TO THE EDITOR
dustrialized encroachment. The worst exam-
ples have been the Amazon Parkway, maze of
chain-link and baseball fields north of 24th,
bus transfer station, five parking lots, the ille-
gal use of park-land as a parking lot, and the
concretization of the Amazon Creek with
chain-link fencing.
On the brighter side, the city has been
working to create natural areas to protect the
Amazon Creek at the headwaters and west of
town. I’d like to see the same kind of commit-
ment in Amazon Park. To find a good balance
between differing uses, those who use the
park on a daily basis must weigh-in and have
their voice heard as the majority that it is.
Many parks are not yet built and other
parks are in need of scarce funds. Be sure to
let the city know that Amazon has far more
than its developed share of ball fields than
any other city park. For more info write:
AmazonNeighbors@lycos.com
Marcy Jane
Citizens for a Natural Amazon
PETTY POLICING
I would like to applaud Jenny Hoeksema
(11/6) for speaking out against racist and in-
trusive police practices. I, too, am fed up with
Eugene area police tactics and am not sur-
prised at all to learn that they’ve been profil-
ing based on race. I believe that the statistics
would also show that they disproportionately
pull over older, beat-up, and be-stickered ve-
hicles (usually those who can least afford to
pay the tickets). The biggest problem I have
is that they never seem to be looking for
harmful criminal activity, but instead spend
their time harassing motorists (and cyclists)
for petty violations while satiating their ap-
parent obsession with searching for mari-
juana.
Law enforcement is an extremely power-
ful and difficult occupation dealing with
many complex and sensitive societal issues.
This is why I believe that the police academy
should be part of a mandatory four-year de-
gree program that should include diversity
training and community awareness. Many
professions with far simpler societal implica-
tions require a college education and I think it
has become far too obvious that we need to
raise our standards when it comes to our po-
lice force. As the guardians of our commu-
nity, we need to be able to expect impeccable
professional conduct from them at all times.
Instead they are rarely even held
accountable.
I would like to see a much closer review
of the data to identify which individual offi-
cers have the greatest racial disparities in
their stops and searches. While we’re at it
let’s check the stats for late model vs. old
beater vehicles. When we identify which offi-
cers are profiling, they should be required to
undergo sensitivity training and then
monitored to make sure they’re playing
fair.
None of this will ever happen without an
independent citizen police review with real
power to enforce these standards. The unfor-
tunate fact is that police can’t be trusted to po-
lice themselves. If you think they can, I’ve
got a war for democracy I’d like to sell you.
David Pullman
Eugene
TIME TO UNDERMINE
I was glad to see your paper address the
problems with the current conservative at-
tempt to repeal HB 2152, the “tax increase”
OFAM at The Shedd
that is intended to save our school systems
(“Decline to Sign” news story, 11/6). I re-
cently received the letter and petition being
mailed out to (I presume) all registered voters
in the state urging me to sign the petition and
get my friends to do the same.
My envelope contained a pre-paid enve-
lope intended for me to return my signed peti-
tion and the donation they were soliciting as
well. How interesting that the “Taxpayer
Defense Fund” would have the gall to ask for
money from taxpayers in amounts which are
higher than their estimated loss from the tax
hike!
As your article stated, the tax increase will
cost taxpayers on average $3 a month, thus
approximately $36 per year. Yet the PAC try-
ing to repeal this increase asks for donations
of $50! I saw my opportunity in that little
pre-paid envelope, and I encourage all of you
to follow suit. Send them back their unso-
licited paperwork with your personal opin-
ions written on it, and do it on their own dime.
Certainly they will appreciate your input and
critiques.
Don’t just “decline to sign,” go ahead and
undermine.
Gail M. Karuna
Eugene
CASTING BANANAS
When I was in downtown Eugene, I wit-
nessed two people harassing a man for driv-
ing a Hummer. Sure, they’re gas guzzlers, but
what is this relative too? If the man drives his
SUV but for a few trips a week, he his actu-
ally conserving more than the “right-minded”
conservationist who drives their more effi-
cient car everywhere they go. Likewise, if the
SUV is kept in good condition, it is probably
spewing out less noxious chemicals than that
old beat up VW bus. So, in conclusion, let
they who ride their bike, take the bus, and
walk cast the first banana in the tail-pipe.
Mandy DeVille
Eugene
OFAM’s American Symphonia presents
Arnold & Victor
Steinhardt
An evening of American chamber music
Sponsored by
The Brockett Family
Presenting Festival Sponsor
Friday, Nov. 21, 7:30 pm
at Th e Shedd: 687-6526
Gonzalo
Rubalcaba
Saturday
December 6th
7:30 pm at The Shedd
OFAM Tix: 687-6526
OBEY THE GOVERNMENT
Is it any wonder Deputy Secretary of
Defense Boykin touts (while in uniform) the
U.S. as a Christian nation at war with Islam,
when the president himself labels enemies of
America evil? Pat Robertson spends millions
of dollars a day propagating the same mes-
sage, as if the U.S. government were the de-
fender of all that is good and holy, reminis-
cent of the Falwell/Reagan collaboration in
the war on drugs to enlist support from credu-
lous Christians, who are advised by St Paul in
Romans 13.1 to “obey the government, for
God is the one who put it there,” yet seem to
forget Paul himself was martyred for disobe-
dience to government.
Mottos, slogans, songs, and pledges of al-
legiance to the contrary, the First Amendment
makes this nation secular, not Christian, and
no government made by men can ever be
more than a necessary evil. One has only to
watch TV for an hour or so to realize this is in
all probability the most decadent and im-
moral nation on Earth since Sodom and
Gommorah, so what are religious leaders
doing promoting secular causes, especially
war? If there is an express line for Americans
at the Pearly Gates, you won’t find me in it,
because it probably leads straight to hell.
Get religion out of government and keep it
out.
Pete Raiteri
Eugene
Youth high school & youngers ½ price
Rufus
Wainwright
with special guest Martha Wainwright
Friday, December 12th
7:30 pm at The Shedd, Eugene
OFAM Ticket Offi ce: 687-6526
The American Music Institute
private lessons - classes - workshops - ensembles
To register call 687-6526
OFAM at Th e Shedd
868 High Street (at Broadway)
541-687-6526 - www.ofam.org
Presenting Festival Sponsor
NOVEMBER 20, 2003 5