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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 2012)
JUST IRONIC SNARK ONE-TRICK PONY Barb Stevens-Newcomb’s response Nov. 15 to my letter Nov. 1 about an EW cover story supporting Betty Taylor’s re- election bid for Ward 2 baselessly accuses me of racism, misogyny, sexual violence and opposition to interracial marriage. Let me be clear: My intention was to criticize through ridicule the cover story’s totally inappropriate and silly headline, “Fifty Shades of Betty.” By associating the octogenarian city councilor with a best- selling BDSM porn novel, the Weekly demeaned both the politician and the electoral process. Stevens-Newcomb misread or doesn’t seem to understand some of the words I used. The terms “breeder” and “vanilla” originated as useful ironic snark in queer culture and have passed into Millennial generation slang. The fi rst term simply means heterosexuals who have children and the second term refers to a style or selection of conventional mainstream sexual behaviors and activities. Nothing more. I made no reference to Juan Carlos Valle’s race or ethnicity, and I have no idea what his wife’s race is. I disagree with Stevens-Newcomb’s assertion that words “kill people everyday,” and I suggest she consider the difference between speech and action. I further mocked the obligatory campaign literature and advertising in which a candidate must be shown with family, especially spouse/partner and children to affi rm they are good people. Taylor, apparently without readily available family, appeared with a puppy surrogate, so we would all know the candidate is kind and lovable. But this might not be enough for Eugene’s politically correct vigilantes. Is that dog from the pound or from a puppy farm? Is it a purebred or a mutt? Is the pup spayed or not? Is it fed meat or is it vegan? Is it wearing a chemical fl ea collar or not? These are crucial electoral issues in south Eugene. Informed voters need answers! Chuck Kleinhans Eugene Once again, George Beres [Letters, 11/15] has wasted the ink of a local newspaper with his anti-Israel drivel. Somehow, he always manages to insert his propaganda into every letter that he writes to EW and The Register-Guard. For some reason, both newspapers continue to publish his misinformed and ill-intentioned letters. Reading the news on the internet last week, I noticed an article about the public execution of six alleged Palestinian spies in Gaza City. There was no trial, no judge, no jury, just Hamas taking justice into its own hands. After the murders, a mob surrounded fi ve of the corpses, stomped on them, and spit on the bodies. The sixth corpse was tied to a motorcycle and dragged through the streets. Although this is extremely shocking, public executions and desecration of the bodies of alleged spies is not new in Palestine; it has been occurring for over 20 years. This activity has been condemned by Human Rights Watch, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights and other international rights groups. Yet Beres continues to foul our newspapers with his charges that Israel is the uncivilized country and the Palestinians are innocent victims. Since Beres is obviously unable to get off his one-trick pony and come up with anything useful or original, maybe our local newspapers should do a better job of fi ltering out his nonsense. Dave Taube Eugene FIX WILLAMETTE We have an important decision to make regarding the improvements to South Willamette Street. Those changes, when made, will dictate how the next generation deals with the growing health challenges. According to Dr. Richard Jackson (who spoke at the Downtown Public Library June 19), well-designed communities can improve both physical and mental health. The Shedd Institute www.theshedd.org - 541-434-7000 Shedd Theatricals 2012 Shedd Theatricals 2012 The Gershwin’s 1924 zany smash hit musical comedy SINGIN’ IN Lady, Be Good! THE RAIN Thu-Sun, October 4-7 - The Shedd Nov 30, Dec 1, 7, 8, 14 & 15 - 7:30 pm Dec 2, 8 & 16 - 2:00 pm matinee A Jazz Kings Christmas 2012 Let It Snow! Dec 6 evening & 9 matinee Give Music Shedd Institute Gift Certificates for the holidays 541-434-7000 | www.theshedd.org/gift Coming up at The Shedd CLASSIC COMFORT Follow your Feet to Footwise for Fuzzy Slippers! Featuring Acorn, Ugg, Haflinger, Sorel and more! Downtown Eugene Downtown Corvallis SHOWN: THE OHANA LACE UP &#SPBEXBZt 48.BEJTPOt AKITA HIGH BOOT 'BDFCPPLDPNGPPUXJTFFVHFOF FOLLOW YOUR FEET TO COMFORT .PO4BU4VO 'BDFCPPLDPNGPPUXJTFDPSWBMMJT .PO4BU4VO (select concerts & shows) 11.30-12.16 Musical: Singin’ In The Rain 12.6-13 Christmas at The Shedd ‘12 1.04 Jenny Scheinman - Blade & Frisell 1.11 Monterey Jazz on Tour 55 (Hult) 1.12 Robin Willaims (Hult) 1.16 Loudon Wainwright/Dar Williams 1.24 Solas: Shamrock City Tour 2.01 Black Prairie 2.15 Victor Wooten 2.16 Afro-Cuban All Stars 2.20 Led Kaapana 2.21 Woideck: Jazz/Mancini 3.2 Ken Peplowski 3.6-17 Siri Vik. My Funny Valentine 3.8 Blues at the Crossroads II (Hult) 3.10 B. B. King (Hult) 4.12 Molly Ringwald 4.24 Taj Mahal-Shemekia Copeland (Hult) 4.25 John Pizzarelli Quartet eugeneweekly.com • November 29, 2012 5
