro again? Also, as the
world’s policeman, we should waste no time in
planting whatever evidence is necessary to jus-
tify our pre-emptive attack on Iraq — our cred-
ibility is at stake!
Pete Raiteri
Eugene
MAY 8, 2003 5