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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (June 28, 2012)
letters The Shedd Institute TO THE EDITOR www.theshedd.org - 541-434-7000 POLICE STATE Today (June 12) while installing art in the windows across from Kesey Square I saw a number of people hanging out and enjoying the plaza. In a mater of minutes a bicycle patrol and two police cars pulled into the square as people scattered and I could only see what looked like the police interrogating some young people. After another police SUV arrived they hung around for 45 minutes and left behind two red caps and an empty plaza. Later I spoke with a polite young teen couple in front of Voodoo Donuts and asked what was going on. The young man said that the cops accused him of smoking meth in the plaza, which he said was BS and that the police overreacted. Did anyone else see or hear what this was all about? It seems every time I am downtown the police arrive like storm troopers for some minor infraction (or not). I consider myself a middle of the road law abiding citizen who appreciates our public servants, but this is getting way out of control. Marc Time Eugene I HAVE A QUESTION How is it massive international corporations still continue to rake in record profi ts while we the people lose our homes, have to pull out our own teeth with pliers 'cause we can no longer afford dental care, or young adults die 'cause they have to choose between antibiotics or pain killers? These are the same massive corporations that buy politicians with unlimited campaign contributions — politicians who are now telling you the collective bargaining rights of workers is a bad thing — and we believe it. Good job, America. The same politicians that tell us teachers, police, and fi re departments are overpaid so it’s their fault the economy is failing. Some fun facts: 1) Underpaid teachers with oversized classrooms don’t teach as well; under educated people follow educated people and trust politicians more than educated people do. 2) Fewer police equals more crime, more crime means more people in jail, more people in jail means more profi ts for billion dollar corporations that either supply government owned prisons or operate and actually own and operate their prisons at a profi t. 3) Fewer fi refi ghters means more homes burn down and more homes become unsalvageable. Land without a home on it sells for less than land with a home on it. Charles Echols Springfi eld ACROSS THE WORLD This story begins in March 1, 1930 when my father was born in Bangladesh and passed away in Eugene. My father married my mom on June 11, 1950 purely due to love and they celebrated their 60th anniversary in Eugene. In 1963, my father came to Oregon for his masters degree in Forestry. In 1987, he became the chief conservator of forestry in Bangladesh. During this time he was responsible for the entire nation’s forest and wildlife. Our country’s roads and highways enjoy the cool breeze and the shades by the trees planted by my father’s administration along WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM with conservation of forestry. His favorite comment was to tell people, “Always look down as you walk in the forest and try not to step on a single creature of God, because you cannot replace it!” In 2006, we moved from New Orleans to Eugene due to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We spent many good years together in many cities such as New York, Nashville, New Orleans and Eugene. He was most comfortable in Oregon. His last day in Eugene was on Dec. 20, 2010. My son was born March 10, 2012 in the same hospital. My son’s name is Deen, which means “Faith” just like his grandfather. We are from Bangladesh and we have been part of Oregon since 1963. Mahi Chowdhury Springfi eld BYRON’S KINDNESS Over a month ago something happened on a downtown street that has been on my mind ever since. I fell face down on the sidewalk in front to the Evviva Training fi tness center, both arms full of groceries plus a cane. No way to break the fall, I lay there wondering what to do next, when a young man from the center came out and helped me to my feet. When he saw all the blood, he drew me into the gym. He must have had medic training because he successfully stopped the bleeding in several areas, cleaned the wounded areas and applied fi rst-aid patches. I left having thanked him profusely. No doctor visit was needed; so thorough was his treatment. I managed only to get his fi rst name, Byron. I am so grateful to him and so pleased I had not fallen in front of the many empty storefronts. His thoughtfulness is what I hope will result more and more from the LCC building, the Capstone-UO projects. We need more grocery outlets, drug stores, etc. downtown. They will come. So thanks, Byron, for being proof that such kindness is alive and well downtown and let’s hope it will grow apace with the growing population. Doug Brinkman Eugene CPD FOR YOU AND ME I don’t know if this breaks a “no soliciting” rule, but I thought I’d give it a shot. There’s a band called the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies who are in the middle of creating their seventh full-length album. They are somewhat of a Eugene institution (though I don’t know if it’s as cool to sport CPD memorabilia as it is the green and yellow). Right now they’re trying to get together the funds to release this new album and have asked their fans for support through pledgemusic.com. If you like their music, liked their music (or are gonna hop onto iTunes after reading this to fi nd out) go to pledgemusic.com and donate a little toward their artistic efforts. If you do care where that fi ve dollar bill goes, don’t care for their music, or think this request is idiotic, ignore this solicitation. To the band: Apologies, I just really wanna hear that album! Celene Jarvi Eugene Sarah John Mayall Jarosz Siri Vik Where Or When The Life & Lyrics of Lorenz Hart Mike & Nancy Oft Rose Fri, May 18 Thu, July 19 Sun, May 20 Tue, July 31 A SHOE SHO SH HOE OE E FO FOR OR OR YOUR YO O UR U R NEX NE NEXT EXT X XT A DVENTURE DVE DV DVENTU VEN ENT NT TUR URE R E RE The Ewaso has great toe protection i and d a grippy i sole l W IS FOLLOW THE TIME YOUR FOR NEW FEET SHOES TO COMFORT X Downtown Eugene &#SPBEXBZt 'BDFCPPLDPNGPPUXJTFFVHFOF .PO4BU4VO Visit the most unique store in Eugene W Where you’ll find practical gifts for natural living 1DWXUDO%RG\&DUH %RRNV -RXUQDOV &DUGV /RFDO*LIWV &KRFRODWHV e Wher ls ca the lo p! sho *LIWVIRUWKH*DUGHQHU 1DWXUDO3HW3URGXFWV &RIIHH 7HD6XSSOLHV 8QLTXH.LWFKHQZDUH &KLOGUHQ¶V7R\V PXFKPRUH 7UDYHO0XJV In the historic Farmers’ Union Marketplace at the corner of 5th & Olive Look for the old checkerboard silo 2OLYH6W :LOODPHWWH6W 0RQ6DW6XQ EUGENE WEEKLY JUNE 28, 2012 5
