TO THE EDITOR
as companions/pets for rational, socially
responsible owners.
At the risk of exposing another type
of irrational fear, I would suggest that the
roots of the pit bulls’ unfair image are not
unlike those irrational fears expressed
by vocal anti-gun folks. My fi rearm was
designed and built to protect me and my
family from those who do us bodily harm.
It is only as dangerous and deadly as
I cause it to be. It has no infl uence over
me. It is inanimate and will not function
without direct action on my part.
I would challenge EW to acknowledge
that, just as the pit bull is an innocent,
harmless companion — unless taught and
directed otherwise by its owner — the
fi rearm is a harmless tool unless misused
or negligently managed by its owner.
Those who would ban the ownership of
either promote irrational fear within our
society.
Stephen Roberts
Eugene
WE NEED EMX
I hope all the good, decent people in
Eugene will join me in boycotting every
business with an anti-transit sign posted on
West 11th. We need EmX transit in West
Eugene and these clowns want to stop it.
Ralph Wombat
Eugene
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
I remember when success was beating
the Beavers and the Huskies. And then
success became having a winning season.
And then it became going to a bowl
game. Then it was winning a bowl game.
Then it was getting to the Rose Bowl.
Then it was fi nishing in the top 25. Then
it was fi nishing in the top 10. Then it was
getting to a BCS Bowl game. Now it is
winning the national championship.
Every time our expectations were raised
there were Monday morning quarterbacks
on every corner ripping Brooks or
Bellotti apart for their decisions when
those expectations weren’t met. I want to
apologize to Chip and staff in advance
for the criticism they are already getting
from all those experts in our fair city who
are clearly much better college football
coaches than they will ever be.
Kevin O’Brien
Eugene
LOST DOGS REDEEMED
As the owner of a sweet loving pit bull
I am deeply saddened when I hear stories
about dogs that have killed or harmed
people or other animals. These are real
tragedies but the fact is any dog with the
physical ability to maim or kill can be a
threat — Dobermans, Rottweilers, chows
are all breeds that have records similar to
pit bulls when it comes to vicious attacks.
But rather than refute misleading
statistics about which dogs are the most
violent I want to draw attention to the story
of the abused and neglected pit bulls kept
for dog fi ghting by former NFL player
Michael Vick. Author Jim Gorant tells
their amazing story in Lost Dogs; Michael
Vick’s Dogs and their Tale of Rescue
and Redemption. Of the 51 dogs rescued
from Vick’s property 47 of them were
rehabilitated. In spite of the terrible abuse
they suffered, these dogs have proven
themselves loving gentle companions to
those who have adopted them. Their story
shows this breed is capable of exhibiting
excellent temperament under extreme
circumstances. It also reinforces the fact
that all dogs not matter what the breed,
are domestic animals that rely on people
to breed, raise and handle them in a
responsible manner.
As a human society that has
domesticated the Canine, we all share the
responsibility to ensure they interact with
others in a safe manner no matter the breed.
Claire Syrett
Eugene
SOME DIVERSITY
W. Shane Kiser’s utopian vision (Letters,
1/6) that Eugene residents “synchronize”
around “diversity” is pretty limited: “We
do that on Ducks’ day or for that matter the
whole year round ... If we can agree on the
Ducks, then why not our celebrations and
our diverse choices of worship?”
Kiser should try wearing an OSU shirt
in Eugene, especially in the fall, and the
week before the Civil War, before thinking
that this city celebrates “diversity” in all
things. I will say though, that despite all
the dirty looks and muttered insults I’ve
received, I’ve also seen a lot of discrete
smiles and “thumbs ups” from OSU alums
who live here but have to hide their sports
loyalties. I guess it’s news to some, but not
everyone worships at the House of Knight.
Chuck Kleinhans
Eugene
This
Now tta See!
o
You G
explore
SHOP
250
FOREST CARBON SINK
I cannot understand the accounting
system by which burning wood is counted
as a way to reduce global warming.
When plants die, photosynthesis
stops. When a forest is cut and the plant
material is burned or decays, carbon
begins to be returned to the atmosphere.
Rapid deforestation has contributed to the
increase of CO2 in the atmosphere over
the past 200 years. It’s probably 20 to 30
percent of the human contribution to the
increase of CO2 in the atmosphere.
When a forest is replanted after logging,
CO2 removal from the atmosphere by
regrowth of the forest is rapid, then
eventually it is balanced by respiration,
but the quantity that has been removed
remains in the regrown forest, not in the
atmosphere. Thus, existence of a living
forest is a carbon sink. Cutting down that
forest releases the stored carbon back to the
atmosphere.
Burning wood increases global warming
by increasing the carbon dioxide released
to the atmosphere. This is true whether we
burn whole logs or limbs and small trees. If
we didn’t remove these, they would become
fertilizer and soil conditioner for the next
generation of trees. If we remove them, we
will have unhealthy, stunted forests, or no
forests. If all you care about is where your
next million dollars is coming from, you
will destroy the forest. If you care where
the future forests will come from, you will
protect the forest.
Ann Tattersall
Eugene
WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
it’s stylish
& smart!
Earth Friendly
1 Place, 3 Days Only
sustainable
exhibits
GOOD EARTH
Architectural Seminar Series
Friday 7:30pm
homes
gardens
food
2 go
arts
recycle
living
J ANUARY
21-23
FRI
5pm-9pm
SAT 10am–8pm
SUN 10am–5pm
Fairgrounds
Eugene
FREE
Admission
canned food donations
FOOD for Lane County
®
®
HOME, GARDEN & LIVING
4843499J16
letters
Seminars
&
Event Details: EugeneHomeShow.com
EUGENE WEEKLY JANUARY 20, 2011 5