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
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Siri Vik
Where Or When
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Downtown Eugene
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In the historic Farmers’
Union Marketplace at the
corner of 5th & Olive
Look for the old
checkerboard silo
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EUGENE WEEKLY JUNE 28, 2012
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