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TO THE EDITOR
and establishing an alternative energy
grid, making all nations secure through
diplomacy, goodwill and right human
relations and not through endless wars,
health care for all, a moral democracy,
practicing the Golden Rule, embracing
what unites us and what we share in
common, equal rights and living wages for
all, the resources of the planet belong to
and must benefi t all people.
There is enough for everyone if we all
practice the principle of sharing along with
intelligent and respectful public discourse.
Imagine working for these ideas and
supporting those who do. I wonder if you can?
Christopher Michaels
Eugene
TWO MORE R’S
I don’t know if the “Black Christmas”
article that followed the Gear Guide (12/8)
was purposeful or ironic; either way the
articles were well placed. The latter tempts
us to continue being a good consumer
while the former reminds us what self-
defeating assholes we have been on this
planet. Both reaffi rm the contradiction of
our human ways and how we do not really
consider all the species with whom we
inhabit this place called home.
All of us can talk up sustainability and
“green”-ness all we want; yet, as anyone
who pays attention knows, actions always
speak volumes over words. If we do
not bring greenhouse gases down to the
350 ppm ASAP, not by 2020 or 2050 as
proposed, we are on the path of no return.
Every time a person chooses new over used
— which means incentives to cut down or
dig up resources — that is self-destruction,
period. And how many of those products
advertised added to 350 as they came from
halfway around the very planet they are
helping to kill? Ask yourself: What do you
really need to be happy?
In the book Your Money or your Life,
the authors essentially ask readers how
many life hours are you willing to work in
order to acquire a thing. When considering
buying a thing, how much time do you
have to invest in order to acquire it? And
what is the impact in that decision?
I would ask readers that along with the
simple task of reduce, re-use and recycle,
there are two other mindful options:
reconsider and refuse.
Sean S. Doyle
Portland
ABSURD CITATION
Passive urban parks function as a place
of respite, leisure, rest and contemplation.
Landscaping an urban park usually
incorporates plant materials to create
a desired effect and hardscape such as
walkways to accommodate areas of
intensive human use. Low walls are often
constructed as design elements and to
create separation of space within a park. A
low wall of sitting height in proximity to
a walkway is often intended by a designer
as an invitation for the user to rest and
contemplate the park environment.
In a recent incident, a sitting park user
was cited for “engaging in an activity or
conduct which is disruptive or incompatible
with the appropriate use of the premises.”
That citing of “violation” is truly absurd as
the user was in fact engaging in an activity
that the park is intended for — a benefi t
specifi cally stated in Eugene’s Park and
Open Space website that such a space was
intended for “relaxation and rest.”
It is the ticketing offi cer who is in fact
in violation of those park rules. When
said offi cer ticketed the park user he was
interfering with a lawful use of that park.
Of course the days when we saw offi cers
of the law actually held accountable to
such laws are well behind us. To further
claim that it was a matter of public safety
is truly laughable. Perhaps we simply have
an overstaffed and over-budgeted police
department as offi cers feel need to pursue
such frivolous and unwarranted activities.
Daniel Schlender
Springfi eld
PREPOSTEROUS OMISSION
Thanks for your consistent coverage of
Occupy Eugene, forest defense and local
politics (which consistently demonstrate
that our “democracy” has failed, and will
continue to demonstrate that fact, as accurate
reporting will). Thanks for printing so many
letters; I genuinely appreciate this, although
maybe it’s time to drop the back and forth
about KLCC programming already.
Thanks also for the zombie list (11/23),
though the 11-year-old who wrote in (12/1)
seems to have a better understanding of the
realities of zombie apocalypse than Dante
(Zuñiga-West) does, but hey, at least he tried
to help people be prepared. Maybe he will
even turn out to be a decent reporter one day.
I also appreciate your ceasing to print
“¡Ask a Mexican!” Seriously, thanks for that.
However, for the third time you have left “Red
Meat” out of the Weekly. This is preposterous
and you should feel ashamed of yourself for
trying to sneak this out of the paper by pulling
it sporadically so that those of use who read
it aren’t sure if we should complain or not.
Shame on you Ted (Taylor). Shame on you.
Jason Gonzales
Walton
SENSELESS FEAR
It seems to be senseless fear that would
close rather than fi x Occupy Eugene’s
campsite. Maybe a senseless hate of
victims causes us to want to hide the
poorest, sickest among us.
Poor people are homeless because there
are no services available to take them.
Shelter Care is wonderful, but it has long
waiting lists and no vacancies. The Eugene
Mission is fi lled with its regulars and does not
accept people with disabilities, while many
homeless persons are disabled. Couples at
the Mission are separated from their help-
mates and do not feel safe at the Mission.
Programs for kids are fi lled, and the school
districts know of more than 2,000 kids who
are homeless. Programs for families with kids
are fi lled. If there were vacancies, homeless
people in Eugene with no money and no
options would have already taken them.
Lane County Mental Health is very
short-staffed and turns away people every
day. Our hospitals take people for just a
few hours and has no place to discharge
them when they are released. Jails are
underfunded and overcrowded, dumping
known criminals into homelessness in
Eugene with no shelter, no place to go.
WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
BY JUTTA AKULINA BENNER
Stille Nacht,
Heilige Nacht
Childhood memories refreshed each Christmas
C
hristmas is a special time for me.
In Germany three paid holidays are
reserved for a true Christmas celebration.
It is a time to refl ect, a time to love and a time
to share. No one is rushing to work except
hospital workers, fi re department and police
workers who stand by for emergencies. It
is a true celebration of all family members
sharing the sacred, joyous time of Christ’s
birth.
My mother was a master of suspense. In
the morning of Christmas Eve we three girls
were not permitted to enter the living room.
We tried in vain to catch a glimpse through
the door locks, but keys were cleverly inserted,
destroying any hope of revealing the tiniest clue
of the secret taking place inside.
About 5 pm, the harmonious church bells were
ringing and off we went to our small neighborhood church.
We walked a mile in deep snow and bitter cold. The tall street gas lanterns cast
their pale blue light onto the snow, evoking thousands of brilliant crystals.
What a silent, peaceful night it was!
Inside the church two freshly cut 12-foot Christmas trees fl anked the altar
greeting us, decorated with ornaments and white wax candles. It felt so inviting,
glorious and breathtaking! The candles on the huge trees were lit as soon as
the minister appeared through the side door.
The Bethlehem scene in wooden, carved fi gures rendered the feeling that
Christmas had fi nally arrived: there was little baby Jesus in a wooden crib
sleeping so heavenly on fresh straw. There were His Mother and Father and the
animals, all kept safe in a shed. And there were the Three Holy Kings and high
above in the night sky there was the brightest star we had ever seen, the Star
of Bethlehem.
The minister read the ancient story of the birth of Christ. And each time we
heard the magic Christmas story it felt as though we heard it for the fi rst time.
Christmas songs followed about baby Jesus and the joy He brought to Earth for
all mankind, ending with my favorite song ”Silent Night, Holy Night.”
Pretending to follow the Star of Bethlehem, we hurried home to seek the
warmth of our huge black-tiled coal and wood stove, but moreover, to discover
the secret of why we were kept out of the living room.
Our great-aunt who helped raise us knew precisely when we would return
from church. After ringing the door bell impatiently and brushing the fresh
snow from our hats, coats and shoes, we were fi nally admitted. We immediately
stormed into the living room.
And there it was: a fresh Christmas tree decorated with real white wax
candles burning gently! We were fascinated! Silver sparkles radiated from
everywhere, caused by the warm candle light which gently swayed the silver
tinsel, making the tree appear alive!
And it was!
It was a moment of awe and wonder. We just stood there overwhelmed,
being engulfed by the simple sacredness of it all. Our shiny eyes refl ected our
surprise and anticipation; our hearts leaped with joy.
A special light dinner was served. While we ate the delicious food, we
watched the brilliant tree and the warm candle lights. Simple gift-giving
followed: pajamas, socks, cotton handkerchiefs, a white doll, a black doll, always
a book. Homemade cookies and Weihnachsstollen with nuts and rum-soaked
raisins were served with a warm drink.
It was a most memorable time to cherish.
Jan. 6, the Three Holy Kings’ Day, marked the time to burn out all candles
used during the festive Christmas days, along with all Christmas tree candles
left on the tree. The last fl ickering candle on the tree was carefully watched
and anticipated. Moving a bit closer and breathing lightly, we awaited its fi nal
“puff” as the light extinguished. In that very moment we closed our eyes and
made a silent wish for the New Year.
This silent wish was not to be told to anyone because the energies of this
wish would dissipate and thus never become reality.
Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht.
Silent Night, Holy Night.
This is how we’ve celebrated Christmas for more than half a century. The
only thing that has changed is that we do not go to church anymore, but have
welcomed and added more global religions to celebrate this special holy event
with us on Christmas Eve. Respecting all and everyone is what true peace is all
about! It’s in our heart, not out there somewhere.
Jutta Akulina Benner is a Eugene author and “native to beautiful Oregon for 28 years.”
EUGENE WEEKLY DECEMBER 22, 2011
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