do even less, because most of them receive
campaign money from timber interests. It’s
hard to buck the system when your liveli-
hood depends on it!
Demand changes in Salem about how
these poisons are regulated! Also, sign the
charter amendment to ban aerial spraying
of herbicides in Lane County at communi-
tyrightslanecounty.org/campaigns.
Robin Bloomgarden
Eugene
DON’T BLAME HOLLYWOOD
EW published a letter from Brian Sun
under the subhead “Rising Racial Ten-
sions” [12/29] which ended with his con-
cern that “racial tensions are starting to
grow and Hollywood is complaining about
running out of Asian actors, I think it is im-
portant to talk about these issues.”
I was unaware that the lack of Asian
actors being cast in Hollywood movies
was contributing to rising racial tensions
until Mr. Sun brought it to my attention.
However, I believe he should consider the
demographic and cultural factors involved
here.
Asian-Americans only comprise 4 per-
cent of the U.S. population, but they repre-
sent 20 percent of the students now attend-
ing America’s elite Ivy League schools.
It’s obvious that Asians are having tremen-
VIEWPOINT
dous success when it comes to academic
achievement.
Asian-American families have a well-
earned reputation for placing a huge em-
phasis on academics. They might even
discourage their children from getting in-
volved in extracurricular activities like act-
ing in the school play, since it would take
time away from their schoolwork.
Instead of accusing Hollywood of in-
flaming racial tensions by refusing to cast
Asians in major movie roles, has Sun con-
sidered the possibility that the pipeline of
Asian actors heading to Hollywood to be-
come movie stars just isn’t that full?
His lament that “Hollywood is com-
plaining about running out of Asian actors”
seems so trivial and petty. This is a demo-
graphic and cultural issue, not a racial one.
Please use some common sense before ac-
cusing an entire industry of racism.
Derek Williams
Eugene
Editor's Note: The 2010 census puts the number of
Asian-Americans at 4.8 percent, and recent assessments
as high as 5.6 percent. And Ivy League schools have been
accused of underadmitting Asians.
SECULAR LIES
The “freedom of speech” in the U.S.
Constitution is “infringed” when a religious
banner [“Religious Banner Downtown
Raises Ire,” 1/5] says: CHRISTMAS (at-
tend a church of your choice) JESUS (cel-
ebrate his birth). It is not “inappropriate,
divisive and it’s a non-inclusive message to
other members of our community.”
What a lie!
Stace Webb
Eugene
ROBERT ‘BOB’ DRITZ
Robert “Bob” Dritz has passed on dur-
ing the early hours of Saturday, Jan. 15,
and as he lived his life with intention, so
was his passing. As he put it recently: “It’s
just not that fun anymore and the cost to
quality of life is now outweighed by the
pain and discomfort ad lack of resolution
of these growing number of problems.”
Bob had come to Eugene after a suc-
cessful stint in the mainstream business
and financial worlds, seeking less fame
and fortune in California and more soul-
satisfying affiliation and work that mat-
tered to the common person and a place he
also knew he was meant to be.
Bob “officially” arrived at White Bird
Clinic in 1978, already close friends with
several of the then leaders of the clinic, and
was hired as the financial Coordinator and
second member of the admin team. He had
witnessed the first “revolution” at White
Bird, affectionately known as “Dog Wars,”
and knew that this was where he belonged.
In 1982 he was hired as our clinic coor-
dinator, and he faithfully served in that role
for 25 years, until his declining health led
to his need to retire. While Bob’s leadership
style was at times seen as difficult to work
with and at times divisive, there was never a
time when folks did not also understand that
he was dedicated to our mission and unwav-
ering in his support of the agency, our staff’s
wellbeing, clients that we serve and the im-
portance of our work and the importance of
the excellence in our standards and values.
Bob modeled mission-driven leadership
and the critical importance of our unchal-
lengeable integrity in all that we did, and his
at times impatience and even rudeness ap-
peared whenever he was less than onfident
that these were what drove us.
There was never a more committed
member to our principles, nor one who
would fight harder for the egalitarian val-
ues that have been the foundation of who
we are — a pain in the ass? Yes, at times!
Passion comes in many forms and Bob
was never in question about his passion for
the cause in the name of the right. He will
be missed.
Chuck Gerard
White Bird Collective member and
former clinic coordinator
BY DEB MCGEE
The Times We’re Living In!
REFLECTIONS ON BEING ARRESTED FOR THE CLIMATE
W
e each bring all our past, including childhood traumas we have
been working to heal from, to every experience we have, ev-
ery day. Being arrested adds an intense fight or flight physi-
cal and psychological response that brings all of who you are
into sharp focus. At least it did for me. As a child who’d been
beaten with leather belts by an abusive father, I felt much of that same terror as an
activist blocking oil trains from refineries in Washington state last May on the morn-
ing the police arrived in a military assault fashion at dawn, while our camp slept.
While I have never fought in a war, blocking a train track may be a somewhat
similar experience, knowing that at some unknown point in time a fierce response by
the opposition will come. In our case it was rendered by the state police.
If you get arrested, you will probably get treated in ways you have never been
treated before. It feels strange that someone else controls your body, your freedom,
safety and your very life or death. That particular someone may be half your age and
appear more frightened than you feel. While there can be kindness that individual
officers share, there is no mistaking that it is a very dangerous situation.
For me, part of the immediate aftershock of being arrested was feeling argumen-
tative and defensive. If my spouse shared an opinion then I felt oppressed. I felt
misunderstood and distrustful. Only later did I realize it was pressure relief I needed
to express, which came from being violated: Shackled for five hours, not being
allowed to use the bathroom, not knowing what would happen next, having arrest
numbers written on my arm with a marker. These indignities were visited on us for
peacefully resisting the passage of oil trains, which we did to protect that which
sustains us — a livable atmosphere.
I understand that my Sharpie assault is nothing compared to rubber bullets, con-
cussion grenades and water cannons perpetrated on the Water Protectors at Standing
Rock. I think we all enter the fight wherever we find ourselves by joining others who
are acting. I believe we are in the fight of our lives.
The fossil fuel corporations have clearly stated they intend to extract and sell ev-
ery drop of “their” fossil fuel reserves. Scientists say four fifths of fossil fuels must
remain in the ground to avoid severely heating the planet, possibly causing human
extinction as well as the extinction of many, many other species.
It is difficult to confront the reality of climate change in a culture where the “cult
of self” reigns supreme. We Americans pursue self-interests without regard for the
rest of life, including our plant and animal brothers and sisters.
Engaging in resistance can ruin friendships. It can take barely tolerable family
gatherings to a crisis point. Even perfect strangers will verbally assault you in a
parking lot, when they see you are resisting fossil fuels. Personally it has restored
me. I have gained a new sense of power, by working in community with others, who
are fighting to change the forces that are killing the planet, the habitat on which our
survival depends.
It seems that we now have a powerful leader, who is a fascist, ruling America.
We have never experienced such a regime in our United States. As his policy plans
unfold, we see racism, authoritarianism and corruption. These are not true American
values. Let our grandchildren read the history of our collective response. They will
tell the stories of how we worked together and overcame differences, misunder-
standings, mistakes and egos to build a movement in American rooted in kindness,
inclusion, climate justice and a fair transition to clean energy so together we can
build the beloved community we long to live in.
My path leads me to grassroots organizing for the climate, volunteering with 350
Eugene. We feel love and joy working in coalition with allies statewide, and we are
beginning to have some climate wins. We will continue to boldly resist! Check out
the website world.350.org/eugene. If your passion lies elsewhere then Eugene is a
cup overflowing with opportunities to work for positive change!
This is our time, climate change is the fight for all survival, it is our duty to fight
for the future. When we join together we win!
Deb McGee is a retired public school counselor turned activist/farmer with her partner Patty Hine. Together they
are cofounders of 350EUG.
eugeneweekly.com • January 19, 2017
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