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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 14, 2016)
LET TERS done? What is the role of the micro-biome, the bacteria and other microbes, which live in and on the human body, in creating healthy, resilient humans? How do humans communicate in non-verbal ways, which affect our births and our lives? The Birth and the Human Future conference is for everyone. Go to birthandthehumanfuture.org for more information. Can’t afford the cost? Follow the prompts for low-income people on the registration page. No one turned away for inability to pay. Marion McLean Eugene INCITING HATRED I’ve consistently found the Weekly to be the wisest reflection on the news and issues of Eugene, which is probably the most progressive place I’ve lived (including Chicago, New York City and in the Bay Area). Therefore I was stunned to see you publish such a retrograde and offensive letter to the editor this week [June 30]. Lon Miller of Drain says that he’s sorry about the massacre in Orlando, but hey, God was just giving us an example of His punishment of “perverts and deviants.” I’m no stranger to this type of sanctimonious hate letter. At 62, I’ve read many of them before. But not so much in the last 20 years, and not at all in the last 10. Upon opening them, editors elsewhere now place these types of letters directly into the trashcan. In 2016 they no longer express a valid opinion, just as letters claiming that African Americans and Jews deserve whatever violence may be visited upon them because they are sub- human no longer do either. If you are trying to cause a little lively controversy, you’re mistaken. You are inciting hatred. Steve Lafreniere Eugene EDITOR’S NOTE: We often publish letters we disagree with editorially because it is important that the community know these opinions exist and be able to respond to them. LON’S WRATH As an individual who identifies as a person of faith and a fan of Jesus, I would like to respond to Mr. Miller’s letter [June 30]. Jesus teaches and encourages humility, to love, forgive and to not judge, because God, who indeed created all those beautiful souls struck down in the tragedy in Orlando, is the judge of us all, and the Bible states that as mere humans, we are absolutely incapable and never assigned to decide and dictate the works of the almighty Lord. Mr. Miller should also be quite aware that in this world, each of us has committed sin and no sin is less or greater than another in the eyes of our Father. I take pity on this man, Lon Miller of Drain, for he is also under the eyes of God and is not free of sin. I kindly suggest he pray for forgiveness for haughtily putting himself in the place of God, passing judgment with such pride and suggesting that the hateful maniac who murdered those folks was a part of His beautiful, mysterious, unfathomable will. Holland Erz Eugene I forgave it 15 minutes later. No decent person would react by wanting the whole breed wiped out. That would have taken Lassie off the planet, too. Our family includes the sweetest, second-most-loving dog we have ever had, and — counting foster dogs — that is around 50 dogs. Yes, she is a pit bull mix. So were 29 of the others. Not one ever a problem. Ever. You hear this from pit families all the time: “It’s how you treat them.” If they’re treated well, they are wonderful. I suppose “Karl Stout” took into account, loading up his poisonous pen, the immense sorrow and grief that he would gleefully cause in those who love their dogs if suddenly the entire breed were destroyed. And blithely disregarded it. Brainless and heartless. See, that’s what tips off the reader that no human with a real heart and soul would write such a despicable and horrible and vicious letter. Gotcha, Eugene Weekly! Clever, clever, clever! I love it! Nice try. Rita Castillo Springfield VILE SPEWING SHEEPY DEBATE How clever of Eugene Weekly, being so openhearted and open-minded about pit bulls, to fake an anti-pittie letter. I refer to the one purportedly signed by “Karl Stout” [Letters, June 30]. Come on, EW! These things should be faked with some shade of believability. “Karl,” ahem, supposedly writes that “society’s best interest would be served by complete eradication” of the entire breed. I’m sure “Karl” realized how it would look if he said the same thing about, say, Norwegians. Or redheads. This kind of vile spewing reveals the writer as so hateful and bigoted and stupid that it defies belief. I was bitten — totally unprovoked — by an unleashed … collie. It just ran up and attacked me. That was 40 years ago. In regards to Barb Lomow’s enlightening, albeit misguided, retort entitled “Worthy Sheep” posted in June 30 issue of EW, I would like to simply say: Please do some more research into the “gatherings” you wish to downplay and belittle. Black Sheep Gathering has nothing to do with “actual” sheep. It is a gathering of people and includes music and food, not the shearing of animals you are so adamantly against. Thank you for opening my eyes to the cruelty of animals. Now please do the same and open yours. Darrell Olson Springfield EDITOR’S NOTE: According to its website, the Black Sheep Gathering is “an annual event during which par- ticipants exchange their knowledge of and appreciation for handcraft fibers and the animals that produce them.” DESPICABLE NRA Every summer, the Eugene Police Department does an incredible thing for incoming kindergartners. They run a summer camp to teach kids about safety. As a parent of two children (one of whom went to Safety Town), I can say without a doubt that this camp is an invaluable asset to our community. However, I have one major concern. The camp uses NRA teaching materials. The NRA’s political actions make our kids less safe, not more. They believe suspected terrorists on the “no fly list” should be able to buy guns, they believe assault weapons designed for military use should be sold to the public, they believe it is OK to sell guns without doing universal background checks, they believe that domestic abusers and the mentally ill should be allowed to buy guns and they believe the government should not research gun violence as a public safety issue. As a result, we live in a nation where every year, guns kill more toddlers than police officers. Equating the NRA with gun safety for children is a complete farce. If EPD really cares about the safety of our children, they will sever any connection they have with this despicable organization. A. Foster Eugene CARBON TAX Our energy comes from fossil fuels and from various renewable energy sources. Burning fossil fuels is the cause of global warming and is an ongoing and increasing global disaster. Fossil fuels are the cheapest energy, but the climate damage wrought by them puts civilization at risk. Recent news accounts are full of success stories about new and improved renewable energy projects. However, despite those upbeat articles in news reports, the reality is deeply depressing, as renewable energy is just a small part (13.64 percent) of our energy supplies. None of the plus or minus 20 years of highly expensive, well-attended Dance, Karaoke, Bike Fair, Slackline, Vendors, Live Music, Hula Hoop, DJ Sets and more! Eugene St Sunday Sunday July 31 NOON to 4 PM Downtown Eugene Sponsors: 6 July 14, 2016 • eugeneweekly.com Sept. 25 South University
