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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 6, 2006)
TO THE EDITOR I’m sure everyone in the state is aware by now about the cougar that wandered into Springfield on Sunday (6/25). I would like to say that the way they dispatched of it was absolutely ridiculous. On the news, the troop- er said that they tried to contact the Fish and Wildlife Department and had no response. That’s a load of BS. They have a direct line to that department. If it was a poacher, the F&W would have been there in seconds. There has- n’t been a human fatality from a mountain lion in over 100 years, and this one was at the time being docile. The cat was sleeping under an RV — it could have easily been tranquil- ized and relocated. The F&W said that tran- quilizing and relocating the cat was not an option because they are so territorial. Once again, BS. They are just making excuses for the hasty reaction of the trooper. I know that the cats are dangerous, but to kill it for no reason is ludicrous. I do not over- react to every bit of news that happens, but I really believe a different course of action could have been taken. Shane Miller Eugene VOICE OF CONSCIENCE Tonight I saw an eye-opening, inspiring, movie, An Inconvenient Truth. Everybody needs to see this film. We are on the brink of global catastrophe. All that will halt the destruction of our planet is the personal deci- sions that we make every day of our lives. Nobody is going to fix this problem for us; we each need to act responsibly to preserve our world for future generations. Al Gore speaks very convincingly in this documentary to convince people that the future is in our hands. We can no longer live in complacency; we can no longer wait for somebody else to fix these major problems of our world. We must not pretend that they don’t exist. If we all do not act soon, togeth- er, then our world will be a barren, uninhabit- able place by the time our grandchildren are grown. Global change will happen only as a result of personal change. Do you hear your little voice, telling you what you should do? Do you hear the other voice, rooting for the other side? Which voice would support posi- tive global change, and which would allow you to be lazy, uncaring, and unconscious in your life? Please, do what you must to pre- serve the beauty of our world! Every luxury in our life is an extravagance, at a huge expense. We all play a part — either on the problem side or as a part of the solution! I am giving my car to the junkyard tomorrow. I hope you do, too! Brandy Sorenson Eugene KINETIC KOMMUNITY: Connecting Corvallis with Brenda VanDevelder, DA V INCI D AYS D IRECTOR Friday, July 7 • 11:50AM at the DOWNTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB \ D O 3 5LYHU RYHU\9LOODJH F V 'L XQG R U 3OD\J $3 admission • Free to City Club Members 485-7433 www.cityclubofeugene.org O PEN FOR L UNCH & D INNER (Angela Englert & Bill Town’s New Eatery) Featuring: Mediterranean Inspired Tapas • Fr.-Sat. Smoked Prime Rib • Parties, up to 20 Guests • World Class Desserts • Full Bar featuring Seasonal Drinks Monday Nights Cheese Fondue PATIO IS NOW OPEN! WHERE’S THE HONOR? When I came to Eugene for college, I was 18 years old. I had spent most of my devel- opmental/teenager years in Hawaii where along with a few ambitious friends, we earnestly hunted down outlets to express both 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 460 Willamette Street • 343-1586 Mon.-Sat. 11-10 • At 5th & Willamette in the Historic Lane Building (QMR\ %%4OXQFK OLYHPXVLFJDPHVSUL]HV DQGPRUHDWWKHJUDQG RSHQLQJRI(XJHQH¶V ' YHUWKHDGY R F HQWX LV UH IRU\RXUVH OI $5 527 < ,1 GIVE THEM A VOICE I’m still scratching my head in wonder at Congressman DeFazio’s excuse (6/22 Viewpoint) for his vote in favor of the bill, “FY2006 Supplemental Appropriations: Iraq and Other International Activities; Additional Katrina Hurricane Relief.” DeFazio explains he voted for that appro- priations bill because it contained funds for Katrina and Darfur relief, and that he wanted to outfit our soldiers in Iraq with proper pro- tective gear. If DeFazio had closely examined the 75- page document, he would have discovered that even under the Katrina section, $9.9 bil- lion goes to Homeland Security and an addi- tional $1.8 billion to the DoD. Furthermore, protective gear would not have saved Pfc. Thomas Tucker, 25, who was captured and brutally tortured by Iraqis in retaliation for his unit’s attack and rape of an Iraqi household. I’m sorry, but DeFazio cannot convince me he is honorable for voting against the Iraq war if he continues to fund it and other exces- sive military operations. The only way to stop war’s madness is to quit paying for it. Many of us are tired of DeFazio’s weak excuses. If he wants our votes in November, he must say no to more war funding. Aria Seligmann Eugene 7 ( / COUGAR FOLLIES our frustrations and our creativity. We pub- lished a zine, we organized forums, we con- tributed to the arts. I don’t know what it’s like to be a teenag- er in Eugene, but I’m quite aware of how important it is for adolescents to have a voice, and to have the community support that voice. I applaud Iana Matthews-Harris and Ishi Woods (news story, 6/29) for their con- tinued effort to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. The way Suchart and the county commis- sioners have attempted to limit their expres- sion is absolutely shameful. Their reasons and excuses are pathetic — if there is blatant drug use and vandalism occurring at the Free Speech Plaza as a result of these assemblies, get down there and make some fuckin’ arrests! Don’t pull the plug on a positive out- let for the youth! I know many parents, adults and officials would ideally like to have kids at home by the time the sun goes down, vegging out in front of the TV — god forbid if MY kid has an opinion on something and wants to discuss it with others who care! These teens are taking their fate and their development into their own hands. They are lobbying the system the way they’re supposed to in order to protect their freedoms. That’s such an incredible dis- play of diligence, responsibility and integrity. They’re not shrinking in the face of the prob- lem the way the city has — piling on dracon- ian solutions that alienate rather than assist. These kids have the right idea and deserve the support of adults, the city and the com- munity. The city, as well as the adults that stand with them on this issue, need to nurture these teens rather than continue to try and restrict and control them. Steven Sawada Seattle $ There is an insidious and covert pro- growth agenda in the shadows of our local government that does not have the welfare of all Eugeneans in mind. Whether we can be “educated” as to the benefits of such an agen- da remains to be seen. Joanna S. Enmagoods Eugene 51 $ 7 , 2 1 )RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQ FDOO JULY 6, 2006 7
