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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 2004)
TO THE EDITOR pressed in recent articles in this paper, fails my mother’s test. There are two aspects of this issue that may seem impossibly Midwestern to those who support the culture of pre-emptive alienation. First, if there are two Americas, the break- down is not 50-50, it’s 90-10. During the Revolutionary War only 10 percent of colo- nials supported the resistance. For the rest, one George was as good as another. The busi- ness of daily life was, and rightly so, the only worthy cause: working, parenting, loving, liv- ing. It is the differences in our natural re- sources and our geographic location that dis- tinguish us from our sisters and brothers in the Ukraine or Uganda. Sign-carriers on down- town Eugene street corners will be lonely for at least another century. Another aspect of this issue glares at me: If there is a conservative agenda, liberals run- ning away to a Canada-of-the-mind supports it nicely. Peter DeFazio is doing something. The guy who directs Eugene PeaceWorks is not. When the idealists on one end of the see- saw refuse to sit down, the result is going to be obvious. The nature of politics allows no vacuum. Let’s be honest about what “working outside the system” is and is not. It’s self- expression. It’s therapy. It’s even stimulat- ing to read about it. But my mother would not approve. Steve Downey Eugene SEXISM REIGNS Our Constitution is being much touted these days, and now there’s a suggestion that foreign-born people be allowed to run for U.S. president. Hey! First let’s pass the ERA (equal rights for women) into the Constitution. Sexism still reigns in certain areas. Let’s fix that. Nancy Slagle Springfield dismiss any dissent as paranoia or sour-grapes rhetoric. Where is the outrage? Is blind ac- ceptance the default reaction of the general voting public? Perhaps a nation of such sheep deserves to be led to the slaughter? Pat Sheppard Cottage Grove ENVIRO R’S SOLSTICE SEASON GIFTS Amber & Silver Jewelry • Candles • Incense • Meditation Cushions • Statues Yoga Mats • Journals • Drums • Aroma Therapy Products • Prayer Flags RUBY CHASM 152 W 5th @ Charnelton (Farmer's Union Marketplace) • M-Sa 10-6 • Su 12-5 • 344-4074 When you think of environmental pro- tection, you probably think of Sierra Club or NRDC. Another organization, however, works equally hard to preserve our air, water and land. That organization is Republicans for Environmental Protection, or www.rep.org. Sound surprising? Not really, when you consider that it was Teddy Roosevelt who set aside more than 100 million acres of national forests, Dwight D. Eisenhower who helped create ANWR, and Tom McCall who guided more than 100 conservation bills through the Oregon Legislature. Sadly, many of today’s Republicans are trashing some of the same environmental protections that members of their own party labored to create. Fortunately, there is REP. Founded in 1995 by conservation-minded Republicans from around the country, REP seeks to restore the GOP to its proud tradition of environmental preservation. If you are a Republican and value a healthy environment, I urge you to contact REP. Roll up your sleeves and work alongside other compassionate individuals who, like yourselves, seek to protect this sacred planet upon which we all depend for life. Brian W.S. Moore Eugene Ho! Ho! Ho! You Really gotta go! Santa’s Sale Starts Sunday! E 10% OFF storewide, including glass 20% OFF Blue Canoe, USED Clothing & Dead bears E 40% OFF Selected Sweetgrass E 50% OFF Selected dresses E We’re GRATEFUL for your Support❣ Mon-Sat 10-8/ Sun 12-5 ❤ Corner of 11th & Willamette ❤ LETTERS POLICY: We welcome letters on all topics and will print as many as space allows. Please limit length to 250 words, keep submissions to once a month, and include your address and phone number for our files. E- mail to editor@eugeneweekly.com (please put “letters” in the subject line), fax to 484-4044, or mail to 1251 Lincoln, Eugene 97401. SLOW EROSION natural fiber clothing jewelry gifts best Hats ever scarves socks gloves musical instruments 2005 calendars G reater G oods open mon-sat 10-6 515 h igh E ugene 485-4224 storewide sale december 27-31 (closed dec. 25 & 26) our thanks to you ! support FAIR trade help MAKE a WORLD of DIFFERENCE greatergoodsonline.com elephants baskets Textiles journals ethnic masks bells & zills mirrors chimes & more!! The election Nov. 2 introduced an insidi- ous threat to the integrity of our voting sys- tem— the use of electronic voting machines that produce unverifiable and virtually unau- ditable election results. Regardless of whom you voted for, the fu- ture consequences of the use of this method must be eradicated. Unverifiable voting ma- chines jeopardize not only our federal presi- dential vote, but our votes on local issues and propositions as well. The potential for malicious manipulation is overwhelming. This is how a democracy is overthrown; not in a dramatic military coup, but eroded one layer at a time right under our noses, by our own people. It’s done by evolu- tion, not revolution. We must be vigilant to jump immediately on the slightest infringement on our rights. Would-be usurpers’ tactics must be nipped in the bud no matter how petty or inconsequen- tial they may seem. In this kind of internal coup, if you give the insurgents an inch, they’ll take a mile, and then turn around and demand 10 more miles from you as if it were their right. Most Americans don’t seem much con- cerned about this flagrant violation of their constitutional rights. Some even mockingly Looking for gift ideas? Give the gift of learning Gift certificates are now available from Lane Community College’s Continuing Education department. Gift certificates can be purchased in any dollar amount. We offer hundreds of noncredit classes in these areas: Art, Career Exploration and Training, Computers, Cooking, Financial and Retirement Planning, Foreign Languages, Health and Wellness, Home Improvement, Massage, Music, Real Estate, Recreation, and Sign Language. Give the best gift of all: a gift that can transform someone’s life. To give the gift of learning, call 463-5252. Or visit Lane’s Downtown Center at 1059 Willamette Street in Eugene. an equal opportunity/ affirmative action institution ornaments l.e.d. holiday lights & more!! DECEMBER 23, 2004 7
