TO THE EDITOR
THE LONG WINTER
I have to ask: Why do Occupy protesters
insist on covering their faces? From the
pigeon-toed girl on the front cover to the
(gender unknown) person in the article
(12/22), they are doing an excellent job of
intimidating viewers. They look more like
bank robbers than protesters and are not
generating much sympathy.
Michael Kober
Cottage Grove
What happened to the gentleman in
the Occupy camp is unfortunate, but the
consequences of the Eugene City Council’s
decision to close the camp will be horrifi c.
Cue the news blurbs describing the folks
who die freezing to death in a January
frost. We will see the county jail consume
more prisoners only to puke them up into
the gutters off 5th Avenue. Let us see the
increased robberies and the violent acts of
a hopeless class of folks who have nothing
to lose.
There was a man sleeping at an LTD
stop by my house. On the way back from
the little market on the corner, I saw
EDITOR’S NOTE: The signature bandanas serve several
purposes: They help protect from tear gas and pepper
spray, they are warm, they defy police attempts to identify
demonstrators, and they indicate solidarity with street
protesters around the world who expect retaliation and
even death if they are identified.
CAHOOTS (bless them) helping him
into the van. The man was laughing and
yelling, “I’ve got to laugh. I’ve just got to
laugh! They take away our beds and say we
can’t sleep on the ground?” These scenes
touch all but the most heartless. Occupy in
general helped such people, thus blunting
the violence and death of Eugene winters.
If the City Council refuses to fi nd a
better solution for taking care of our needy,
Eugene is going to become a much harsher
place — and we are getting there fast.
Steve Coatsworth
Eugene
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4
JANUARY 5, 2012
EUGENE WEEKLY
Photo taken by Jennifer Gerrity in 2010 during a trip to our organic mace & nutmeg farm in India.
SAVING FACE
{
letters
PARVIN INTRUDERS
It is a sick feeling watching the
mountaintop removal of Parvin Butte from
my dining room window. The noise of rock
being torn from the walls of the butte can
be heard throughout Lost Valley. Even deep
in the woods the destruction can be heard.
Dynamiting and rock crushing haven’t
started yet, but I know it will be terrible.
I can’t imagine what my house is now
worth, living within 1,500 yards of a gravel
quarry. If I wanted to sell it would you
buy it? The quarry noise will continue for
decades.
I have a good water well, but after
dynamiting and mountain removal, will
my well be compromised?
This valley and Parvin Butte were
beautiful, quiet and serene. The McDougals
and Demers snuck in unannounced like
intruders and changed life for everyone
living anywhere near Parvin Butte. The
destruction can be seen as far away as the
nearby town of Lowell.
The quarry operators are working
illegally and shunning the very laws that we
must conform to. How can they continue
the destruction of a historic feature without
proper permits (site review)?
Endangered Chinook salmon, western
pond turtle and Oregon chub live in Lost
Creek, which fl ows right next to the quarry.
What are their chances of survival? Who
speaks for them?
Be informed and go to YouTube and
search for Parvin Butte and then Google
“Save Parvin Butte.” Help us stop this
unnecessary destruction.
Arlen Markus
Dexter
ENTHUSIASM FOR POT
Activism is not always enough for
improvement, but activism is always
necessary for improvement.
Safe and legal access to medical
marijuana is simply humanity’s gift to
itself, a way of life. The more folks accept
medical marijuana, the more I enjoy
medical marijuana. The more I enjoy
medical marijuana, the more enthusiastic
folks get about providing me with medical
marijuana.
Acceptance, enjoyment, enthusiasm.
The three energy frequencies of
“awakened” doing.
Happy New Year, humanity.
Joe Canfi eld
Springfi eld
LESSONS FROM THE GRINCH
Another holiday season. I imagine the
Grinch is chortling, and the unredeemed
Scrooge (who could well represent the 1
percent) is rubbing his hands with delight.
Once again the victims have been blamed
and returned to the streets where they
“belong.”
And why such haste to abort the
Occupy encampment? Perhaps because
it was an experiment that was proving far
too successful — especially successful for
the houseless participants. There are two
needs uniquely met by the encampment
that I suspect have not really even been
recognized. One is the need for a place for
the homeless to “be,” and not just overnight
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