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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 29, 2004)
TO THE EDITOR SAFE DISPOSAL For the past 11 months, I have worked as a full-time AmeriCorps volunteer for HIV Alliance’s Sana Needle Exchange Program. Sadly, the end of my term of service coin- cides with devastating budget and staffing cuts to the needle exchange. Whether people realize it or not, the Sana Needle Exchange affects and serves everyone in our community by preventing new HIV infections, keeping used needles out of our streets and parks, and signifi- cantly reducing the costs of hospital and ER visits in our community. We exchange ap- proximately 50,000 needles a month, which means that these needles are safely disposed of instead of being thrown into our neigh- borhoods. People need to consider what will happen to our community if this vital human service program ends. Needle ex- change programs save lives. More than anything, the past year has opened my eyes to how many amazing peo- ple live and work in our community. HIV Alliance employs some of the most com- passionate, dedicated and empowered peo- ple that I have ever had the privilege of knowing, and I thank all of them for this ex- perience. In the face of serious funding shortages, Sana Needle Exchange staff and volunteers still show up every day to offer help and fight for what they believe in. We see the difference we make each day and I know what an incredible impact the Sana Needle Exchange has made in our community. If you care about the health and safety of our community, I urge you to support your local needle exchange. Emily Graham-Berks Eugene DESTROYED LIVES I would like to thank Dr. Megan Schmidt for her Viewpoint (7/15). I agree 100 per- cent that it is time to hold EW accountable for the ads that appear in the back of the paper as well as those that promote busi- nesses associated with the sex trade such as announcements of porn star appearances at Castle or mud wrestling at a strip club. How much money do these ads generate? How many lives are destroyed in the wake of those who respond to the ads? Where is the cost/benefit analysis? By my calculations, the costs far outweigh the gains, and perhaps EW should be held ac- countable for reparations to those families whose lives have been destroyed following repeated temptation broadcast through the pages of this paper. Counseling is not cheap, divorce attorneys are expensive, not to men- tion the potential exposure to STDs and physical abuse. I call for an end to this section of ads and accountability for the social distress you have promoted. Jason Blazar Eugene AWASH IN EROTICA In her Viewpoint of 7/15, Megan Schmidt claims that feminists and “other re- searchers” have demonstrated an “undeni- able link” between the pervasiveness of porn/prostitution (to borrow Schmidt’s melding technique) and sexual violence. The statistics presented leave me wondering about the nature of the research, and how the figures would look in a context of proper “sex industry” regulation, or with whole- population samples when looking at the ef- fects of porn. After all, there are also studies that show lower rates of sexual assault in moderate European countries that are awash in erotica and have regulated prostitution. It seems rather obvious that those prone to sexual violence would have a higher rate of recidivism while using porn, just as alco- holics have a higher rate of relapse in the presence of booze. Should society prohibit anything that could possibly support abu- sive behavior? And what percentage of the large number of porn viewers around the world coerce others into sexual activity, or see women as subservient? Where’s that study? It’s interesting how someone with a pet issue can selectively latch onto stats that seem to support their views. As for gauging the willingness to choose porn or prostitution, I bet a larger percent- age of people willingly engage in such ac- tivities, especially erotica, in cultures that don’t readily stigmatize them. In this soci- ety, many people are conditioned to be un- comfortable with their bodies and their sex- uality (particularly anything perceived as outside the mainstream), and this would no doubt influence their attitudes. But let’s ac- knowledge that a percentage of the erotica out there is still truly non-commercial mate- rial released by people who do fancy being photographed or taped enjoying their sexu- ality. Shall we rail against all that freelance self-expression as well, because it might of- fend the sensibilities of ultra-feminists (a.k.a. anti-males) and those who feel they’ve been victimized? After all, there’s a lot of stuff out there that could be classified under the “P” word. Alex F. Jenson Eugene women and non-heterosexuals of their gen- dered “place” in this society. Jen McWeeny Eugene GENDERED PLACE A MAN’S VIEW Three cheers for Megan Schmidt’s words (7/15) about EW’s willingness to subjugate women. I have wanted to write such a letter myself for some time now. Schmidt does an excellent job at exposing how reformist progressivism often covers for the fact that progressives rarely call for revolutionary changes in the very social, legal and economic structures of society, es- pecially when it involves gender roles. I would like to add that in addition to the hypocritical political implications of EW’s relationship with the sex industry, the sex industry ads affect readers’ personal experi- ence with the paper. When I see images of a faceless woman grabbing her bare breasts in a pose intended for an invisible voyeur, or a woman sucking her fingers while wearing only her bra (7/15 issue), I am reminded that we live in a society where women are most often seen to have worth only in terms of their physical looks and in terms of their ability to please men sexually (one ad proudly states “available for businessmen” next to the image). Thanks, EW for supporting these flawed cultural ideals and for reminding me, other By printing Megan Schmidt’s succinct and direct appeal against EW’s sexual ad- vertising, the paper seems to be inviting comment. I weigh in on Megan’s side. She discussed the subjugation of women, and I’d like to address the issue from a man’s perspective. I turn gingerly to the back pages, hoping that “No Exit” will make me laugh, which it often does. But I know that in those pages, girls I’ve never met are going to be staring at me, and they WANT ME BAD. Only they don’t. They want a hundred bucks or what- ever. They want to exploit me and have no interest in my feelings or personality be- yond what it takes to acquire what I’ve worked hard all day to earn. Possibly a man’s job is already some- what demeaning, but he gets the rent to- gether and has a few bucks for beer and laughs. Rather than focusing whatever re- maining attention he may have on the char- acter of the police force or the changing ecological regulations, EW compliments him by assuming he’s a valid target for some woman (with no face) holding her im- mense breasts in her hands, a girl in a bra BY DAN CAROL On God and Country I’m with Abe (and the Johns). J ohn Kerry accepts the Democratic nomination tonight. I feel silly trying to predict what he will say. It seems like a time to pause — and listen. Will he inspire and excite like the last JFK did a generation ago – and make a call for young Americans to be the Greatest Generation Yet to Come? I sure hope so. But either way: The guy already has my vote — and it’s a vote I already feel passion- ate about. Here’s why. In these weird new times of 9/11 and religious extremism on both sides, anyone who is willing to stand up for what’s right when it comes to God and Country has got my support. Here is what John Kerry had to say July 11 about Bush, religion and 4 JULY 29, 2004 faith on CBS’ “60 Minutes”: Well, Abraham Lincoln wisely avoided trying to invoke God on the side of the North vs. the South, but prayed that he was on God’s side. I think that’s the lesson that John (Edwards) and I would bring to this. We are both people of deep faith. I think that — and I respect the president’s faith, I don’t question it. None of us do. But I think it is important for us to be really mind- ful of not stepping over that precious line that the founding fathers drew, and I believe on a number of occasions, this president has stepped over that line. It is not the job of the president of the United States to decide what the religion of America is or what the religion of the world should be. You want a candidate with character and conviction? Folks, I think we’ve got one. Dan Carol is a Democratic political strategist and a founding partner of CTSG (www.ctsg.com), a progressive political consulting firm based in Eugene and Washington, D.C.
