TO THE EDITOR
(3/26) about two Eugene Peace Corps volun-
teers in Kyrgyzstan, formerly a Soviet Union
republic, reported that political demonstra-
tions and unrest grew from hundreds to thou-
sands, and President Akayev fled to an undis-
closed location. The protesters claimed
“widespread corruption and rigged elec-
tions,” demanding Akayev’s resignation.
How about Florida in 2000 and Ohio in
2004? What will it take for a second
American revolution?
John Saemann
Eugene
QUIET, PLEASE
I went to see a foreign film last week that
got great reviews in EW. I think I liked it, but
it was hard to concentrate — people in the au-
dience were talking the entire time! Saying
“shhh” many times didn’t work — neither
did changing seats twice. These weren’t
young kids, who might not know any better;
they were adults ages 35-70 who should
know better!
I love the magic of going to the movies
and losing myself in the film and forgetting
about the world outside. It’s impossible to do
that when your attention is broken every few
minutes by things like “What’s that?” “He’s
eating an onion.” “There’s Louisiana!”
Please remember that going to the movies is
not the same as being alone in your living
room — and keep your comments to yourself
until after the show!
Loren Asrael
Eugene
KEEP THE TRUTH
At last the truth is in black and white:
Salman Rushdie says it (March 13 in the R-
G), “the combination of religion and nation-
alism … is frightening.” And the Democrats
are rushing around like squirrels, in my opin-
ion, to claim their religiosity to get a vote.
This is my homeland, too. I was born and
raised here. I’m the grandniece of a
Methodist minister and am myself an or-
dained minister, but still, I say keep religion
off of the political platform, off the streets
and practice it in the confines of your own
home and church. And please, even if you
have an open heart and embrace all the major
religions, as I do, let us keep the truth on our
lips. “The universe wasn’t created in six days
by a superforce that rested on the seventh,” as
Rushdie says.
I also wonder about the numerous reli-
gious posters on more and more lawns, drive-
ways, and in windows in the apartment com-
plexes; how intrusive and offensive it must be
for the immediate neighbors who are any-
thing but Christian. I cannot believe that
these poster-proselytizing folks truly know
their religious history of wars upon wars in
the name of their God, nor can they possibly
grasp the harm they inflict on others by their
“our way is the way” thinking. This is not the
way to generate a “Love thy neighbor” at-
mosphere.
God lives in the degree of goodness and
compassion we all have within our own
hearts; this is not something to take to the
marketplace, it is rather, a way to be.
Peggy Starr
Eugene
APRIL 21, 2005 7