Oregon River Sports
TO THE EDITOR
and 141 cities in this country have now
passed resolutions against this absurdly
named sabotage of our Bill of Rights.
This “act” was thrown at the representatives
in Congress during a time of chaos and national
panic. Those who voted on it admit that they
did not actually read this entire bill. What they
voted “yes” for was the misused word “Patriot”
which was cleverly put in the title.
When the people of Alaska, a state that has a
majority of Republicans, Libertarians and
Independents, actually read the UPA and dis-
covered the degree of sabotage to our Bill of
Rights, they said, “No way!” and voted it out! I
have read the actual lengthy text of the UPA. I
challenge anyone to rationally and honestly
show how diminishing our Bill of Rights will in
fact improve our collective safety, security, em-
powerment or democratic freedoms.
“We the people” of Oregon need to reflect
upon the implications of Jefferson’s warning
for us, here and now. Our government offi-
cials and elected representatives have sworn
to uphold our state and federal constitutions.
It is up to us to let them know that we want
and demand that our constitutional rights,
which are now at great risk, be restored.
Demelza Costa
Sweet Home
THE LONGEST DAY
On Venus, a day lasts longer than a year.
An astronomical quirk, to be sure. An entire
orbit of Venus around the sun is completed,
begun again, and completed in turn almost
nine more times before a single day comes to
a close. Such a day has been Sept. 11th.
Days and years passed before that day in
accordance with the laws of planetary mo-
tion. Until those planes struck those sky-
scrapers — at that moment in America, all
natural laws were suspended.
Though the Earth has completed almost
two orbits around the sun since that day, in
America it remains the 11th of September.
The impact of those planes still reverberates
in our national consciousness, and directs our
national actions. The fear born of that day
was renamed fury, and by the force of our
omnipotence, we’ve willed the Earth not to
rotate on its axis until we’ve exacted our
vengeance.
And when natural laws are suspended,
anyone can make anything assume any
meaning. Circular logic replaces common
sense. Democracy is imposed through force.
Security is pursued through aggression.
Peace is deemed possible only through war.
Freedom is protected through curtailing civil
rights. Prosperity is bought through accumu-
lating debt. Truth is claimed through rhetoric.
Now it is time we move on. A day must
not become a lifetime. The Earth must be al-
lowed to resume its usual rotation. All natural
laws must be reinstated. The omnipotence
that willed a planetary standstill to suit its
whims must instead be a force for good. An
astronomical quirk, to be sure.
Todd Huffman, M.D.
Eugene
SLIME TIME NEARS
The Society for the Legitimization of the
Ubiquitous Gastropod invites all subjects and
residents of this fair realm to the authentic
SLUG Queen Competition and Coronation,
to be held at 6 pm on the Friday of the Eugene
Celebration, Sept. 19, at the Saturday Market
Stage. The Society also invites anyone who
feels called and/or qualified to become this
year’s SLUG Queen to contact First Lady in
Waiting Kim at 686-8885. It’s not too late, the
application deadline is Sept. 12.
Thank you so very much for your assis-
tance in spreading the truth, and the slime.
Slimily yours,
Kim Still
First Lady in Waiting
GROWING CONCERN
Economic growth results in more people
consuming more resources and making more
waste and pollution. Larger numbers of peo-
ple, new houses, more cars and miles driven,
and more items bought from stores are all
part of economic growth.
Economic growth is good for the econ-
omy, but is generally bad for the environ-
ment. Making cars and houses requires natu-
ral resources, and results in pollution and
waste. Driving cars and flying airplanes pol-
lutes. The trash we make in our daily lives
goes back to the land as toxins. The more of
us living an affluent lifestyle, the worse for
the environment.
Economic growth will eventually col-
lapse in on itself if we don’t learn to stop it
first. There are not endless natural resources
for us to exploit for our high-consumption
lifestyles. The earth cannot tolerate endless
waste and pollution. We cannot keep increas-
ing the human-caused species extinction rate
without it eventually resulting in our own ex-
tinction.
Either we will recognize limits to our
growth and stop it, or nature will do it to us in
very unpleasant ways. Vital resources of
water and oil will soon become limits to our
growth. If we have the foresight, we could
preserve for the long-term by giving up our
dependence upon growth and mega-con-
sumption, stop growing in our numbers, and
living more simply and cooperatively.
Expect the environment to get worse as
long as we support economic growth. And
before long, expect the economy to erode be-
cause the environment has become over-ex-
ploited and trashed.
Patrick Bronson
Eugene
FALL SALE
AUGUST 31 ST
THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 6 TH
We are closing out boat and accessory lines and making room
for new products. Price reductions up to 50%
on new boats and accessories.
Up to 40% OFF Whitewater Kayaks
20% OFF Selected Touring Kayaks
Lots of accessories on sale
Rental boats & used equipment for sale
Join us for our
Autumn
SEA KAYAK
Demo Day
Sat., Sept. 6, 11am-4pm
@ Dexter Reservoir
Silver Jewelry
Yoga Mats
Meditation Cushions
Goddess Statues
Ethnic decorative items
Scented candles & incense
Books, Cards, Tarot Journals
RUBY CHASM
152 W 5th @ Charnelton
EUGENE • 344-4074
We’ll have more than 60 boats available for you to try out
from Necky, Eddyline, Cobra, Current Designs,
Northwest Kayaks & Aqua Fusion
Oregon River Sports
3400 Franklin Blvd. Eugene 541-334-0696
http://www.oregonriversports.com
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AUGUST 28, 2003 7