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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 4, 2017)
LET TERS PEACE AND UNITY KINDLY CORRECTION Because I moved out of the Eugene area five years ago, I don’t read the Eugene Weekly as much as I used to, but your re- cent cover “In Good Faith” caught my at- tention, and I was so grateful to have seen it and read it. Kudos to the Eugene Weekly for this wonderful and insightful article on this interfaith group in Eugene. Since mov- ing to Oregon in 2009, I too have suffered senseless discrimination apparently based on ethnicity and religion mostly directed at me by so-called “Christians.” I am not a Christian basher; I have plenty of relatives and friends who are indeed true Christians in their attitudes and behaviors. Here in Albany I’ve had my worst dis- crimination experiences. The Linn-Benton Housing Authority even put it in writing, calling me a “half-black Wiccan” when in fact I am a mixed race Unitarian Univer- salist. They have told me they’d like me to move away, but I would never give these ignorant people the satisfaction. Inciden- tally, I have relatives who are different denominations of Christians, Jews and Muslims, and I respect them all for who they are regardless of their different faiths, which is no one’s business but their own. Thank you very much Eugene Weekly for giving voice to true believers unafraid to unite together in peace! Diane Van Orden Albany Sat Nam! (Literally, “truth name” — a Sikh greeting): I’m honored to be on the front cover of last week’s Eugene Weekly (April 27). I love the title “In Good Faith.” I’d like to make one correction/ampli- fication. I titled my presentation “Sing- ing the Praises” without knowing which of several shabads (Sikh psalms) I would present. That’s not what the shabad is called. The 16th-entury shabad credited to Guru Arjun Dev is “Taap Santaap Sagalay Ga-ay” in the original Gurmukhi (transla- tion: the fiery pain is relieved.) Siri Kirpal Kaur Khalsa Eugene CALLING FOR PEACE Eugene’s Interfaith Prayer Service In- ternational (IPSI) is a wonderful example of how people in our world can get along (“A Vision of Peace” by Corinne Boyer, Eugene Weekly, April 27). To further this example, we can each call for peace. One way is to reach out to our elected representatives and ask them to fully fund our State Department. The current budget proposal calls for 31 percent cuts to this or- ganization that carries America’s message of hope, health and opportunity. With its work partnering with other countries to extend education opportuni- ties, diversify agriculture and battle dis- ease, countries actually grow independent and, of course, friendly to the U.S. for our assistance. As desperation disappears, ter- rorists have trouble finding recruits and there is hope for the future. Our calls, visits and letters to our rep- resentatives and senators, asking them to fund this work, will ensure it contin- ues. Thus being active in our democracy is also the work of peace visionaries. Willie Dickerson Snohomish GOOD TURTLES Congratulations to Eugene Weekly’s Anita Johnson and architect Otto Poticha’s Turtle Award winners at last week’s City Club annual event. It was stated that their accomplish- ments have helped mold our community by fostering creative problem solving in Eugene’s public affairs; stimulating con- structive action; forging cooperative rela- tionships; honoring diverse perspectives; sticking one’s neck out for the good of the community; being under-appreciated by the public. We are fortunate to have their continu- ing effort at every level of government. Ruth Duemler Eugene DRIPS Interesting article on rainwater harvest- ing (April 20). Leave it to humans (and especially humans in the U.S.) to make something as essential and simple as col- lecting water complicated, illegal and a bureaucratic nightmare. Jeffree Ensing Detroit REAL SUSTAINABILITY Thank you for the prominent placement of John Zerzan’s letter, “EW Fails to Save the Planet” (April 27). It is an irrefutable matter of mathematics, physics and geol- ogy that Mr. Zerzan is correct. While there’s a lot of talk about “sus- tainability,” virtually none of it is actually sustainable. When viewed through the lens of a more rigorous set of criteria, you real- ize that genuine, meaningful sustainability is a dauntingly complex, remote, far-flung ideal that’s going to be extremely difficult to achieve. The good news is that we will achieve it. We have no choice in the matter because to do anything less is unsustainable. The big question is what will the end product look like. When you factor in climate change, resource depletion, population overshoot, etc., it is not an exaggeration to say that we need a complete, bottom-to-top restructur- ing of human civilization, and we need it right now. The longer we procrastinate, the more wrenching and traumatic this inevi- table transition to sustainability will be. So, we have every reason to get on with the difficult matter at hand — disruptive as it may be. It is in this sense that our “leaders” are better described as fools and clowns. Robert Bolman Eugene RENEW JAIL LEVY The League of Women Voters of Lane County supports renewing the Lane Coun- Judy Newman for Eugene 4J School Board Position 3 “I will fi ght for our children and our public schools.” – Judy Newman JUDY IS A PROVEN CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN • A leading voice for early childhood education, children in poverty, & good schools • Helped 20,000 at-risk children succeed in school as Founder and Director of Early Childhood CARES • Successfully lobbied state lawmakers for millions more in education funding • Faculty at U of O College of Education for 35 years ENDORSED BY • Oregon School Employees Association, Democratic Party of Lane County • Mayor Lucy Vinis, Kitty Piercy • Education leaders: Nancy Golden, George Russell, Paul Duchin, Merri Steele • State leaders: Phil Barnhart, Paul Holvey, James Manning • Community leaders: Val Hoyle, Marshall Peter, Pat Riggs-Henson, Greg Rikhoff, Paulino Romo, David Saez, Minalee Saks, Annie Soto • Local pediatricians: Dr. Pilar Bradshaw, Dr. Lauren Herbert, Dr. Elizabeth Heskett, Dr. Todd Huffman, Dr. Catherine Kordesh, Dr. Kevin Marks, Dr. Randy Phelps, Dr. Robert Nickel, Dr. Leslie Pelinka Endorsed by hundreds more! Visit www.electjudynewman.com 131 E. 5th Ave. • 687-2805 BUFFALOEXCHANGE.COM • “Judy has worked tirelessly for social justice: she walks the talk. Our kids need Judy Newman on the School Board.” – Nancy Golden, former Chief Education Offi cer of Oregon 4 May 4, 2017 • eugeneweekly.com
