TO THE EDITOR
have simply participated in the forum. I
frankly don’t believe he had the guts to do so
outside the fortress of his right-wing broad-
casting studio.
Gerry Rempel
Eugene
NOT ALL CHRISTIAN
Lately I have been confused as to why so
many people are in an uproar over gay mar-
riage. Is this what it was like 100 years ago
when women were fighting for the right to
vote, or 50 years ago when blacks were
marching for equality? Why does society fear
change? And more importantly, why does
society fear love, compassion and tolerance?
The biggest argument I hear is that homo-
sexuality goes against Christianity. But the last
time I checked, the U.S. wasn’t a one-religion
country. In fact, the legality of marriage is not a
Christian concept. People of all races, cultures,
and religions are allowed to marry. If you’re
going to make it illegal for gays to marry,
what’s stopping you from making it illegal for
atheists and Buddhists and pagans to marry?
At a time when the divorce rate is more
than 50 percent and love, commitment, and
compassion are thoughtlessly abused by our
society, I see no reason why we should vilify
consenting adults who wish to legally cele-
brate their union.
Alisha Mobley
Springfield
advertisement it proceeded to thank George
W. himself for supporting the federal mar-
riage amendment.
How absurd. In a time when schools need
improving, peace needs achieving, the unem-
ployed need employing and the hungry need
feeding, our president is instead tackling the
institution of marriage. I, for one, am appalled.
The institution of marriage should be
allowed for all couples who are in a loving,
committed relationship, those who want to
spend the rest of their lives together and
declare their love before God. The govern-
ment should not be able to tell us who we
may or may not marry.
Why, in this fragile time, is our govern-
ment attacking love? In this time, when inno-
cent people are dying for unjust causes, when
the hard working are set in poverty, and chil-
dren are losing educational opportunities,
why are we questioning the validity of love?
President Bush is making gay marriage a big-
ger deal than it needs to be. We shouldn’t
even be questioning whether two people who
are in love should be allowed to engage in the
institution of marriage. However, it would be
much appreciated if he started asking why
innocent people are dying, children are starv-
ing and why some are going uneducated.
So, thank you, Mr. Bush, for stepping over
important issues and investing your time in
something that doesn’t need to be an issue at all.
Kyra Rose Buckley
Sophomore, Churchill High
WRONG PRIORITIES
Reading The New York Times the other
day, I was disturbed to find an advertisement
labeled “Dear Mister President.” In this
SUPPORTING KALI’S
“Coddling Kali’s,” indeed (3/4 letters
Craft Center
4
0
20
headline). What sort of editorial comment is
that? Why was it merited?
The dictionary synonyms are “pamper-
ing,” “baby,” “treat indulgently.” Would you
say we coddle local farmers — KIVA — or
rather we support those businesses that make
our community?
Cynthia Kokis
Eugene
MORE THAN BOOKS
Stephen Crawford’s letter from Seattle
(3/11) might win him an “A” in his econom-
ics class, but it’s all wrong for Eugene. True,
Internet giants do supply well-known femi-
nist books, sometimes at cheaper prices, but
where do we go for a sense of community or
that studied thoroughness offered by Mother
Kali’s? To visit a shop run by enthusiastic
specialists is to enter much more than a retail
store: One enters the theme itself.
A feminist bookstore offers more than
books: You get real, live feminists who are
glad to discuss the subject, who can intro-
duce you to new aspects, guide your quest,
listen to your needs. The same valuable inter-
action is found in shops selling Oriental
foods, smoking gear, Christian supplies, pets,
one-of-a-kind jewelry, health products, art
supplies, gardening equipment, antiques,
musical instruments, and on and on.
In a capitalist world, offering products for
sale is one way to communicate who we are,
and browsing these products is one way to
experience whole worlds of valuable experi-
ence. The importance of local specialty shops
extends far beyond products and prices, it’s
about personal growth and communication,
SPRING
u
em
and the vital human element. It’s Eugene cul-
ture, and well worth the hassle.
Christopher Logan
Eugene
GENERIC PLEDGE
This morning (3/24) while watching the
news coverage on the “under God” issue, I was
brought back startlingly to my freshman year at
high school in 1954. It is one of those moments
that remain in your memory like a sore tooth.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was
being changed. I would no longer be able to
open my mouth and expect the correct words to
spill forth. Being a dutiful female of the times,
I strove to excel, and learning the pledge early
and perfectly was part of that excellence. When
the powers that be proclaimed that we should
add the “under God” phrase, I tried valiantly to
relearn my pledge. I would stumble through the
“under God” part, often not saying anything
through a couple of beats and picking up where
“indivisible” comes in.
I certainly had no conscious thought that I
recoiled from using the words because of reli-
gious reasons. Indeed, at that time, I was will-
ing to accept the Christian bent of our nation.
My family were all Christians, although my
immediate family did not actively practice it.
I just didn’t like the change. The “under God”
phrase got in the way of the flow.
Why not say it without “under God” for
the next 50 years? Surely if I could stumble
through it for the last 50 years, so could the
rest of you. Or, if that isn’t satisfactory, why
not have a generic pledge. Use that space
between “one nation” and “indivisible” to
insert the name of whatever deity, spiritual
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