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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 21, 2009)
letters TO THE EDITOR ENOUGH, I SAY! Enough is enough! I, along with millions of Americans, voted for change last November, but instead we are getting more of the same neo-liberal economics, class warfare on the working people and a militarist foreign policy with a smile. The media has begun its positive spin on the economy with stories of Wall Street recovery (stock market up 30 percent), large banks passing “stress tests” with fl ying colors while at the same time millions of working Americans are continuing to lose jobs at an unprecedented rate. Billions of our tax dollars are fl owing to banking industry, Wall Street and the Detroit car industry while average Americans are losing their homes, jobs, health care benefi ts and hope. The health care reform is heading away from the single-payer system into the direction of a subsidized private insurance system that will further enrich insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry. And instead of fi nancing this reform by taxing the wealthy, the Obama administration is proposing freezing Social Security benefi ts for the next two years, taxing health care benefi ts of workers and requiring higher out-of-pocket Medicare payments by the elderly. Those who voted to end the war in Iraq are instead getting an escalation of the wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan, continued occupation of Iraq with fewer troops and not one military base closing in more than 120 countries. Now is the time for average Americans to organize and demand real change that will benefi t the majority and not the wealthy and the privileged. Pete Mandrapa Eugene DROLL DEVICES I read Steve Downey’s letter (5/7) accusing Sally Sheklow of harboring hate and perpetuating a stereotype “that being a lesbian necessarily involves hating men.” I frankly have no idea what Downey is talking about. I consider Sally a personal friend, and she has never been anything but 4 MAY 21, 2009 EUGENE WEEKLY warm and friendly toward me, and the last time I checked in the mirror, I was still a man. While I do not always agree with her views, I believe she is a wonderful humorist. She uses humor to highlight the absurdities and hypocrisies that are abundant in political and social life. Frequently, this involves the use of devices such as irony, sarcasm, satire and mock displays of emotions to get the point across. Perhaps her obvious frustration at these prolifi c idiocies comes across as anger and hate, especially to someone who himself might harbor feelings of anger and hate. I can think of few better role models for any human being, not just lesbians, than someone who dares to hold up a mirror to society with such humor and compassion. I say to Sally, “You go, girl … uh, excuse me … woman!” Daniel Borson Eugene POISONOUS POLICE I think Ian Van Ornum got a raw deal and is a hero. Here is a young man exercising his freedom of speech on a very important issue, trying to educate the public about the dangers of spraying poisons in our air and water. He took time out of his busy life as a UO student near midterms to be a responsible citizen. He gets Tasered, arrested and thrown to the ground with head injuries because he didn't cower to the police. Then we have three UO athletes who are shooting BB guns at perfectly innocent ducks in a park pond to get kicks, being stupid and potentially killing wildlife. They get a slap on the wrist while Van Ornum’s life is turned upside down. Where is the justice? The police have no right to hurt a citizen. They weren't threatened by Van Ornum. Give me a break! Their job is to enforce the law, not give punishment. I am hoping justice is found when the actions of the police are reviewed, but based on past incidences, like the violence done to the tree cutting protesters by Eugene police years ago at Broadway and Charnelton, I doubt true WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
