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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2007)
TO THE EDITOR presidency. Kucinich is one of the few Democrats who voted against funding the troop “surge.” Read his well thought-out plan for troop withdrawal and reconstruction in Iraq under U.N. auspices — along with excellent ideas on health care, etc. at www.kucinich.us Kucinich depends on small donations from ordinary people, not corpo- rate money, acts according to his values rather than following political strategies and will help us reclaim/claim our democracy and respond peacefully and cooperatively to the challenges of global warming and peak oil. Maggie Springer Eugene ARMBANDS UNITE Hey Kara (Steffensen, 3/15), I just want- ed you to know you are not alone. All week I too wore my armband with the peaceworks symbol on it. I also felt that awkwardness that you were talking about. Everyday I felt stronger wearing that armband. I know it is soooo frustrating! I feel it’s the least we can do. I am starting to wonder if calling our Reps, writing letters to them, signing petitions and marching for peace is doing anything. After listening to Lt. Ehren Watada’s speech on Saturday (3/17) at the rally, I have a newfound hope. Thank you, Ehren! Let’s not give up! Hey, maybe we should send a truck load of peace armbands to y’all know who! Cheryl Stafford Eugene RUN, PETE, RUN Peter DeFazio has it made. His re-elec- tion as the Democratic congressman from District 4 is as certain as death and taxes, which, given the war, abound. Nobody could blame DeFazio for playing it safe and winning re-election to Congress every two years. Or could we? Now is the time to reclaim America. The Republican administration has never been so unpopular. We can elect a Democrat in District 4 — whether it’s DeFazio or some- one else. We can elect a Democrat to Gordon Smith’s Senate seat, too — but only if the right candidate runs. Let’s work together for progress — in Oregon and America. Let’s persuade Pete DeFazio to run for the Senate. Bruce Schennum Eugene EUGENE YEARS BEHIND I am loving it! Dan (yawn) Savage has caused an uproar. YEARS after much of the country doesn’t even bother reading it. Hilarious! Only in Eugene would this still be caus- ing such controversy. Eugene, you are the all-time squarest town ever! — and a consis- tent 10 to 15 years behind. Thanks for the laughter! David Peterson Rural Lane County WOW! BRAVO! It was my turn to roll my eyes when I read the review (3/15) of my book, Food Not Lawns, How To Turn Your Yard into a Garden and Your Neighborhood into a Community. Suzi Steffen repeatedly men- tions her annoyance at my suggestions for building a healthier, more ecological culture and implies that here in Eugene we are beyond such advice. Hmm. Well, could the widespread local familiar- ity with these issues have anything to do with the 50-plus workshops I and my co-collec- tive members organized here over the past 10 years? Not that we deserve all the credit, but some would be nice. Further, if Eugene is such an eco-city, then why do we still have a toxic river, a growing landfill and other serious environ- mental problems? And don’t kid yourself about a lack of high-end housing develop- ments here, Suzi. Take a ride out to the edge of town and you will see fertile farmland giv- ing way to nasty housing developments. Food Not Lawns is about far more than ripping up lawns and sidewalks. It is about taking control of our lives, starting with the yard and spiraling outward. It contains sever- al chapters on urban organic gardening and over 100 pages about organizing community projects with minimal funds and resources. My intention is never to preach, only to comment on this ill and toxic culture, and to present what I believe to be some very valu- APRIL 5, 2007 5
