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
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FOLLOW YOUR FEET TO COMFORT
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(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
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