letters
TO THE EDITOR
new white T-shirts over their business
clothes with the slogan “Americans for
Prosperity.” He looked prosperous. I told
him that he is chicken-shit (rotten) to
picket kids and families who want to help
troubled schools.
The rich have tax benefi ts and profi ts
we don’t have. Yet they oppose taxes for
our public schools and services.
Jerry Smith
Eugene
EMX NOT THE ISSUE
Have you ridden an LTD bus recently?
If so, you have likely noticed how
hardworking and important LTD is in our
community. If you travel by any means in
Eugene you have also likely noticed that
LTD has become the victim of a well-
funded attack.
Professional graphics, billboard adver-
tising and signage requires time and mon-
ey, especially money. Whoever is organiz-
ing and funding the attack on LTD has
deep pockets. My guess is it isn’t all com-
ing from small businesses on West 11th.
EmX has been 15 years in the making;
the time to impact that decision was
over a decade ago. My simple guess is
sour grapes from the failed West Eugene
Parkway motivates this attack. Perhaps
the real goal is to create a political issue
to aid an as yet unnamed candidate during
the next election cycle. Campaigning for
political candidates is a legitimate part of
our democracy. Attacking essential not-
for-profi t community services is not.
I invite those funding this marketing
campaign to publicly identify themselves
and their goals. Let’s openly debate the
real issues instead of scapegoating Lane
Transit District.
Teresa Damron
Eugene
BIKES HELP, BUT …
Alan Pittman missed the point in
his March 3 “Going Green” article on
Eugene’s draft Pedestrian and Bicycle
Master Plan. It mentions bicycle issues
more than 50 times and pedestrians just
twice! It is typical of Eugene’s bicycle-
centric active transportation community.
Yes, 22 percent of people may commute
on bikes in 20 years, but 80 percent of
people could cut their car use next week by
walking and using the bus for some trips!
Walking is the simplest form of trans-
portation. It requires no special equipment
and is part of every trip, even those made
by bike, car or bus. Walking makes neigh-
borhoods safer, encourages human inter-
action and is good for business and jobs.
While I admire those who choose the
bicycle way of life, it will not get most
people out of their cars! Even less so as our
population ages and our mobility needs
change. Bicycles can be part of an inclusive,
integrated transportation system, but
pedestrians, using public transportation,
will be the main way we move away from
a car-centered culture. There are just far
fewer people willing take the safety risks
or “gear down” to ride a bike, even among
those who like to be active. Much less for
the inactive, elderly or alter-abled.
Completing the west Eugene extension
of EmX is key to cutting citywide trip
times. This will increase ridership and
make it attractive for people to leave
all their vehicles at home both the two-
wheeled, human-powered variety and
those with four wheels burning gasoline.
Walking is Eugene’s future!
Tom Schneider
Member of Eugene’s Bike and
Pedestrian Advisory Committee
MALIGNANCY OF WAR
March 19, 2003 had a massive effect on
millions of people. Consequences have been
largely hidden from the people in the U.S.
— a little about the suffering of our troops,
limited coverage of the fi nancial costs to
U.S., essentially nothing about the Iraqis’
suffering.
Sept. 11, 2001 transformed the U.S.
and the world. The U.S. invaded Iraq on
March 19, 2003. There was no connection
between Iraq and the events of 9/11. The
U.S. administration used three main reasons
to argue invading: The men accused of the
events of 9/11 were Saudi Arabian, not Iraqi;
WMDs were the lies of a defector called
“Curveball”; and no “yellowcake” went from
Niger to Iraq.
Eight years later, more than 4,000 U.S.
personnel have died, tens of thousands have
been injured. PTSD, traumatic brain injuries
and suicides are alarming the “brass.” Poor
medical care and support for veterans and
soldiers shook up Congress. This will be a
malignancy of future generations.
Between 50,000 and 900,000 Iraqis died.
More than two million are refugees. And the
infrastructure is in shambles.
Corvallis will recognize March 19 with a
procession of coffi ns. Gather in Central Park
on Monroe at noon. Please wear black.
Joan Noyce
Corvallis
CONNECTING ON ICE
I am fairly new to the Eugene community
and looking for an alternate new source that
provides balance and a bit of honesty when it
comes to news stuff. The latest whack job out
of The Register-Guard came from an article
regarding the Ice Center authored by Matt
Cooper March 8. The article is fi lled with
inaccuracies and distortions by not telling
the readers that many improvements were
made to the gates, dasher boards, ice slab,
and a Freon detection unit was installed for
safety. More importantly, the usage at the
center has increased putting them on target
to end the ice season making a profi t.
As for the future, the Ice Center needs
the support of our community and elected
offi cials to overcome the obstacles of
raising additional funds when there is no
commitment from the Lane County Board
of County Commissioners that the Ice
Center and the rest of the Fairgrounds will
continue to exist in their current location. As
a fi nancial supporter, hockey fan and outside
observer of the Ice Center activities, I see
both sides of the story.
Please write about the diversity of ice
sports and benefi ts of physical or mental de-
velopment of our youth through hockey, ice
dance or fi gure skating, etc. Participation
in community activities and events builds
community connectedness. The more events
and activities (sports) people participate in
the bigger the positive changes are to their
community connections. Please help by sup-
porting positive community connectedness
through your reporting.
Calla Taylor
Eugene
KILL DEATH PENALTY
This past week we all received the
news that Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois
abolished the death penalty. Apparently,
the state of Illinois worked for 10 years in
an attempt to fi x what was broken about
their capital punishment system, but in the
end it was clear that the system couldn’t
be fi xed. Instead of continuing to send
inmates to their death, perhaps innocent
and wrongfully convicted, the governor
signed into law that other alternatives need
to be found.
Our state should follow suit. As a
practicing Christian living in a nation that
identifi es itself as Christian, I believe we
need to fi nd our humanity and respect
each other as children of God.
Charlotte Nuessle
Ashland
RACIST OPERA
Many people consider The Mikado a
racist musical show, so why did the Eugene
Opera put it on (March 11-12)? It is based on
stereotypes of Japanese culture. Although
many have tried to rehabilitate its
controversial history, the mindset
of Gilbert and Sullivan was made clear
in the original version: The character
Ko-Ko sings a song about the “little list”
of “society offenders” who “if executed
would not be missed. “ On the execution list
are the “n****** serenader” and “others of
his race.”
I’m sure some will come up with the
old “teachable moment” argument. There
are many wonderful shows to put on. A
better teachable moment would be to skip
this one.
Kali Star
Eugene
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EUGENE WEEKLY MARCH 17, 2011 5