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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 24, 2007)
TO THE EDITOR in the media and a fast-food gun supply sys- tem (among others), I noticed something. As this vast wake rippled over us, I noticed how hard it is for someone doing a simple, de- cent, kind-hearted kind of thing to get the same amount of press. How unfair that the world is too big to take note of kindness instead of violence, I thought. It seems there are too many of us and we are too busy going about our lives working, shopping, driving, blogging. But then, on the other hand, I realized, it’s good there are so many of us busy doing the same kinds of things: reading the paper, planting our gardens, cooking food, wiping tears, going to work and to sleep (perchance to dream, eh?). Nobody reads about us in our simple, busy lives, and right now that seems just fine. Press like Blacksburg gives anonymity a good name. That’s us: the great, anonymous, American public numbering in the millions. We go about our busy lives and are presented daily with the chance to do another decent, kind-hearted sort of thing that never ends up in the paper. Let’s find the time to do it. It won’t end up on the front page but might end up touching someone’s heart. I bet that’s a ripple we’d all like to be a part of, with or without the press. Kara Steffensen Eugene NOSE JOB “Cut your nose just to spite your face.” Eugene is so good at this coined phrase due to its behind closed doors voting tactics. Taverns and bars are closing their doors due to the constant harassment by NON-smok- ing people who think that these losses will only be a drop in the bucket as far as much needed funds for programs. Sadly, while tu- ition for colleges is rising, so is the cost of living and gas. Maybe the City Council should have considered what funds they would lose before they decide to ban smok- ing in taverns. I say, if you want to find compromise in this debate about where to regain funds lost, you should probably get the funds from the NONsmoking taxpayers. In all fairness, when a city or town separates people with imposed bans, those who decided to make Eugene an almost tavern-free town should pay for those funds lost due to its decisions. Smokers have been paying for their ad- diction to nicotine by being charged a sin tax, not to mention the decks that taverns and bars had to build which raised the food and drink prices. It’s only fair that the people who helped Eugene cut off its nose to spite its face should be the ones to pay. Nonsmokers do not realize how hard it is to be a bartender or an owner of these establish- ments in Eugene when most of your patrons smoke, but if you did you would realize that being fit, healthy and good looking doesn’t pay the bills. So, to all who are against smoking in tav- erns and bars and like to kick smokers to the curb, I say put your money where your mouth is and restore funds lost. It was your enthusiasm that got these businesses and em- ployees into financial debt, so how about putting up some money for what revenue has been lost. After all, if the town favors you nonsmokers over smokers, than you should pay out of gratitude, or you should have at the very least had a backup plan, don’t you think? And just so you know, I’d quit smoking if a pack of patches were the same price as a pack of smokes, but they aren’t and will probably never be. I may not be fit and healthy, but hot damn I’m happy to be alive because above all else I am loved. This is how to truly live, don’t you think? Tracy L. Mahoney Eugene THINKING SMALL: The First Year at North Eugene H.S. DOGS VS. DEER About two weeks ago, my dog got out of the house after someone left the front door open. When I realized what had happened, I immediately went looking for my dog, but she was nowhere to be found. I live in an area with a lot of deer. Apparently, my dog saw a deer and went after it. Animal patrol picked up my dog in the midst of chasing a deer. When I went to the pound, I was over- joyed to find my dog there safe and sound. The people who worked at the pound told me that the next time they catch her chasing a deer, she would have to be killed. I value all life, and I am not writing this to say a dog’s life is more valuable than a deer’s. Yet personally, I have never known an instance where the dog is able to catch a deer and actually kill it, although I’m not denying that this is a possibility. I was very shocked to hear that if a dog is caught chas- ing a deer twice, the dog is executed. Eugene has an abundance of deer, and accidents, such as a dog getting out of an open door, do happen. I do have plans to get specific training on this issue in the hopes that it will not ever happen again. (God forbid!) Despite the ob- vious dangers to both the dog and the deer, if a chase does occur, I feel this policy puts a deer’s life first and is terribly unfair to the dog and owner. Mistakes do happen, but tak- ing the life of someone’s best friend is an overreaction to an instinctual response on the part of animal who, despite being a do- mestic pet, still has a wild side. I write this letter in protest of this inhu- mane policy as well as a warning to all dog owners that this could happen to anyone. Darcy Wienshienk Eugene FRIDAY, MAY 25 • 11:50 AM DOWNTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB PRINCIPLES & STUDENTS: North Eugene High School $3 admission • Free to City Club Members 485-7433 www.cityclubofeugene.org GRAND OPENING 5555( 541)302-3333 5555 DELI SPECIALS $5.99 MONDAY: Ham Sandwich w/ soup TUESDAY: Grilled chicken sandwich w/ soup WEDNESDAY: Roast beef sandwich w/ soup THURSDAY: Combo sandwich w/ soup FRIDAY: Turkey sandwich w/ soup SOUP OF THE DAY MONDAY: Chicken noodle TUESDAY: Corn chowder WEDNESDAY: Broccoli cheese THURSDAY: Vegetable beef FRIDAY: Clam chowder EDITOR’S NOTE: Any deer vs. dog stories out there? MY EXPERIMENT I refuse to own a car. I ride a bike and public transportation, having the same vision as Planet Glassberg “Ecological Eugene” (5/10). I am serious about ending war and slowing global warming. I want to help put the petroleum industry out of business, not only through my lifestyle, but also by advo- cating biofuels, alternative transportation and energy (minus liquid coal and carbon- free nuclear energy). The Montgomery bus boycott worked; why not extend the gas sta- tion boycott way beyond May 15 and block- ade them? I have seen the pain from parents of chil- dren who are incarcerated for unjust lengths of time due to property damage, and I dis- agree that property damage is an effective tactic that inspires activists to join in. My friends are getting out the right information and exposing misleading information con- cerning sustainable energy. If anyone finds that property damage produces the same old recurring results, call me and we’ll talk. Ceila (Starshine) Levine Eugene Pu b B u r g e r r u O Try The Secret’s in the Sauce” s “ $2.50 1 OFF $ ANY DAILY SPECIAL Coupon Expires June 7, 2007 5 Not Valid with any other special 1201 WEST 11TH AVENUE 5 CORNER OF TYLER MAY 24, 2007 7
