LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Ask what Christ would do

Regarding the Aug. 15 letter from Sara Stewart, "Pride event flouts family values":

It is unfortunate indeed that the conservative Christians helped give rise to the term "hate speech." After all, I have never heard of any gays picketing Christian funerals.

Christ was about love, peace and tolerance for even the least of his brethren. Perhaps conservatives have a hard time coming to terms with Christ being such a liberal, but that doesn't justify the transposition of his teachings.

When faced with the question, "What is the Christian thing to do?" I would like people to stop for a moment. Imagine that Christ is standing right there next to you, and then ask yourself: Is this what he was teaching?

REV. WARREN S. ANDERSON

Eugene

Notify public of field mowing

Farmers need to notify all residents before baling their fields. I am writing on behalf of an incident that happened with my uncle's cats.

My aunt and uncle live on a field by the Eugene rodeo grounds that is surrounded by houses. The company that owns that field did not notify all the residents as to when the mowing was to commence, and as a result the mower ran over and killed both cats in one fatal swoop.

My aunt came home to find one cat lying in a puddle of blood with one of her bones protruding from her leg. The other cat was nowhere in sight.

After being called home from work my uncle took the animal to the emergency animal clinic, but she could not be saved. Upon returning to the house, the other cat was found underneath a car, also bleeding with her legs detached. She, too, was rushed to the emergency vet but could not be saved. The veterinarian said that he has treated multiple cats with the same injuries.

Both animals still were alive when they were found. This incident could have been avoided if only the company responsible for field management would have announced the mowing to everybody. My uncle even called for information about the mowing beforehand but received no response.

These companies need to advertise such dangerous procedures before anyone else gets hurt. Next time, it may not be a cat but a child who is killed.

SARAH YAMADA

Eugene

Keep pressure on field burning

It came to my attention recently that 90 percent of the grass seed growers have stopped burning their fields.

Of the 1,400 Oregon grass seed growers, only about 150 of them are still using this dreadful, outdated method to clean their fields. I think it is time that this vast majority of Oregon grass seed growers are recognized for being caring and considerate neighbors.

Did you know that field burning smoke contains fine particulate matter that cannot be filtered by the lungs? The American Medical Association has found that even short-term exposure increases the number of strokes and heart attacks by 30 percent to 40 percent. Particulate pollution also has been linked to infant death, premature birth and low birth weight.

Other states - including California, Idaho and Washington - have banned field burning. We are the only state that still allows it. Why aren't we being protected?

Please help the people who are working hard to ban field burning by writing letters or calling Gov. Ted Kulongoski, 160 State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.W., Salem, OR 97403-4047 or [phone] or [phone] (comment line.) It's his job to protect us!

I know many of us have simply given up. After 30 to 40 years, who could blame us? But if we all get fired up one last time and put pressure on, we will live to see a new day in Oregon - summers free from field burning smoke. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

BOB HAMILTON LEE HAMILTON

Springfield