Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 2019)
letters A CULTURE OF VIOLENCE The article about gun violence sur- vivor Hannah Baggs (“Mass Shootings Never Die,” 8/15) put her experience in context with some data: “Two hundred fifty active shooter incidents occurred in the United States from 2000 to 2017, resulting in 2,217 casualties, according to FBI statistics.” Another layer of context: Thousands of drone strikes occurred in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Soma- lia and Libya from 2000 to 2017, result- ing in thousands of casualties, accord- ing to Department of Defense statistics. The exact numbers, the legality and the effects of drone warfare are highly controversial, but no one denies a signif- icant number of civilians were murdered without warning while going about their innocent daily lives. At the risk of being grossly misun- derstood, I humbly offer that we con- template the meaning of “karma.” Or in American phraseology, “One finger pointing at you, three pointing back at me.” We are one human family. We all de- serve to be safe from the terror and trauma of violence. Gary Decker Eugene the climate crisis. Here is what’s disin- genuous: Saying you are a great envi- ronmentalist, yet taking money from corporations that are destroying the environment and our children’s future with it. DeFazio refuses to oppose the Jor- dan Cove Energy Project (fracked-gas pipeline and export terminal) in south- ern Oregon. He also refuses to oppose the health, safety, property rights vio- lations and ecological destruction this project will cause to 400 rivers and streams, 32 endangered species, old growth public forest and the taking of more than 300 Oregonians’ land by eminent domain. The project will emit a half-million more tons of greenhouse gases in a year than the coal plant we are closing in Boardman. Why won’t DeFazio oppose this dan- gerous project planned in a tsunami and earthquake subduction zone? Let his “track record” speak for itself: contribu- tions from Jordan Cove LLC, Northwest Natural Gas, PG&E and Transcanada, to name a few. It’s this kind of leadership that has gotten us to this place. We need new thinkers, new leaders. “Business as usu- al” is killing us! Deb McGee Eugene PUSHING BACK hear ye, hear ye !! LEGAL NOTICES Place your legal notices in the Eugene Weekly! I appreciate Eugene Weekly reporter Colin Houck’s efforts to keep us in- formed about right-wing activity in the region (8/8 and 8/15). I was a legal ob- server for the Aug. 10 Guns, God and Liberty rally at the Free Speech Plaza in Eugene. We’re tasked with monitor- ing police activity in case they violate our civil rights. There were no sermons or speeches that day. The left never yielded the plaza to the right. Outnumbered 10-to-one by people chanting — “No Nazis, no KKK, no fascist U.S.A.” — the right’s message was drowned out by Stand Up for Racial Justice and the drummers during the two hour standoff. A helmeted head-butting provoca- teur was arrested. The police took a hatchet from someone in the crowd. A participant approached me with a ham- mer in his belt. The well-armed Badger Brotherhood biker club kept its eyes on the scene. Gun rallies evoke civil war, not civil- minded demonstrations. As the event ended, I spoke to a fer- vent but well-mannered petitioner gath- ering signatures for Oregon Push Back. They want to recall Gov. Kate Brown. He said, “Eugene’s liberal police put me on a terrorist list.” Is there such a list? If so, is it public? What’s the criteria for inclusion? Chris Piché Eugene FAST, EFFICIENT SERVICE call: 541.484.0519 email: offi ce@eugeneweekly.com fax: 541.484.4044 Eugene Weekly qualifi es for posting legal ads 4 A U G U S T 2 9 , 2 0 1 9 PIPELINE PETE Don Heady (Letters, 8/15) found me “disingenuous” (Viewpoint, 8/1) for saying Rep. Peter DeFazio is abetting POOR LEARNING CURVE Last week I wrote a letter to the school board to express my displeasure with the reinstatement of Jim Torrey. I received back a form letter from Anne Marie Levis thanking me for my con- cern. That letter included these two sen- tences: “We are thinking about what we are hearing and carefully processing the information that is being presented to us on this issue. We are all hopeful that what we are learning through this expe- rience will lead to new possibilities and insight into the ways we serve our com- munity.” I wrote back saying, “So happy you are learning about white bias and ‘boy’s club’ thinking from this for future con- sideration. No offense, but you should have known it already. So happy to be a victim of your learning curve.” Walker T Ryan Junction City me that these three leaders could not stand up for their POC constituents (See EW Blog, 7/23-24). I was proud to send a letter from the Democratic Party that expressed disap- pointment with the councilors who vot- ed against this and I have one question for them: How hard is it to condemn a hate practice that leads to the deaths of multiple POC each year? Because I find saying, “White supremacy is unwelcome in Eugene, Oregon” to be extremely easy. Nicole Leseney Eugene PROTECTING HOME While traversing the trail in Tamo- litch Falls in Oregon, I stare in awe at the diverse wildlife around me. While ex- ploring these great spaces, I find myself closer to nature. Enjoying the spot I rest on, I wonder how long a place like this will be preserved for the public. Realiz- ing basic hand tools are used to keep the trail clear without the use of herbicides or sprays, without alternating plants or tainting the hue blue waterway flowing downstream. Oregon is notable for its trees and wildlife, allowing for many to venture and tour its great outdoors. Although spanning for miles, much of the land is sensitive to herbicides containing glyphosate, especially by Roundup, the widely used product made by Monsanto. Roundup has imposed upon the recur- ring cycle of this state’s natural growth. For decades, the herbicide Roundup has part of been part of a vast agricul- tural system allowing farmers and grow- ers to reduce effort in labor and time. Although the use for the product is not necessary, Roundup is used by consum- ers who are uninformed about Glypho- sate and the risks of using the product. Although Monsanto may have grossed billions, we know they will keep finding ways to keep their product on the market. Until then, we should work with leg- islators to ban the use of this product in the state to protect our health, and the environment in which we inhabit and call home. Carlos Lopez Toscano Eugene NOT NASTY AT ALL EASY CONDEMNATION Not long ago the Proud Boys moved on Portland with messaging from the president condemning those that would fight for minorities rather than against them. While the administration has called for many disgusting and evil acts, this involves Oregon, and their mayor managed to tell Trump to back off in no uncertain terms. Why is it then that three city coun- cilors could not summon the courage to condemn white supremacy in Eugene? When one does not condemn the lan- guage, they are giving permission for that behavior to continue. It disgusts Is it true that Gov. Kate Brown has had an offer from Queen Margrethe II of Denmark to buy Oregon? If so, what a wonderful humanitarian gesture. Peter Tildesley Eugene DEFAZIO FIGHTS SURVEILLANCE I received this email from Rep. Peter DeFazio Aug. 13, which says: “Today I sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr demanding the legal justification for the reported sur- veillance of my constituents who are op- posed to the Jordan Cove liquid natural E U G E N E W E E K LY . C O M
