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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 9, 2007)
TO THE EDITOR FAIR IS FAIR In response to Sian Nelson’s letter (7/26) about “Fair Snobbishness,” I’d like to re- spond from an insider’s point of view. Yes, there are many who wander the fairgrounds with a sense of entitlement. But like any com- munity, status is derived from your actions and your connections. This year I worked well over 125 hours to receive my camping pass. It is the hardest work I’ve ever loved to do so much for a T-shirt (and an apron). Do I feel entitled to my position? Yes, I’ve earned it by the sweat equity that with others’ all helps to create the amazing food we feed to the Maincamp Fair family. Is the Fair closed to walk-on volunteers? Absolutely not. In the kitchen this year we had a few newbies who volunteered and kicked ass, thus earning their passes. No promises were made, but these newbies defi- nitely proved themselves and earned their tent site and T-shirt. If you want to cast blame towards the enti- tled, I’d suggest you blame all those who do nothing to make the magick of the Fair but in- stead feel entitled to sneak in or hide from the sweep. And blame all those who don’t lift a finger to fuel the magick and only take away the energy that otherwise illuminates us for the rest of the year. I’m sorry that you are over it, but take a personal check: Isn’t it your own personal ego that is affronted by the poli- cies? What I find works the best to keep the action smooth in the kitchen is a total lack of ego. We constantly give our need to control away, thus working together synergistically. Try it, it’s great fun! Jonathan Seraphim Eugene BOUNDLESS EARTH Excellent article by Camilla Mortensen (cover story, 7/19) on the cougar hound hunt- ing issue. She hits the nail on the head and gets be- hind the fluff that is normally passed off as good reporting to reveal the bogus justifica- tions by ODFW for its cougar slaughter. ODFW is hiding behind a sham of con- cern for public safety when in fact what they really want to do is persecute cougars so they can have a few more elk and deer for hunters to blast. Any good biologist (apparently there are none in ODFW) knows that the in- discriminate killing of cougars dis- rupts social organization and skews cougar populations towards younger age classes. Young cougars are just like young humans. They are more likely to take risks, act foolishly and in general cause trouble. ODFW’s policy of cougar “management” will actually increase the likelihood of human conflicts, creating a self-fullfilling cycle of more conflicts, and thus more reason for even more cougar killing. Oregon’s wildlife would be better off if we got rid of ODFW — the agency is noth- ing more than a tag-selling industry hack. George Wuerthner Eugene TOO COMPLIMENTARY I always look forward to Brett Campbell’s pieces on music in your pages as he writes with keen insight and refreshing verve over a wide spectrum of topics. So I enjoyed his OFAM 2007 preview, “Getting to Know Richard Rodgers,” in your July 26 issue, right up to the last half of his final sentence, which 4 AUGUST 9, 2007 reads “... and reaffirms OFAM’s status as Eugene’s most important musical institu- tion.” That may wrap the package in a bow too wide by a tad. Patrons of the Eugene Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Bach Festival, Oregon Mozart Players, Eugene Concert Choir and perhaps other groups might well raise an eye- brow or two in response to such a sweeping statement. All of those groups have left their teen years behind, at least, and they have achieved an admirable level of artistic matu- rity. I shall also mention the UO School of Music and Dance, which traces its roots in this community back over a century, and whose presence has enabled and furthered the development of the musical groups men- tioned above as well as numerous others. One may argue at length over questions of rank, status and relative importance, but in the end credit must be given where it has earned its due. John E. Heintz Eugene TOO MUCH DOWRY It was great to see (EW, 7/26) that Councilor Andrea Ortiz has joined the fis- cally responsible Bonny Bettman and Betty Taylor to oppose our $50 million, as Bettman said it, “astronomical dowry to a private de- veloper.” Since when does a city offer devel- opers such large financial gifts and take on such risks without a vote of the citizens? When the City Development Manager Denny Braud says the city taxpay- ers woud have to “resell the properties in a fire sale,” it makes me wonder what we are doing. Too much risk if you ask me. Also, is it really true that the holes downtown would have been filled by now if we hadn’t post- poned until the whole downtown area is planned? Ruth Duemler Eugene SURVIVAL OF THE WHOLE As I read the letter to the editor by Lou Andrews (7/26), I could not help but picture a wolf in a sheep costume trying to sell to me this idea of an “Earth with Borders.” Here Mr. Andrews voices his pseudo-spiri- tual opinion on illegal immigra- tion and even attempts to in- still fear in me about “sur- vival.” Well, let me tell you something: If you were really worried about survival of our species, you would be more concerned with envi- ronmental issues, such as that atrocious Measure 37 that overrides 30 years of activism and flushes everything that is Oregon down the toilet, and less about being scared of people from other countries. If your “genes” are telling you that people from Latin America are reducing your chances of survival, then I would suggest tak- ing a closer look at your habits and at your lifestyle, and really question: Am I at fault? Nah, you couldn’t possibly be! You are an American! We live in a world community; we are all human, Why should we have to compete for survival? We perfectly know that survival re- lies on cooperation and a holistic non-indi- vidualized approach to living. Dave Crowley Eugene LOVE US OR HATE US As a liberal and a journalist/editor, I have a love-hate relationship with Eugene Weekly. Although I usually agree with its positions, I often decry the way in which they’re pre- sented. Indeed, I sometimes fantasize about being a teacher of young humanities students and using EW’s articles to see if the students could identify the leftist propaganda and fear- mongering in them. (John Birch Society pub- lications would be my example of right-wing propaganda and fear-mongering.) Having said all that, I unreservedly loved the Operation City Manager cartoon. It was clever, it didn’t try to disguise itself as objec- tive reporting, and it spoke the truth (mostly). Way to go, EW. Kelley Blewster Springfield ODFW RESPONDS The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is deservedly proud of the fact that cougars were brought back from the brink of extinction in Oregon largely due to responsi- ble management actions implemented by ODFW biologists. As few as 200 cougars re- mained in Oregon in the 1960s, which led to protecting them as game mammals and plac- ing them under the management authority of the agency. Because of ODFW’s recovery ef- forts, a thriving population of more than 5,600 cougars inhabits virtually every viable habitat in the state, serving as a prime exam- ple of responsible wildlife management. It appears that Ms. Mortensen (cover story, 7/19) may not fully understand the de- tails of HB 2971 or Measure 18. It is clear that Measure 18 outlawed sport-hunting of cougars and bears with hounds but explicitly allowed ODFW to hire/appoint wildlife agents to use hounds to manage cougars. However, the practice of appointing cougar agents was suspended after the Oregon Department of Justice determined that ODFW did not have clear authority to ap- point wildlife agents. House Bill 2971 merely clarifies the law and provides the agency with authority to appoint wildlife agents, fully consistent with Measure 18. We encourage the public to report cougar sightings to ensure the safety of the commu- nity as well as the welfare of the animal. Each report is evaluated to determine potential risks and dealt with appropriately if it appears there is an immediate threat to human safety or livestock. Many such reports are deemed to pose no significant risks, and no action is taken. ODFW is responsible for protecting Oregon’s wildlife, and we respect cougars as top predators important to the ecosystem. However the department also bears the re- sponsibility to manage cougars and other wildlife in a manner that minimizes risks to human safety and livestock. The public is en- couraged to obtain information on safely liv- ing with cougars, available from on our web- site (www.dfw.state.or.us), or upon request at any ODFW office. Ron Anglin Wildlife Division Administrator Salem DON’T BLAME GROWERS I can empathize with Michelle D’Amico’s (6/21) troubles with grass allergies. My for- mer husband was terribly allergic, and we too spent time in the emergency room. As to holding the growers responsible for her allergies, I’m not sure that would be legal. Even if she would prevail, who would I hold responsible for my allergies to tree pollen and my friend for her allergies to mold? As to why so much grass is grown here, the high water table and the heavy soil make it hard to grow some crops, but the grass thrives. Since it is an early season crop, typi- cally you don’t see irrigation for that first crop that provides the seed and, unfortu- nately, the pollen. Fields are irrigated some- times later in the summer, but not during the high pollen periods. I don’t know the answer to the grass aller- gies. I can only hope the season will end soon for all the sufferers and better health remedies can be found. Annetta Forrer Eugene AN EVEN BIGGER MESS This is in response to Roscoe Caron’s let-
