TO THE EDITOR
case has been done for some of that very
same expensive Fire Rescue gear and train-
ing.
It is a unique condition that the local City
Council has moved to steal not only from the
citizens but also from the federal govern-
ment, putting the complete status of the exis-
tence of the city of Springfield into question.
The same people who would threaten that
status also feel that if a vote takes place it
would allow the surrounding people not of
Springfield city to also vote if they want to
take Springfield’s property.
This is a federal elections crime called
“gerrymandering,” which could just cause
the FBI to be forced to investigate and prose-
cute in this election year.
Hmm? Anyone listening yet?
Daniel J. Moore
Former Asst. Fire Chief
Springfield
POLITICAL CONSUMERISM
People who write letters must occasion-
ally need to be reminded that it is not their re-
sponsibility to save the world — at least not
by writing letters.
Wake up, America! The problem is not
your crooked politicians but your desire for
more things and increasingly greater com-
forts that keeps them in office. At this time,
we have a runaway government that leans so
far to the right it threatens every living thing
on the planet. Resistance to some of the cur-
rent administration’s policies is growing and
many of you have vowed to do whatever you
can to prevent the president from being re-
elected. But most likely, your spending habits
will do more to influence the outcome of the
coming election.
The fantasy is that government will al-
ways protect us, and that technology will
eventually solve all our problems. But gov-
ernment thrives on economic growth (de-
structive to the environment), and technology
generally lags a decade or two behind in its
effort to solve the problems that it has created
for itself. We have begun to do some really
stupid things — like bombing for peace, or
cutting down the trees to protect the forests.
Ultimately the solution to the problem of
man versus the environment will not come
from government or technology. It must
come from individuals making better, more
conservative, responsible choices regarding
how they live.
Kim Richard Smith
Junction City
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
Thank you, Molly Sargent (1/15) from
Pleasant Hill. Annie’s ignorance of the law
and basic humanitarianism toward animals is
more than disturbing. Pets are the most inno-
cent, loving, trustworthy beings on earth.
They don’t steal, lie or cheat. All they do is
love and play and sleep. Also, I agree with
Amber Dean 100 percent. Pets are the ones
that unconditionally love you every single
day of their lives (mangy or not). How any
people do you know, Annie, that you can say
that about?
I own a beautiful dog that I would jump
into a burning house to save. She was the un-
wanted runt of a 13 puppy litter. Two years
ago, I adopted and paid $50 on Christmas eve
to adopt a cat from Greenhill (which I support
financially among other animal care associa-
tions). It was the best Christmas present ever,
as I am reminded daily when she purrs peace-
fully in my stressed out arms after work.
Annie, if you don’t know the joy of own-
ing a pet, perhaps you should adopt one and
feel what we are trying to convey; or at least
you could buy one less latté a month to save a
“mangy” dog. Wouldn’t the love a pet could
give to someone be worth it? What if some-
one put you to sleep because you were fat or
ugly? If you can’t grasp this, then you really
don’t deserve another word.
Lisa Woodie
Eugene
tantra
SACRED
A passion for living!
SEXUALITY
Experience the joy from
a spiritual practice that
speaks to your heart!
* FREE LECTURE ~ Feb. 20 • 7-8pm
* INTRO TO TANTRA WORKSHOP ~ Feb. 21 • 9-5pm • $95
TA M A R A C K W E L L N E S S C E N T E R • 3 5 7 5 D O N A L D S T. • E U G E N E , O R
Presented by: Ancient Wings • www.ancientwings.com • 541-937-3051
FEBRUARY 5, 2004 5