Just wanted to drop you a quick line
and let you know how much I enjoyed an
article online from 2010. I came across it
by chance on Flickr by a man who linked
to it in a photo of a homeless person
[“Nowhere to Be: Young & Homeless in
Lane County,” wkly.ws/1sz].
I just wanted you to know the power
of the written word can change minds and
concepts about issues like this, and in fact
I live thousands of miles away from you
in Canada and it reached me and made me
appreciate the fact that many homeless
individuals are such by no choice of their
own.
Please pass on my appreciation to the
writers and photographer for the very
heartfelt article with pictures.
Mary Akis
Thunder Bay, Ontario
countless dangers faced by animals
outside and unsupervised. It is imperative
that guardians supervise animals’ time
outdoors and ensure the safety of the
animal companions they care for.
Officers appropriately resort to deadly
force when they believe that their lives,
or the lives of others, are in danger. But
sometimes officials draw their guns
unnecessarily or too quickly. Regardless,
surprise encounters with animals are
inevitable for any law enforcement official.
It is vital that officers be trained in basic
animal control procedures, including the
proper and humane handling of animals in
the field and accurate risk assessment. This
is crucial for the safety of field officers, the
community and animals alike. Humane
methods must be exhausted before guns
are drawn.
Officers who shoot dogs that pose no
real threat should be charged with cruelty
to animals, just like anyone else would
be. Additionally, they should be subject
to internal reviews and, if appropriate,
dismissal from their positions.
Curtis Taylor
Eugene
RISING AGAINST CARTELS
BAD DOG
Thousands of children from Honduras,
Guatemala and El Salvador are sitting in
limbo at border facilities, many fleeing
narco-governments. Aside from the fact
that the U.S. for decades has treated Latin
America countries as banana republics
for the benefit of U.S. corporations,
sponsoring coups, torture and overthrown
democracies, many of the drug cartel
members were held and learned new tricks
in U.S. prisons. They were then released
and deported to their home countries,
where many have been terrorizing and
extorting indigenous communities.
Guarda Bosques or Forest Keepers is
a film that shows how one community in
Michoacan, Mexico, rose up against the
drug cartels and won. Initially using only
sticks, rocks and bottle rockets, they have
taken the authorities’ offices, weapons and
pickup trucks, ousted all political parties
and all local and state police, and have re-
established a pre-Columbian form of self-
governance that includes its own council
of elders, a community police ronda and
its own forest defense team.
The Lane branch of the Industrial
Workers of the World will be sponsoring a
free screening of Guarda Bosques at 7 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 3, at the McNail-Riley
House, 601 W. 13th Ave. Discussion to
follow.
Scott Fife
Eugene
In support of the police officer who
shot an attacking dog in self-defense:
After multiple complaints about the
menacing vicious animal, the officer
responded appropriately, protecting the
public. No one should be subject to an
unleashed, unwarranted intrusion from an
uncontrolled, aggressive “pet.” I’m glad
the wound was non-fatal so that the dog
can be legally euthanized for being unfit
for human society.
Vince Loving
Eugene
to make that happen and I know others
would too.
Let’s find a sound solution and preserve
the meadow for generations to come.
Stacey Janssen
Eugene
THE STORY GOES ON
MCMILLIN’S VILLAIN
Thank you, Ray McMillin! [Letters,
“The Real Villain” regarding fonts, 8/14].
Sara van Dyck
Eugene
DEADLY FORCE
I share the concern of many about the
circumstances under which a dog was shot
and injured by a Springfield police officer
Aug. 12.
These tragedies happen more often
than one would imagine. It’s one of the
BAD NIGHT AT CUTHBERT
In
past
experiences,
Cuthbert
Amphitheatre staff have been friendly and
professional. This was not the case at the
Eugene Celebration concert Aug. 23. As
we were entering, an employee was rude
to my daughter while claiming her chair
was disallowed. My chair was identical,
and both were checked and allowed at
the ZZ Top concert (26-inch back height).
We politely offered to take the chair back
to the car, at which point the employee
stated that we wouldn’t be allowed back in
because our tickets had already been torn.
Fortunately, another employee stepped in
and allowed us to take the chair to our
car. Disconcerted, I wrote it off to either a
nepotism hire or poorly trained personnel.
After we sat, our view of the stage was
blocked by some inebriates dancing on the
wall, near the “No Chairs, Sitting Only”
sign — ironic? We dealt with a second rude
employee who refused requests to have
the inebriates sit, and who then proceeded
to get mouthy, until other members of
security intervened. The highlight of the
night? The drunk woman fell off the wall.
Excellent!
Crosby Stills & Nash Sept. 17 will
be my last Cuthbert concert. No hard
feelings, but no hard cash either. I’ll spend
my money elsewhere.
Christina Laureys
Eugene
Asian Food
Market
Largest Selection
of Asian Groceries
Seaweed, rice, noodles, frozen products,
deli, snacks, drinks, sauces, spices,
produce, housewares, and more.
We carry groceries from Holland,
India, Pakistan and Polynesia
Sushi & Asian deli take-out
Labor Day
Sale
OPEN LABOR DAY 9AM-7PM
10%
OFF EVERYTHING
IN THE STORE!
* Excluding rice, case prices
and phone cards.
Offer expires 9/2/14
www.sunriseasianfood.com
M-Th 9am-7pm•F 9am-8pm•Sa 9am-7pm•Su 10am-6pm
70 W. 29th Ave. Eugene • 541-343-3295
Th ursday, August 28 • 8-11
Corwin Bolt
Friday, August 29 • 8-11
Paul Prince
ALL SHOWS 21 AND OVER, FREE
28 Beer Taps & 8 NW Wine Taps
Join us for lunch, dinner & late night.
First National Taphouse
51 W. Broadway | 541-393-6517
eugeneweekly.com • A ugust 28, 2014
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