TO THE EDITOR
FORBIDDEN FOODS
My body is coated with creamy extract of
Big Mac; my throat is gently moistened with an
infusion of chocolate shake; I exfoliate my feet
with the tantalizing salt of Biggie Fries. May I
supersize that shampoo for you?
These are not the foods the cosmetic industry
are using to promote their products. These are the
true forbidden foods, rather than the blueberries
and cream, almonds and oatmeal, and bananas
and tangerines noted in Debra Merskin’s “Food
Values” Viewpoint (6/12) in EW.
Although Merskin’s point may be that con-
sumers are falling prey to manufacturers’adver-
tising techniques to the detriment of their own
well-being, it is ridiculous to castigate healthy,
natural foods and attribute them to the
embiggening of America. Merskin would be
wise to promote them as healthful alternatives
to the beef and fried food industry that has con-
tributed to making 60 percent of Americans
overweight.
Jessica Sweeney
Portland
IMAGINE BAGHDAD
Here is a little theater game anyone can
play. This July 4th, as you hear bangs and
booms, imagine you are a U.S. soldier or an
Iraqi citizen in Baghdad. Imagine the bangs are
real gun fire and the booms are grenades or sui-
cide bombers. Walking around at night adds to
the game.
Chris Pender
Eugene
CONSERVE RIVERFRONT
As a UO student and frequent bike com-
muter, I am quite concerned about upcoming
industrialization of the beautiful riverfront bike
paths near the UO. Conservation of the natural
riverfront area is crucial in improving livabili-
ty in east Eugene. Has the city considered the
impact of converting a large area which func-
tions as an alternative transportation network to
a car dominated grid like the rest of town?
Increased runoff, industrial accidents, and
fewer reasons for people to utilize alternative
transportation will result if the area is devel-
oped. In the past, citizens of Eugene have
rejected paving the area and it is time they do it
again — especially since taxpayers would be
GRAND
RE-Opening
footing the bill.
Instead of research and development, the
university should plan to quickly address the
20 contaminated sites on the Research Park
land. Since 1991 the DEQ has been monitoring
these sites — it’s now time to do something
about them. Shame on our City Council who
have voted in favor of this Riverfront Research
Park urban renewal corporate giveaway and
the defense-related nanotechnology complex it
may impose on east Eugene. The university’s
east campus low-income family housing area is
also scheduled to be replaced by this intense
research.
Bryn Anderson
Eugene
INNOCENT VICTIMS
Last night I attended a showing of “Regret
to Inform.” While at once the film took me
back years to the Vietnam War and before, it
riveted me to the present.
I remember being a young teen gazing with
my best friend at young sailors and soldier in uni-
form — fellows we thought were so handsome
and brave. And now, in the newspaper, I see prac-
tically children expected to perform deadly and
dastardly acts as so-called adults while donning
the uniform of our country. I see youth duped —
forced to by circumstance, poverty, promises and
propaganda to march to war.
I admire Xuan and others for their courage
and candid telling of the tragedy of their lives,
tragedy secondary to senseless violence and
destruction and their desire to rebuild Vietnam
which still suffers from “The American War.”
Yet, I am overcome by the hypocrisy of sup-
porting that effort while our government
wreaks devastation again, right now in the sup-
posed aftermath of war, on yet more innocent
victims, included well-intentioned troops, dec-
orated in the shadow of red, white and blue.
And I ask, what are we women and men of
the world to do?
Jennifer Gusset
Eugene
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