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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 2004)
TO THE EDITOR 46,000 employers and their 530,000 workers who depend on SAIF for workers comp insurance. Its a shame, really. Liberty could have chosen to work for Oregon, and collaborate in helping SAIF make Oregon the safest work- place in America. Instead they’re trying to pick our pockets. Don’t be fooled. Visit the websites. Read the editorials and the Voters Pamphlet. Defeat corporate greed and vote a loud “no” on Measure 38. Steve Robinson Eugene HAMPTON’S THE ONE I recently moved from West Lane District to East Lane District. I am pleased with the responsiveness of Don Hampton as the new East Lane County Commissioner. His experi- ence as mayor of Oakridge and appointed commissioner is impossible to replace. Please join me in voting to keep Don Hampton as our county commissioner! Linda Corcoran Lorane RESOUNDING PROOF As I left the John Edwards rally in Eugene, I was greeted by the usual handful of stalwart young republicans. Two of them were clad in body-sized foam rubber flip flops. I immediately thought of the old saying “If you can’t change your mind, are you sure you still have one?” In the face of resounding proof that all of his prewar intelligence on Iraq was dead wrong, Bush refuses to admit even the slightest mistake. Now, I know how much we value steely eyed bullheadedness in this country, but I’d much rather have a pres- ident who looks capable of thought than one who looks just plain stupid. Those foam- swathed students had a point. The time for change is here. Vote Kerry. Vote for real change. Christina Lay Eugene A CARING COUPLE I recently moved from a great neighbor- hood. People there are friendly and kids play in groups just like when I was young, too many years ago. Often they gather at one house in particular where there are always snacks and gentle supervision by the creative and caring couple living there. One young boy, Sam (for privacy, not their real names), had a tough life at home and was often at this neighborhood gathering place. His mom had real difficulties, and things went from bad to worse after he found his father dead, hanging from a tree in their backyard. Sam had problems and clearly needed more help than he could get from his mom. When she had to move into a motel, the young couple stepped up and took Sam in. They drive him to school, cook his favorite meals, arrange play dates with his friends, and love him. For the first time in his young life, when they tuck him into bed at night, Sam feels safe. So who is this young couple that has liter- ally saved this boy’s life? Mary and Dianne. That’s right – lesbians. A couple we are asked to amend the State Constitution for, to forev- er restrict their access to the same legal rights Sam’s “real” parents have. This young couple deserves our thanks, our deepest appreciation – not our cold shoul- der. Just ask Sam. He knows now what real family feels like. Please vote no on Measure 36. Tim Mueller Eugene NOT PUSHING AGENDA Recently I saw a commercial encouraging Oregonians to vote yes on 36. The message was that children would be confused if we allowed same sex marriage. I know this is a difficult issue for many fervently religious people in our community. Please try to under- stand that the GLBT community is not trying to push anything on anyone. It is a frighten- ing, confusing and lonely childhood for GLBT human beings. These children are the ones who have been hurt and continue to be by those who would create ballot measures like 36. All that a no vote will do to children is that when they reach sexual maturity they can relax in the sane notion that they will not be discriminated against or hated for whatever sexual preference they choose. Most children will naturally choose heterosexuality. Those few that choose homosexuality, if allowed to grow up without prejudice and hatred, will have a better chance to reach their full poten- tial. Voting to continue to ostracize millions of American citizens by denying them equal- ity under the law, simply perpetuates a socie- ty of fundamentalist ideology no different than the extreme fundamentalism found in the Middle East. Vote for inclusion, vote for tolerance, vote for a more enlightened socie- ty, vote no on 36. Mark Mazza Eugene Daniel’s Restaurant MEXICAN-AMERICAN CUISINE • Excellent Customer Service • Tequila & Margaritas • Freshly Made Foods • Homemade Tortillas & Cakes LUNCH SPECIALS STARTING AT $4.95 541-686-9888 685 E. Broadway S UN -T HURS 11 AM -9 PM F RI -S AT 11 AM -10 PM CLEAR WIN NEEDED Now that the election is only a few weeks or days away, I wish to clarify some of the reasons we should vote for John Kerry. We need to vote for Kerry so that there will be enough votes to win despite a likely repeat of the kinds of election rigging that occurred in Florida and elsewhere in 2000 and to counteract the new factor of riggable voting machines in many states. We have the wrong president because we have wrong laws (electoral college, etc.) and our wrong president started the wrong war (Iraq): kick the Bush’s ass and kick the elec- toral college’s ass. It is theoretically true in the U.S. that all adults have the right to vote but the bigger truth is that only rich people and rich corporations have the right to buy votes/media/frauds wholesale and thus deter- mine the outcome of most elections: that is why we have so many criminals and liars at the top of the government. The overlord of the world is the corporations and most U.S. politicians are whores being wined, dined and fucked by the overlord. Most ordinary per- sons are barely visible pawns brainwashed by bought medias and bought politicians and bought commercials and bought political ads and bought schools. Unregulated corporations are a curse and an abomination which leads to the savagery called war, the savagery called torture and the savage called George W. Bush. Bob Saxton Eugene OCTOBER 28, 2004 7
