Bush's words stir passion and dissent.

Byline: Jeff Wright The Register-Guard

A white transistor radio up to her ear, Jan Fairchild alternately sighed, rolled her eyes and shook her head as she listened Monday to President Bush's 48-hour ultimatum to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

"Very sad, very sad," said Fairchild as Bush concluded his 15-minute address. "I just don't think we can arrive at peace through war."

Fairchild's perspective wasn't hard to guess, considering she was standing at the Federal Building plaza in downtown Eugene, holding a blue banner that implored "Peace." Fairchild, minister of Springfield Church of the Brethren, has been there every Monday for months now.

Variations on Fairchild's sentiments were easy to find around Eugene, where many residents said the president's comments left them ambivalent at best and terrified at worst. Farther away from town, people were more likely to offer cautious or even enthusiastic backing for Bush.

At the Coburg Market, for example, Army veteran Brian Kelly said he tuned in the president's speech and concluded he was making a difficult but justifiable choice.

"I think it's very unfortunate we have to go to war, but I think maybe something has to be done," he said. "Somehow we've got to stop 9-11."

Dan Wiley, a maintenance worker from Yoncalla, said he's perplexed at why Bush has taken so long. "His dad should have finished the job the first time," said Wiley, referring to George H.W. Bush pursuing Saddam during the Persian Gulf War of 1991.

"We need to get rid of these terrorists. Saddam has told too many lies already."

LaVonne and Don Bowder of Eugene watched Bush's speech at the Steelhead brew pub - where they met friend Mara Taylor to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Their sentiment was one of nervous resignation.

"Just get in, get it over with and get out," said LaVonne Bowder, wearing a ` `Tis Irish" shirt.

"It's something they say we have to do," added her husband, Don. "We don't know how serious it is."

"Or is it like `Wag the Dog'?" asked Taylor, referring to the 1998 movie in which a president concocts a war to hide a sex scandal.

LaVonne Bowder said the morality of this war is not as clear as she'd like. "For us to be an aggressor, that just kills my soul," she said. "And we're basically not paying any attention to the U.N. So how can we expect anyone else to abide by the U.N. in the future?"

"It seems like it's more between two people instead of two countries," said Taylor, referring to Bush and Saddam. "Maybe we should give them dueling pistols."

At Southtowne Lanes bowling alley in Eugene, Richard McConochie and his dad, William McConochie, were less sanguine. The younger McConochie said he tried to listen to Bush's address "but it pissed me off, so I turned it off."

"He says we have to go to war to have peace, we have to strike first to prevent them from striking first," he said. "It's absurd."

The elder McConochie, a psychologist by training, says Bush exhibits rigid thinking - one of numerous personality traits suggestive of violent behavior. "Bush has got a preconceived point of view, and that scares me," he said.

Dan Smith, who works at the bowling alley, said he can't believe a war is important enough to alienate other countries such as Russia, Germany and China. As for Iraq, he said, "I can understand why they don't want to disarm: Iran."

Several blocks away, sitting on some steps in front of a Euphoria Chocolate outlet, Andrea Butz of Eugene savored a truffle alongside another young mother, Angela Haertle, and their two infant sons in a pair of baby carriages.

Butz said she didn't hear the president's speech - but knows she disapproves of his policies.

"I didn't have my son to bring him into a war-filled world," she said. "If (Saddam) attacks, we can retaliate. But we shouldn't start it."

Back at the Federal Building plaza, home remodeler Jim McMillan held up a homemade sign that left no doubt where he stands: "Wave Flag, Praise God, Kill People." McMillan said his time was better spent protesting than listening to a president whose words he could already guess.

"He's a true believer - it's his way or no way," said McMillan. "This is Bush's jihad."

CAPTION(S):

Jan Fairchild listens to President Bush on her radio as she joined a gathering Monday at the Federal Courthouse in Eugene. Please turn to REACTION, Page A5 Reaction: One of Bush's supporters expresses regret Continued from Page A1 "For us to be an aggressor, that just kills my soul. And we're basically not paying any attention to the U.N. So how can we expect anyone else to abide by the U.N. in the future?" LAVONNE BOWDER