LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Wilberger search mirrors others

Regarding Dianne Lobes' June 6 letter on the imbalance of media coverage of the disappearance of Brooke Wilberger:

Wilberger's bearing reflects much about how we as a culture see ourselves. Look at her pictures taped to shop windows across the state and you see hope, kindness and optimism in the face of the classic "all-American girl." Despite all the struggles involved in making this democracy work, we have happily, and often with naive optimism, carried the banner of liberty and opportunity for the rest of the world, and it has defined our national sense of self.

As we search desperately to recover our sense of the rightness of our role in the world and to once again see admiration in the eyes of the rest of the world, it is understandable that we place such urgency on the search for Wilberger. We have lost our beautiful, hopeful optimism, and we are having a very hard time finding her again. Searching for Wilberger is at least more definable and, I hope, more achievable than the confusing and daily more tragic search for America's shining honor.

Yes, Lobes is right to remind us to turn the same fervent attention toward every lost or straying community member. In the case of Wilberger, I pray we find her safe and sound and soon, and perhaps with her, some of the bright hope and decency that has made us the best of who we are.

MORGAN SMITH

Cottage Grove 

'The people' means what it says

Jim Schmidt (letters, June 7) implies, "the right of the people to keep and bear arms" refers to the state, not individuals. That must mean that in the First Amendment, "the right of the people peaceably to assemble" refers to the state, not individuals.

In the Fourth Amendment, "the right of the people to be secure in their persons" refers to the state, not individuals.

The 10th amendment, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Under Schmidt's theory that would mean "to the States respectively, or to the States." That doesn't make much sense, does it?

Article I, Section II of the Constitution states, "The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen ... by the people of the several States".

George Mason, of Virginia, speaking at Virginia's U.S. Constitution ratification convention said, " ... who are the militia? They consist of the whole people, except a few public officers."

There are many more quotes available regarding the Second Amendment. Most on point is Samuel Adams at the Massachusetts ratification convention in 1778, "The said Constitution (shall) be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience, or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms."

TERRY PLAISTED

Eugene

Abortion ruling protects women

After reading the article "Federal ban on abortion procedure ruled illegal" (Register-Guard, June 2), I was relieved to learn that the federal abortion ban signed into law by President Bush earlier this year was found unconstitutional by federal district court Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton.

I was outraged when President Bush supported a law that contains no exceptions for cases where a woman's health is at risk. In addition, the language of this law is so vague that it could be applied to abortions as early as the 12th week of pregnancy. It appears that the law that President Bush signed is just one piece of an ongoing and increasingly aggressive campaign to invade women's privacy and eliminate the right to choose.

I applaud Hamilton for finding the federal abortion ban to be unconstitutional, making a landmark victory for medical privacy rights and women's health. Anti-choice lawmakers have been wasting tax dollars for years in efforts to spread inaccurate information denying the need for safe and medically appropriate procedures. Hamilton's decision further confirms that the federal abortion ban poses a threat to women's health and violates the Constitution.

President Bush will not let anything stand in the way - not even the Constitution - of eliminating a woman's right to choose. Unfortunately, these efforts come at the price of women's health.

ROSE KELSCH

Eugene

Drug insurance isn't the answer

The June 8 Register-Guard included a guest viewpoint by an attorney, Laura Cooper. She used a series of crooked arguments in support of keeping and strengthening our current prescription drug system and ended with: " ...we need to get into the habit of buying prescription insurance as a free-standing product on our own and not depend on employers, the government or anybody else to do it for us."

This supports the basic concept of compassionate conservatism, which is: If there is some service or product that you need to keep on living and you can't afford it, it is your own fault, you didn't take responsibility. Americans must not care if you starve, have no place to live or need health care or prescription drugs.

So the millions who can't afford drug insurance or can't afford to buy drugs at American prices in Cooper's plan, well, they can just do without. Or, we could install a Canadian-style health care system.

JAMES RAMSELL

Eugene

What harm do gays cause?

Which homosexual acts does Pastor Nick Nott consider sinful? Shopping together, going to the movies, raising a family, going to work, buying a house, paying taxes, afternoon barbecues, building a life with the one you love, going to school, honoring parents, hiking, biking, skiing, flying, laughing, crying? Or is it ordering take-out?

Does everyone realize that they don't even know for certain who it is they are targeting? It could be a favorite teacher, a son, niece, doctor, actor, neighbor, co-worker. What harm, I ask, has been done to you that you spend this much time and energy attempting to stamp out homosexual behavior?

HALLIE EDWARDS

Marcola

Reagan's policies changed

In the giddy rush to praise the late Ronald Reagan, we conveniently forget that among the things he did to our country, aside from such petty transgressions as Iran-Contra, was to make an early appointment of whack job James Watt as Interior Secretary. Watt - not unlike George W. Bush, John Ashcroft and Pat Robertson - spoke directly to God and was told by him, among other things, that our environment was put here to be consumed. Fortunately, Watt stepped in it enough times to be shown the door.

As governor of California, ironically, Reagan did many good things for the environment, not the least of which was to expand legal protections and staffing for the state's wildlife and waters. As a state Department of Fish and Game public information officer, I found myself in the wonderful position of being able to promote good stewardship for wildlife and our environment on a daily basis - until Reagan's term ended.

After Reagan became president, the anti-environment conservatives within the Washington beltway seized the opportunity to arrange for people like Watt to trash our natural resources for fun and profit. I never quite understood if President Reagan realized what he had unleashed.

Today, the environment is again being stomped. This time the irreversible damage is being done by Watt disciples within the Dick Cheney-Gale Norton crowd. Same stuff, different day. Once more, it is not clear if the Republican in the Oval Office realizes what's happening. I'm guessing he doesn't care. Spoiled brats usually don't.

PAUL WERTZ

Eugene

Oppose Mount Hood wilderness 

Although I have not read the full text of Sen. Ron Wyden's Mount Hood wilderness expansion proposal, on the surface I am staunchly opposed to it. This sounds like another pandering attempt to communize public lands for the self-serving, urban eco-elite that have infested our state for the last 15 years.

This plan doesn't represent true Oregonians' values, enhance our lives or benefit our economy. This plan would lock most Oregonians out of another chunk of public land. Where will we hunt, fish, tour, work or enjoy our birthright as Oregonians? How can we share our woodsman heritage with our kids?

It is not reasonable to expect that pedestrian-only access by permit is a viable alternative to straight National Forest classification. Please tell Wyden that you are opposed to the wilderness expansion on Mount Hood.

TIM POLLARD 

Springfield

Ronald Reagan was no saint

After his death, many people have praised Ronald Reagan. They have elevated him to the level of saint, citing such things as ending the Cold War with one stroke from the jelly-bean-popping "Gipper." In my opinion, he was a snake oil salesman who sold us happy propaganda to distract us from some of the things that he and his Cabinet achieved.

He promoted the Soviet Union as an enemy to justify a massive increase in military spending, tripling our country's deficit during his years in the White House. Moving to probable criminal activities, there was substantial evidence that pointed to him and his Cabinet dealing with Iran in trading arms for hostages.

Folks, please do not plead coincidence that the American hostages in Iran were freed within 30 minutes of Reagan's inauguration. There is also his support of the freedom fighters known as the Contras in places such as Nicaragua, causing mass murders in such countries in the name of democratic freedom. It saddens me that so many Americans will just look at the slick Hollywood president that was Reagan and not dig deeper for his legacy of lies, blood, and criminal manipulation.

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain in this country we fondly call Oz.

BRIAN P. ELLIS

Eugene