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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 2016)
LET TERS A DRESSING DOWN I just do not understand why local newspapers keep providing "Jahadi Jack Dresser" a platform so he can keep spewing his disinformation and hateful propaganda against this country and Western countries in general. For years, Dresser has praised despots, tyrants and Middle Eastern terrorists. His latest praise has been heaped on Bashar al- Assad, the president/dictator of Syria who has been killing his own people in a long running civil war. Assad is responsible for the deaths of half a million of his own citizens. As of last week, Assad has been using chemical weapons (chlorine gas) on his people. The millions of Syrians who have been "lucky" enough to flee this genocide are living in squalid refugee camps in Turkey and are trying to enter European countries that don’t want them. As a person who hates this country so much, I doubt that Dresser would be willing to trade places with the people who are fleeing Syria for their lives or the people that live under the militant group Hesbollah who kill those who speak out against them. These people do not have the privilege of free speech, the umbrella Dresser uses to spread his poison. As a EW reader, I am repulsed by Dresser’s letters. Millions of servicemen and women have served this country to preserve the 1st Amendment. What a shame it is being abused in this way. Please, EW, stop giving people like Dresser a platform. Arlen Markus Dexter VOTE 97 I’ve been a teacher in the Eugene area for the last 11 years. Over the years, I’ve seen that as students’ needs get greater and greater, the funding to meet those needs sadly keeps going down. In addition to some of the largest class sizes and shortest school years in the nation, basic day-to-day supports are also disappearing from schools. There are so few counselors and school nurses that I have nowhere to send my students when they need emotional help that is beyond my training. If there were more behavioral health specialists in the schools, many kids would have an opportunity to address these problems head on, instead of having them spiral out of control, often for years to come. Measure 97 would make significant strides in investing in public education, just by ensuring that companies that do over $25 million in Oregon sales pay their fair share in taxes. This would generate an estimated $3 billion per year in funding towards education, senior services and health care. Measure 97 is a wise investment, not only for education, but for making sure the next generations of Oregonians are self- sufficient and ready to contribute to society in a meaningful way. Mark Thornton Eugene LOVE THE BEATLES Eight Days a Week promises to be a Beatles’ tribute — mission accomplished! I’m a Baby Boomer (born in 1948, in the Dark Ages) and was 16 when the Beatles came to America. So, I can really appreciate seeing them and hearing their music again! Although the Beatles are unknown to many young people today, their sounds may be unfamiliar. But, for many of us, their anticipated excitement and screaming fans speaks of a bygone era today. Many music groups have had only one or two hit songs — the Beatles are credited with having every music album a hit! Until then, “She Loves You” — yeah, yeah, yeah! Stace Webb Eugene Beautiful fall produce! Come stock up at the farm stand Thursday-Sunday 9am to 6pm thru November 20 Groundwork Organics • 91360 River Rd • (541) 654-4941 • bulk orders welcome 131 E. 5th Ave. • 687-2805 BUFFALOEXCHANGE.COM • eugeneweekly.com • September 22, 2016 7
