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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 2022)
letters ANGER CAN BE A VALID RESPONSE IS EW NO LONGER GOING TO POT? Doyle Srader denounces hostility (“Get Over Yourself,” EW 1/20) but seems OK with insulting the angry. Anger is a valid emotion, useful or destructive; best to identify the difference and act accord- ingly. Everyone doesn’t have that emo- tional intelligence. I've heard inaccurate arguments: “My laziness or refusal to wear seat belts affects only me.” Avoid- able bad health or injury costs all — use of public resources, increased costs of insurances, etc. Our republic respects people’s autonomy and accepts these costs regardless of choices. It may anger me, but I accept it as part of the social contract. The equiva- lency of these examples — as well as a pandemic decimating families, towns, our health providers, and supply chains that caused inflation across the planet — simply fails. There is no equivalency with an individual’s battle with cancer (seriously, a sledgehammer and tumor?) or the heartbreak and healing of the Mines School shooting families. These incidents impact society but are not close to impacts of a virus indis- criminately killing or harming millions. We do not have a cure for cancer, mass shootings or for a lack of intelligence. We do have a 99 percent effective, safe, treat- ment for COVID and should we all use it, 99 percent would be in less pain today. To those who refuse vaccination because they are angry about being told what to do for the public good, they just need to get over themselves. I concur with what appears to be your point, that public chal- lenges are complicated and solutions re- quire intelligence and cooperative spirit. This will not preclude anger. Timothy Gardner Eugene EW’s 1/20 issue had no cannabis ads. I’m not sure if that represents a plus or a minus trend for EW revenue. Ownership has continued to ask for the community to support The Register-Guard. How can the community support EW: If you buy something that the company advertises (pot ads) in EW, tell them you appreciate it. I’ve committed to place a classified ad once a month ($12). If only once a year could you do an ad (“announcements”) of Happy Anniv, B-day, etc. While I am at odds with EW as often as not, the community would be less- ened by its departure. Don French Eugene TONE IT DOWN, PLEASE I echo Patricia Spicer’s recent call for civility in the public discourse on vaccinations (Letters, 1/13). It would be wonderful if this were the norm in all civic dialogue. There are (almost) al- ways reasonable, rational individuals on any side of a debate. A focus on deep lis- tening in order to truly understand the perspective of others, as well as the use of respectful and thoughtful persuasion when you disagree, would go a long way toward advancing a healthy and stable civil society. I fear where the current norm of rant- ing and raving is leading our democracy. Is civic life destined to unravel in this way? I hope not. We should ask our- selves what we can do to improve our individual and collective public conver- sations, and then act upon it. The health and viability of our communities and, by extension, our very democracy may be at stake. Tom Happy Eugene E U G E N E W E E K LY . C O M OREGON NEEDS AN OUTSIDER LIKE KRISTOF It is ironic that in this era when Repub- licans are doing all they can to restrict voting access and transform elections to “selections,” Shemia Fagan, Oregon’s Democratic secretary of state, has cho- sen to deny Oregon voters the oppor- tunity to vote for Oregon native Nick Kristof. Her decision, if allowed to stand, removes the biggest obstacle to electoral success for other career Democrats who work alongside her in the Capitol. Kristof happens to be a political out- sider, the kind that Oregon could really use now. Fortunately, the Oregon Supreme Court recognizes that determinations of ballot eligibility fall squarely within the do- main of the judicial branch of government. Retired Supreme Court Justice Wil- liam Riggs wrote a legal opinion two weeks ago on this topic and concluded that Kristof is indeed an Oregon resi- dent, even though his job required him to live in other places around the world during his lengthy, brilliant career as an acclaimed journalist and humanitar- ian. Three former Oregon secretaries of state agree with Justice Riggs. I attended law school with current and former members of the Oregon Supreme Court, and, unlike the U.S. Supreme Court (and our secretary of state), I know they will decide Kristof ’s eligibility based on the facts and the law. Dan Neal Eugene WHO WAS UNMANAGEABLE? The Jan. 14 shooting at the WOW Hall was indeed tragic, and gun control would help reduce such horrific acts. However, there’s a discrepancy regarding what took place afterward, namely the police state- ment that the crowd was unmanageable. How so? An eyewitness said the po- lice told people who were trying to assist the victims to back off. Why? Were they tampering with evidence? If someone gets shot, the first response for most people is to stop the bleeding. What did the crowd do that made them unman- S P E C I A LT Y G R O C E R Y Local MEAT & DAIRY OR GANIC Produce BEER & WINE $5 Off $10 Off PURCHASE OVER or PURCHASE OVER $25 $40 Entire coupon required. Coupon is valid at Friendly St or Main St. Limit 1 per customer. Not valid with offers or discounts. Expires 2/28/22 330 MAIN ST. SPRINGFIELD 541.683.2079 2757 FRIENDLY ST. EUGENE J A N U A R Y 2 7 , 2 0 2 2 3
