Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 2011)
letters slime trail TO THE EDITOR BY SLUG QUEEN SCARLETT O’SLIMERA factual information and will not retract something even after its fallacy is brought to their attention. Sondra Arrache Eugene IT’S A LOCAL ISSUE Ducks Stick Together We wanted overtime, but still got the parade I do declare — in the big picture — we are winners! OK, it’s true, it would have been more fun had we won. I realized while flying back with all the other Duck fans, at least we don’t have to land in Alabama. We get to go home to our grand, fertile, majestic Oregon. Oh, and don’t you just love a parade! You missed a real doozy if you weren’t on the streets of downtown Eugene last Saturday. The other SLUG Queens and I were delighted and honored to be a part of the procession with many of the other “Champions.” But, back to The Game. Having been born and bred in Nashville, I know all about hospitality. I was, and continue to be, cordial to the Auburn Tigers. I try to live by my intentions to uplift and unify. Whether traveling to Arizona or keeping the home fires burning, we Duck fans stick together like birds of a feather. The possibilities were ours. We had hope in our hearts! Marvelous Marv, husband of 40 years plus, and I headed for the game with one ticket that he gifted to me! He’s on a roll in the giving department, as only six months ago he donated his left kidney to our dear daughter Dawn. (For the record, they are both thriving and we are all celebrating this glorious, miraculous life! ) With excitement and anticipation we flew over hills and dells to Las Vegas, certainly the most surreal, over-stimulating city this side of the Mississippi River. We continued the trip by auto and crossed over the Hoover Dam. I’ve never seen the likes and frankly, we do give a damn. We love our Ducks — such powerful, prepared, precious young men in their prime. I was feeling comforted that Chip Kelly strategically had all his ducks in a row, demonstrated by their victorious accomplishments. Full of pride and joy, I packed my old green Queen dress, crown, and sash, adorned with extra green and yellow accessories. A darling vendor at the Holiday Market sent me off with unique, emerald horseshoe earrings. Lucky charms and all, everything seemed to be fittin’! All “ducked” out, sure enough, the photo opportunities were aplenty. Both Auburn and Oregon fans were thrilled to pose close to royalty amidst the giant stadium. I was pleased as punch to be in with the in crowd. We may have been outnumbered, but we will and still hold our ground. So with smiles aglow, the cheering and shouting only got louder with each play. I barely recognized my usual slick, sluggish mannerisms as the testosterone kicked in and intense feelings of rage took over. Overwhelmed and breath taken, like the rest of y’al ... quittin’ time came too quickly. We all wanted an overtime. We wanted all those smug, orange colored Auburn tigers to be frowning all the way back to their dens. Now I know it’s all about the Ducks, but what a hoot and a quack it was to find out I made it on national TV for a few brief seconds while “God Bless America” was being sung. Alas, as I write these thoughts of this big game of life, with its ups and downs and all arounds, I am inspired to give thanks for all that is. There is next year to look forward to. Oh fiddle de dee, I’ll think about that tomorrow. Scarlett O’Slimera is Eugene’s Old S.L.U.G. Queen from 2004. 6 JANUARY 27, 2011 EUGENE WEEKLY Should we be impressed that 70 like-minded people attended a Jan. 18 meeting of what normally is a sparsely attended session of the Eugene Human Rights Commission? We should not when they are there to defend brutality of one country against another. That is the case when a crowd that large dominated the meeting to object to a proposal for Eugene to reprimand Israel for its attacks on Gaza and the Turkish ship bringing Gaza humanitarian aid. The suggestion had been made by a representative of the Lane County Al- Nakba Project that supports justice for Palestine, a global human rights issue. Pro-Israel objectors said the commission should not be bothered with issues that are not local. Not local when 70 people show up to speak out? George Beres Eugene A HUMAN FAILING I read Robert Simms letter (1/13) regarding the prayer vigil on behalf of the persecuted Bahá’í believers in Iran. While I can understand his cynicism of religion as a value system, any belief system, religious or otherwise, is subject to abuse and manipulation. That various religions have contributed to pain and suffering is a human failing. The great religions of the world are, at their heart, based on love and tolerance. The Bahá’í faith recognizes this essential truth. His “research” of the Bahá’í faith would reveal an enlightened, democratic institution without a professional clergy promoting human rights, compassion toward animals, the legitimacy of science, ecology and education for all. Especially significant is the Bahá’í ‘s nonpartisan political stance. The Bahá’í faith provides a non- threatening model upon which we can reflect tolerance, kindness and love. If the vigil increases that awareness, we all benefit. Mark Murphy Creswell STOPPING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE I appreciate Darlene Selzer’s letter Dec. 30 regarding the dangers one faces when wanting to leave an abusive relationship. To add to her letter, Debra Dixon has written on the Stockholm Syndrome in battered women (see http:// wkly.ws/10l) that reveals how many people who berate people in abusive relationships do not understand the dangers they face, and also the gradual process of traumatic bonding. The abuser gradually gains control through growing investment and dependence on them. If abusers were to show their true colors in the beginning, their partners simply would not tolerate being assaulted. The way to end domestic violence is for people to get educated on the reality abused people face. We need a cultural change viewing women and all people as valuable whole human beings who are no one’s commodity. We need to support, on all fronts, our elected officials like Kitty Piercy and Rob Handy, both of whom I know firsthand to be great advocates for women and other minorities. I can vouch for Rob Handy on what he says in his Viewpoint Jan. 6. Ceila (Starshine) Levine Eugene A CHILD’S CRY Lori B. Havas’s letter (Dining Disaster, 1/13) highlighted a conflict between two essentially conservative values. On the one hand, we have a socially conservative family value, namely, how as a community we can support families in raising their children. On the other hand, we have a fiscally conservative value, namely, the claim that one can spend one’s money as one wishes, and that nothing should interfere with that personal consumption. While Ms. Havas seems to favor the latter, I find myself more swayed by the former. Parenting is the most important, and frequently the most challenging, aspect of any person’s life, and deserves the community’s fullest support. I understand that it can be distressing to listen to a young child cry for a sustained period of time; however, in doing so we listen to the future and might best work towards supporting the family. I am often delighted when I see people smile reassuringly at parents in such situations or engage them with a brief word of support. At minimum, I believe that we ought not add to a parent’s challenge by complaining or expressing irritation. A crying child is neither a “societal problem” nor indicative of “poor parenting, lack of manners and concern for others.” When we are privileged by any expression of a child’s humanity, be it joyful or painful, we are gifted beyond anything our privatized consumption can give us. John O’Donoghue Eugene TEMPORARY JOBS We are a busy society always on the go and always in motion in different forms of transportation. But as I have witnessed as of late, there is a lot more road work going on surrounding the Eugene-Springfield area, and I question for a moment how it is truly helping our economy. I know that it is providing jobs, but it only provides jobs for a few months. What about the Oregon budget shortfall that is affecting our educational system? As a new driver and a recent graduate from a 4J high school, I see the great effects that the economic downturn has had on the local school system. Is fixing the road in Oregon really going to provide great benefit? Twenty years from now, we may have new leaders in this community who have not been provided with a high quality education because the state government cannot find the money to keep worthy educators and leave open many needed schools. All I ask WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
