LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

We ignore meaning of diversity

The June 18 Register-Guard reported about ABC News apologizing for showing a photo of former Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry during a story on a man suing a dry cleaner for misplacing his pants. The article said, "It was the second such case of mistaken identity this month involving newsworthy black men. Fox News Channel apologized for running tape of House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers while reporting on the indictment of Rep. William J. Jefferson on bribery charges."

"Newsworthy black men."

In the 1970s, the breakthrough miniseries from Alex Haley's bestseller "Roots" echoed Martin Luther King Jr.'s point of unity that human hearts and minds are the same at birth, and science has proved that we share the same origin: a place in Africa 50,000 years ago where our ancestors had dark skin.

In other words, our single origin transcends our myriad cultures. Humanity is transcultural, a potent source of universal pride and inspiration capable of producing peaceful coexistence. Diversity is not division. Diversity is the wondrous oneness characterizing an awareness of the human family returning to unity at the end of a long and tortuous journey, celebrating its products of division while embracing its single origin and destiny.

After 50,000 years of geographic separation, linguistic barriers, tyranny and exploitation, we found technology that brought us together. Unfortunately, we're still wasting time categorizing ourselves while ignoring the meaning of diversity.

BRIAN BOGART

Eugene

Congress should imitate Oregon

Renewable energy is just one of the many steps we must take to address global warming.

Oregon has already passed legislation to require that utilities generate a portion of their electricity from clean, renewable sources: Thank you, legislators! Now it is time for Congress to pass similar legislation.

Clean and renewable resources such as wind, solar and bioenergy power will not only address global warming, but they also will have a favorable impact on rural areas. A strong federal policy will allow capital development, increase jobs in rural areas and benefit rural economies.

One bill, the Federal Renewable Electricity Standard (House Resolution 969) has been introduced into the House of Representatives. It requires that utilities generate 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Twenty percent doesn't seem like much, but it would reduce toxic air pollution from power plants that burn coal and oil. It would also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by the equivalent of taking nearly 71 million cars off the road.

I certainly hope that Rep. Peter DeFazio will co-sponsor this important legislation. It seems like a win-win solution for all of us.

DEBORAH OLSON

Eugene

Police union unfairly criticized

I'm starting to wonder if I went to sleep in Oregon and woke up in Idaho, a right-to-work state. Translation: right to undermine the rights of workers.

It astonishes me to read the anti-union positions some of the so-called liberals have recently taken toward the Eugene Police Employees Association. Mind you, I am not pro-police. I am, however, pro-labor and pro-fairness. If an action, be it ordinance, administrative rule, or change in procedure, changes elements of a labor contract, the law requires those changes to be bargained. The EPEA submitted a total of four letters demanding to bargain after requesting to address their concerns numerous times. The city did not respond. The city dropped the ball on this one.

A good question to ask would be how Roger Magana was hired in the first place. I find it hard to believe that he woke up one morning and decided to be a sexual predator. How did his sickness slip through the city's hiring process unnoticed?

Police officers perform a service that none of us wants to live without and do a job most of us don't want to do. Funding for services for people with mental illnesses, drug addiction and other issues is being cut every year and the police increasingly have to pick up the slack.

It's sad that one bad person has caused the community to lose so much trust in our law enforcement personnel, a group of city employees that are mostly good people like you and me.

RUTH MAURA ATCHERSON

Eugene

'Body Worlds' is educational

According to Barbara Dexter (letters, June 26), I am sick in the head. Last week I went to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry to see the "Body Worlds 3" exhibit.

It was an amazing experience and I found myself saying "wow" a lot. I thought the exhibit was incredible and extremely educational.

While the exhibit is art, I went through with the intention of educating myself on the human body. The human body is an amazing machine that needs all parts to work together to perform as it does. The way the exhibit was set up, we got to learn how that happens. Our bodies have 206 bones, more than 600 muscles, many vital organs, an arterial system that is baffling - and it all manages to work together.

I would encourage people to take advantage of this exhibit. I would like to invite smokers to walk through and see the black smoker's lung next to the pink healthy lung. I would also encourage alcoholics or heavy drinkers to compare the healthy liver to the liver with cirrhosis. There is quite a difference.

When my son was diagnosed with leukemia, the doctor said his spleen was slightly enlarged. While I was there, I got to see a spleen from a person with leukemia. I now understand why that was one of the indicators that Chris had leukemia.

Those that think it is "absolutely sickening" are missing out on a great educational experience.

MARY LOU BRADLEY

Eugene

Public education is inclusive

In response to Tara Nagelhout's June 27 letter, I'm a bit confused about the point she is trying to make.

In the same breath she exclaims that it's discriminatory of the public school system not to recognize her children's alternative Christian education but then proceeds to say that if the public schools were really "ours," she would be able to send her children to these horrid public schools without cringing. And what is her reason for cringing?

One of the examples that she chose to include in her letter is the fact that the signs at River Road Elementary School are bilingual. Did I read that correctly? How is that not both inappropriate and discriminatory? We live in a multilingual world.

I was a graduate of the 12-year Spanish Immersion program offered through the public school system and, yes, our signs were often bilingual as well. I came out better and more enlightened because of it.

Finally, why should my tax dollars go to fund the teaching of Nagelhout's Christian religion to a select few when they could be directed toward funding children of all races and religious affiliations in the public school system?

Nobody's claiming the system is flawless, but if Nagelhout's high-quality education teaches discrimination openly, then I'd rather take my chances putting my child and my tax dollars in the public system. Nagelhout's letter just showed us all why we sometimes fail to admire "alternative" education.

SAM HAUK

Eugene

Forester critique inflammatory

As a forester, I enjoy reading reasoned arguments on both sides of the debate on the levels of logging on federal land.

I do not enjoy reading inflammatory and misinformed letters from either side. Shannon Wilson's June 26 guest viewpoint was inflammatory and misinformed.

Phrases like "industrial deforesters" and "minions of the timber barons," which appeared twice, are disrespectful to those who may disagree with his arguments. Wilson further degrades those who disagree with him with the phrase "as every real forest scientist and forester knows." I know I disagree with Wilson, and I am a real forester who works for industry.

Wilson also claims that 2.5 million acres of the 5 million acres of later successional reserves in western Oregon have been converted to tree plantations. Is he telling me that the federal government has logged half the late successional reserves in the 13 years since they have been created? If this were true, federal lands would be packed full of logging activity and the O&C counties would be awash in timber payment funds.

That's not what I see. I see impoverished rural communities, unused forest roads, counties strapped for money, and miles and miles of federal forest quietly growing trees. Given Wilson's disrespect for others and his hyperbole, I know better than to believe his arguments.

BILL WYNKOOP

Eugene

Exhibit distasteful to Jews

I totally agree with the letter writer who stated that The Register-Guard's publishing photos of the "Body Worlds 3" exhibit was obscene and repugnant.

I would go further and say that the exhibit itself is considered by Jews to be distasteful. While we certainly see science and education as positive values, this exhibit reflects neither value.

It is promoted as a "stunning exhibition featuring over 200 authentic human specimens displayed in dynamic poses." The purpose is to entertain. We feel that the human being was created in the image of God. God is therefore reflected in the body given to us at birth. Jews believe that dead bodies must be treated with the utmost dignity and the greatest respect, not exhibited in odd or humiliating poses.

Some defend this exhibit by claiming that the people gave their consent prior to death. We must ask ourselves whether anyone should be allowed to give permission for their corpse to be used for the amusement of others and the enrichment of promoters. The dead are entitled to rest, the body returned to God.

PAUL FEINSTEIN, President

Ahavas Torah

Orthodox Synagogue

Eugene

Beware North American Union

Are you wanting to become a citizen of the North American Union? Check out the Security and Protection Partnership between the United States, Mexico and Canada.

This insidious corporate consortium is building the NAFTA superhighway, Interstate 69, from west Mexican seaports through Laredo, Texas, Kansas City and on to Canada.

Mexican ports, run by China, will send unchecked cargo driven by Mexican truckers through Kansas City, then on to Canada. Foreign-run toll highways, a railroad and stations are already leased to foreign owners for 50 years. This portends a nightmare for U.S. dock workers, truckers, taxpayers and state security as well as presenting a freeway to illegals and drug smugglers!

This agreement between President Bush, former Mexican President Vicente Fox and former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin is underwritten by mega-rich corporations circumventing Congress. Check out their goals and new north continent border agreements by searching on the Web for the North American Union.

NEIL DAUGHERTY

Eugene