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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 2005)
TO THE EDITOR a curse at once?! A crash may stop the global poisoning of our farm food with oil- based fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, plastics and drugs! Micheal Sunanda Eugene A Neighborhood Market With World-Class Variety! INTOLERANCE EMBRACEABLE YOU Regarding the (9/29) letter about EW “sucking,” I know the writer will disagree, but thank God the Weekly is not the Mercury. That cynical, mean-spirited and ultimately empty paper simply reeks of a type of trendiness wobbling on its last legs. Once the current infatuation with post- ironic, smug, “we’re over it” hipsterness moves on to the next youthful obsession, the Mercury will be revealed for what it really is: all style and no substance. While I don’t always like or agree with the Weekly’s coverage, I can honestly say it does reflect our community, and not what- ever a small group of hipsters thinks is “cool”; i.e., themselves. If the writer really thinks the Weekly is so boring and not “hip” (he used the word three times in his letter), then I have two suggestions: a) Move to Portland. The other vain, shallow and holier-than-thou “hipsters” will probably embrace you (provided you don’t criticize them!); or b) Start your own paper instead of complaining. After all, you make it sound so easy! Peter Alilunas Eugene ONLY PARTLY RIGHT I wish to apologize for an error of fact in my recent article (Viewpoint 6/16) regard- ing the city of Eugene’s possible involve- ment in facilitating a Whole Foods Market downtown. I wrote that Symantec “left for Springfield the day after its tax abatement expired.” One of my friends in Eugene’s Development Department has assured me that Symantec did not have a property tax abatement. Symantec did, however, re- ceive public subsidies for employee train- ing, and is enjoying a property tax abate- ment for its new location in Springfield. This careless error on my part distracts from the point of the example. When we attract businesses with economic incen- tives, we attract the kinds of businesses that will always be looking for the next public subsidy. I apologize for my careless research. I stand by my thesis: Our public interventions downtown have been the problem, not the solution. Paul Nicholson Eugene “Locally Grown, Locally Owned.” Regarding “Out For Dinner” column by Sally Sheklow (9/15): Your heterophobia and intolerance are showing. All bigotry is offensive, including yours. Richard Barnett Eugene A TIME TO ACT I would like to say “thank you” to Eugene Weekly for running the commentary series by Brian Bogart (in August). Until reading your series, Brian was just another person who is standing up for peace. Since attending his five lectures of “hyper- education,” I am compelled more than ever in my life to make a difference. After all, this is a huge learning curve after 40+ years of brainwashing. Brian exposed something new for me to add to this list. He now stands opposite Johnson Hall on campus until the end of the school year in June 2006 in his “Strike for Peace”(strikeforpeace.org). Talking to any- one who wants to listen, from noon to sun- down about Pentagon Defense dollars that are funding more than 400 universities and 56 businesses in the Eugene area alone. He speaks of how you can’t study peace without studying war and his conscience will not allow him to teach “peace studies” in class- room at a university that accepts funds from the Pentagon. So far our university is involved with 19 weapons projects, including one that blocks the menstrual cycle for women in combat and another that remote controls human sol- diers against their will (brain-machine inter- face). We must all develop a conscience such as Brian’s and start somewhere to make a dif- ference. As Ghandi said: “Whatever you do may seem insignificant, but it is most impor- tant that you do it.” Support Brian and help him voice what he has learned so we can all be informed and work toward a future. Elaine Kost Junction City All Natural Crystal Body Deodorant Made of 100% natural mineral salts, which are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, non-sticky, and non-staining. If you have sensitive skin or allergies, or simply want a healthy alternative to mainstream, chemical-laden deodorants, this deodorant is for you! $3.99 EACH (4.5 oz.) Women’s or Men’s THROUGH OCT. 11 25th & WILLAMETTE • EUGENE • OPEN DAILY 8AM-10PM (541) 345-1014 • www.capellamarket.com 5 OFF 5 OFF $ $ 25 minimum purchase 25 minimum purchase $ $ with this ad with this ad expires 10-20-05 expires 10-20-05 SPECIALIZING IN QUALITY NATURAL HANDMADE SOAPS & INCENSE 1124 MAIN STREET • SPRINGFIELD 541-747-4866 • pioneernaturalsoap.com M-F 10 AM -5:30 PM • SAT 11 AM -4 PM PETE FOR GOV Pete Sorenson is running for governor in the 2006 Democratic primary. An honest, passionate and outspoken progressive pop- ulist, he has concrete plans for change. Recently he was interviewed on the Lars Larson show and on KOPT with Alan Siporin. The contrast in venues could not have been greater, but Sorenson showed himself to be equally comfortable present- ing his views to the political left and far right. Oregon needs a governor who speaks to all. From assistant to U.S. Congressman Jim OCTOBER 6 2005 5
