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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 2007)
TO THE EDITOR SEX APPEAL In 1992, those of us who had supported the Jerry Brown for President campaign in Lane County joined together around the banner “Vote for Hillary’s Husband” in the general election. Although I am mindful of an anar- chist tidbit of wisdom, “Don’t vote, it only en- courages the bastards,” I do vote, selectively. Last time around I supported my old colleague from the national Committee for Non-Violent Action, David McReynolds, running as a Democratic socialist. But the prospect of Hillary herself, dam- aged goods to be sure, but no more or less so than any major officeholder, that has a real draw for me. My mother, as a girl, lived in an America that denied women the vote. To go from there to Clinton’s lead among Democratic presidential contenders, within my mother’s lifetime, gives me hope that the op- pressive monoculture of power is amenable to humanizing change. Women, people of color, immigrant and lo- cally born youth, progressive geezers like me, etc., we are the hope of the future, if there is to be one that avoids the endlessly devastating impacts of global climate change and swelling worldwide populations. So, I may vote for Hillary’s husband’s wife, or not. I wish Dennis Kucinich had a chance — he has the mind and the heart. Paul Prensky Eugene PISSING AND MOANING Dear whiny, disgruntled Eugeneans: What will you bitch about this week? “¡Ask a Mexican!”? Dan Savage? Downtown? Sally Sheklow? Unjust prison sentences for people you’ve never met? Something new and excit- ing that you can imagine slights your fragile little sensitive existence in some way? Or will you do what most humans are wont to do when there is no current drama to nibble at — invent one? Here’s an idea: Every time you feel angry about some injustice or other, simply go to your sink and turn the tap. Voila! You have run- ning water! Get over yourselves now, please. I have three children — they are 9, 7 and 10 months. And all of them put together on their worst day cannot generate a fraction of the piss-and-moan wattage you people are putting out. And I’ll stop right here and say that if you find yourself already feeling angry and indig- nant at this letter, then you are most likely the kind of person I am talking about. Give me a break, children! Most of you preach tolerance (rag it to death, in fact), but are you not the most intolerant creatures on the planet? Whenever a new idea crops up, you imme- diately pop it under your microscopes and scour it for flaws, PC discrepancies and ways that it doesn’t jibe with your paradigm in gen- eral. This being the case, you all must really hate yourselves, for if there’s one thing you will simply not put up with, it’s a sanctimo- nious hypocrite, right? Every week when I open the Weekly, I see the same names under the same old whiny inane drivel. Give it a rest already! It should be obvious to you by now that it is not possible to bitch problems away. What happens is you begin to bitch for the sake of bitching and you lose any concept of what you think you are fussing about. Wait. I am bitching right now, aren’t I? See how easy it is to realize that you are being a pill? So, EW, let me make it clear that I love you. I find your paper highly entertaining and in- formative, and I cannot thank you enough for making yourself available to everyone at no cost. I also ask that while you don’t let these bell-clangers influence what you print, please never stop printing them. Because probably the most entertaining part of the paper is when I get to read the frothy ravings of a bunch of angry, petty adult dumbasses. Rodney C. Cimburke Jr. Cottage Grove Health & Wellness Center SCHEDULE OF CLASSES Yoga for People Who Can’t Bend: Karen Lacritz , Wednesdays 6—7:30 PM Begins January 9 Relax & Renew with Meditation: Jude Kehoe Mondays 6:30—7:30 PM, 1/21/08—2/25/08 Motion Mantra—Catherine Cowsill Monthly Saturday classes 9:00—10:15 AM Yoga with Donna: Donna O’Neil Mondays 5:30—7:00 PM, Begins 1/14/08 Nia—With Heather McCarley Tuesdays 7—8:00 PM, Begins 1/8/08 Aromatherapy - Creating a Sensual Mas- sage Blend: With Sandi Thompson, Saturday February 2, 2:00—3:30 PM Goddess Yoga: With Shannon Reeder Fridays 4:45—6:00 PM, Begins 1/11/08 Massage for Couples and Pairs: With Mike Jackson & Julie Wolfgram Thursdays 7—9:00 PM 1/10/08—1/31/08 Little Yogis: With Kelly Merril Wednesdays 3:30—4:30PM, begins 1/9/08 Free First Sunday Yoga: Shannon Reeder First Sunday of each month, Begins 2/3/2008 Register for Classes at BodyJaz 2868 Willamette Street 868-1575 More information at: www.bodyjaz.com FORESTS AND CLIMATE Despite claims from NASA, the U.N. and the British Government’s Stern Review that logging the world’s forests is the second cause of climate change (after fossil fuels) — up to 25 percent of human-caused carbon emissions — we’ve heard hardly a peep from either the mainstream media or the mainstream environ- mental movement about the most compelling reason yet presented to protect and preserve our remaining natural forests. Mainly because of the Bali climate summit in December, we’re finally seeing a few blips on the radar screen about the need to stop na- Tickets 434-7000, 868 High St www.theshedd.org The Shedd Institute Tuesday BeauSoleil 01.22 avec Michael Doucet At The Shedd 01.22 BeauSoleil 01.31-02:08 Jazz Kings: Well, Git It! 02.02 Chris Smither 02.09 Brazilian Guitar Festival 02.14 The Bad Plus 02.20 Carolina Chocolate Drops 02.21 Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars 02.24 Cadillac Sky 03.01 The Magical Moombah: Rumbles River Rambles 03.04 Balkan Beat Box See www.theshedd.org for full listing. Saturday 02.02 Chris Smither JANUARY 3, 2008 5
