Eugene weekly., December 01, 2016, Page 12, Image 12

We’ve Got
Mail
EW PRESENTS THE BEST LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR OF 2016
W
e hear it all the time: People pick up Eugene Weekly for the letters. That’s
great news. A local paper with readers who are engaged enough to write
in and read what others have to say is healthy for democracy, even if it’s
one more conspiracy letter about the chemtrail dragons spraying wrath
upon our fair, naïve valley.
This year we wanted to thank our engaged readership by collecting our favorite letters
(and online feedback) of 2016 so far, whether they be poignant, inspirational, irreverent,
angry, hilarious, compassionate, conspiratorial, offensive or insightful, because they are,
after all, a reflection of our community, for better or worse. It’s also a swell and, at times,
jarring way to take one last stroll through 2016, an unprecedented year in many ways.
Hindsight is 2020.
Thank you, readers. Keep it up.
I’ve had the privilege of being Peg Morton’s scribe for
her many writings in the last months of her life. More of
these writings will be disseminated after her memorial
service, as she requested. In mid-November she wrote a
proposal that was communicated throughout the world to
her “peace-building, nonviolence-loving groups and
others, including faith communities, friends and
family.” Thousands of people have now read, shared and
are acting upon Peg’s proposal, which begins:
“I am envisioning the rise of a broad, nonviolent
movement that calls for this country to face itself, to
publicly and humbly acknowledge the suffering and
destruction which we have been engaged in throughout our
history and in the present. We need to seek forgiveness and
to make amends. And we need to grieve. We cannot be
healed as a society until we have deeply and honestly
faced ourselves.
“My dream is that we, our country, will learn to step
back out into the world and our planet humbly, as citizens
of the world, of our planet, joining with others in its
healing. Let’s give it a start.”
During the days of Peg’s dry fast she was writing
fervidly about this being a prophetic moment in time, “for
a new world filled with the energy, humility and love for
our beloved planet.”
Be a part of fulfilling this prophecy; this was her
dream!
“Granny” Laurie Granger, Eugene
Jan. 7
A COLD CHRISTMAS
What kind of society allows a young, vulnerable,
developmentally disabled, homeless woman to roam the
streets in a thin sweater on a freezing Christmas night? No
matter what you think of homeless people, those who are not
able to take care of themselves or protect themselves should
not be left out to wander the streets in freezing weather.
It was my first week of volunteering for the Egan
Warming Center when this sweet woman came in. She was
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December 1, 2016 • eugeneweekly.com
ILLUSTR AT ION BY JEFF DRE W
A PROPHETIC PEG
BABY CHRISTIAN TRUMP
Great news. The New York Times reports that James Dobson, one of the nation’s most
influential evangelical leaders, has declared that Donald Trump has been born again. According
to Dobson, he was “led to Christ” by an unnamed associate.
Although Trump continues to use language typically considered coarse and un-Christian,
Dobson says we should “cut him some slack. He didn’t grow up like we did. He’s a baby
Christian.”
Evangelical Christians can now vote for the Donald with a clear conscience. Praise the Lord.
Paul Wilson, Eugene
July 14