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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2004)
TO THE EDITOR cance in the natural world. Think possibilities for President 2004 (There are only two because we are brainwashed into a system that sucks.). If Bush wins, the system that sucks will morph into a system that pukes. If Kerry wins, we will still have the suck but things will be enough better so that we will have a chance to make the changes necessary for survival in environmen- tal and societal decency. As to the 6/24 Slant: Hell will freeze over before two hospital bureaucracies in one town will work together to do the right thing. Bob Saxton Eugene WHO NEEDS ENEMIES? Speaking on NPR recently, Nader gave a convincing rebuttal to arguments accusing him of helping Bush in Florida: He pointed out that many more thousands of Democrats voted for Bush than voted for himself in Florida, and he blamed the Democratic Party for failing to win over those voters. Nader went on to talk about the potential value of his own campaign in forcing the Democratic Party to move further to the left. The only problem Nader didn’t and couldn’t explain was how the Democratic Party could possi- bly win over right-wing Bush-voting Democrats while simultaneously giving in to Nader’s pressure and moving even further away from them, to the left. For those who were worried that a Nader vote might help Bush, Nader suggested they campaign for him, then if the vote appears close come election day, switch to Kerry. Nader didn’t appear to notice the possibility that a person campaigning for Nader might persuade others to vote for Nader, and that these others might not be willing to switch votes on election day, so helping to elect Bush after all. There is an old saying: “With a friend like this, who needs enemies?” Unfortunately, there are very real and organized enemies of the environment and democracy and justice, and with our “friend” Nader helping them out, we may soon be facing at least four more years of destruction. Ron Unger Eugene PAINFUL FAIR In another week, I won’t flinch at the radio’s joyful noise or feel aberrant because I don’t feel the magic. From acquaintance rape at my first fair to my restraining order against a former board member, the Oregon Country Fair has been marred by abuse for me. While I am healing from the past and beginning to see and change my own part in being drawn to those who misuse power, I feel alone. Are there others for whom the OCF has been painful? I don’t wish to blame the fair or dis- courage the good things that happen there. I am not now writing to be told that it’s my choice to be a victim, as someone wrote about Kate Storm in response to her article about Burning Man (5/27). Alternative venues purport to present us with a new and better world. Is it easier to ex- amine the abuse of power by the police than abuse by others whom we know? I add my voice to the voices of the women who bravely stood up against Roger Magaña. Male police are not alone in misusing power. I would like to know the number of rapes and other abuses re- ported at the fair each year, and to hear from women who have chosen not to make reports. With all the facts, women can make an in- formed choice about what to expect at the fair. And to Kate Storm, I say, “Right on, sister!” Ratina Wollner (AKA Ruby the Resourceress) Eugene NOT A CHOICE It is possible that there are people who can choose whether to be gay or straight. There are, after all, people who can choose whether to be black or white, and people who can (with rather more difficulty) choose whether to be male or female. But most of us find ourselves unambiguously in one group or the other. Kathe Burt Corvallis A TREE GROWS IN EUGENE William Blake wrote, “The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of oth- ers only a green thing that stands in the way.” I was thinking of Blake’s words today as I looked for the old trees lining 29th Avenue in front of the Cascade Manor retirement home and found instead a new clear-cut. The beauti- ful trees apparently stood in the way of more concrete apartment buildings. The view I enjoyed the other day from Mt. Pisgah was quite different. Looking out over the City of Eugene, I remarked to my hiking partner that it is the trees, not the architecture, that make our city such an aesthetically spe- cial place. Green Eugene. More progressive places, such as some New England towns, require sign-off by the communities before trees can be cut down. They find value in their trees beyond the purely monetary. Enlightened thinking. I wonder if our city leaders will ever see the light? I wonder how the retirees at Cascade Manor enjoy their new view? I won- der if the owners of Cascade Manor treat their old folks any better than they treat their old trees? Just wondering. Benton Elliott Eugene CORPORATE KERRY EW editorialized on July 8: “Edwards is an eloquent populist with humble roots, and he’s a trial lawyer not afraid to take on big corporations. The choice also shows that Kerry, unlike Bush, doesn’t need an old war- horse like Cheney to pull his strings and cover his butt.” In reality, Edwards is a conservative Democrat who has a track record of changing his support for contentious issues when cor- porations apply pressure. In particular, Senator Edwards changed his position on the Yucca Mountain national nuclear waste de- pository (or is that a suppository?) after Carolina Power and Light (which operates nukes) urged him to be more pro-nuclear. Kerry is also pro-nuclear power (and pro- depleted uranium weapons), so it is likely that the upcoming Kerry/Edwards adminis- tration will push for more nuclear energy, a technology incompatible with human health and a democratic society. In early June, Senator Edwards was a guest at the annual meeting of the Bilderberg Society, perhaps the most powerful grouping on Earth (it met in Italy this year). When the news leaked out that he was a participant, it was obvious that Kerry (who is a Bilderberg member) was going to pick Edwards. There are many indications that Kerry is going to replace Bush. There are probably no Gore or Nader voters anywhere who plan to JULY 15, 2004 5
