LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Add German language classes

Hurray for Willamette High School junior Karen Reyes-Ramirez for beating out 26,000 students in a German language competition. Her third language!

She should be proud of this accomplishment and be confident that her foreign language skills will benefit her in the future.

German is a language we need to expand on in our educational system, and I hope with the current cost cutting we don't lose the few German classes we currently have in Eugene School District schools. Lane Community College recently did away with its German sections.

We need more German speakers. Did you know the U.S. trade exchange with Germany is greater than with China? While China makes many labor-intensive items, from Germany we get locomotive engines, autos, power generation plants, printing presses, high tech medical equipment and other high tech products.

Portland's light rail cars and Oregon's wind generators are German. These companies hire well-paid, skilled workers in Oregon, and I am one.

When I was hired by a German company to work remotely here in Eugene, I could have had a 10 percent wage increase if only I spoke German. I can't understand Frank Keavy's April 7 letter to the editor diminishing the value of foreign languages. With the expanding world economy, a foreign language is the ticket not just to good pay but also to partying around the world.

Once again, congratulations to Karen Reyes-Ramirez.

Greg Norman 

Eugene

Focus on local tax reform ideas

This is a perfect time to think about tax structure with the news that Oregon counties probably won't be receiving timber payments any longer, plus the lack of street repairs, police services and school closures.

When we pay local and state taxes, the money pretty much stays in our economy to fund schools, roads and public safety. However, when our taxes first go through Washington, D.C., by way of federal taxes, our money could end up anywhere - such as the "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska or a Big Dig in Boston. Further, there always seem to be strings attached to federal money, whether it's highway funds, abortion and reproductive fiscal issues or school grants.

I would add that our current federal taxes are going to pay for the Iraq war, but they're not. The dying servicewomen and -men and their families are supplying the down payment, while our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be burdened with the cost.

Any tax incentive given to me will be put in a bank account for my grandchildren. They'll need the money to pay for this very costly war.

Let's hear from university economists and the private sector on how a tax structure would look if priorities focused on states first and nationalism second.

Maybe national and international corporations could pay federal taxes, while citizens would pay state and local taxes. How can we keep Oregon money working in Oregon?

Scott M. Douglas

Eugene

UO should keep Holy Cow open

The University of Oregon is wrong to let Holy Cow leave by not renewing its contract (Register-Guard, April 2).

For one, the Erb Memorial Union is committed by charter to dedicate space to a vegetarian menu. For all the talk of diversity, this is the opportunity to put its money where your mouth is.

Linda Brady recently said, "Our university community must reflect and support that diversity." Great! Then keep Holy Cow in the EMU. We have Subway sandwiches at the EMU. These are the exact same sandwiches that you get if you go to Subway on West 11th or in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

This is franchise food. This is corporate ownership. This is business as usual, taking local money and funneling it into the pockets of CEOs and stockholders who don't even know where Eugene is located.

Honor diversity: Keep Holy Cow and support local business. It's time for the UO to put up or shut up.

Sarah Ruth

Eugene

Think about future before voting

I advise young voters and young men and women considering a career in the military to think very carefully about their futures and the present concerns in world affairs.

Consider the world's environment and global warming, think about our government's involvement in world affairs; our two different wars. Consider our slumping dollar and failing economy.

Consider our energy crisis. Think about the billions of dollars, our money, being drained from the United States Treasury for years and years to come. Staying in Iraq serves only to inflame continued hatred directed against Americans.

Learn how the world - with the exception of the United States - is moving away from fossil fuels. Think about who is receiving the big money from our current and future wars.

If you want to live in continued terror on a warming planet, then Sen. John McCain will keep you there. McCain serves only one master, and the Bush administration is why we are in such a sad state of affairs around the world at the present time.

Ron Gallagher

Elkton

Let Iraqis keep and bear arms

Constitutional protection here in the United States allows us the right to bear arms. Many here think that this is a necessary freedom in order to maintain democracy.

Why, then, is our military trying to disarm the citizens of Iraq?

Rick Herson

Eugene

Left turns endanger pedestrians

Crossing the street, in the crosswalk with the walk light, should not be a dangerous activity. In Eugene, it is.

I've had near misses with drivers who cut in front of me to beat me through the intersection. I've witnessed other pedestrians in similar situations. However, the most egregious display of how dangerous it is to cross the street occurred recently at Cal Young and Gilham roads.

I was heading west on Cal Young waiting to turn right on Gilham. The traffic turning left onto Cal Young blocked the intersection, so when the light turned green on Cal Young, traffic could not proceed east or west through the intersection.

But those turning left onto Gilham could proceed. Two drivers attempted to dart across the oncoming traffic before the intersection cleared. The problem: A young man was waiting to cross Gilham and the walk light was on.

First, a huge black sport utility vehicle nearly hit him; he returned to the curb. A second car also nearly hit him as he tried again to cross the street, still in the crosswalk, walk light on. I made sure he was safely across the street before turning.

At this intersection, one solution is to add a protected left turn arrow so drivers turning left onto Gilham don't need to dart across the oncoming traffic. Perhaps a true citywide solution is walk lights separate from automobile lights so pedestrians no longer have to compete with automobiles for the same space.

Sarah Laszlo

Eugene

EWEB vote could delay project

As a longtime environmentalist and wildlife advocate, I have followed the Eugene Water & Electric Board Roosevelt Operations building project closely, especially due to the wetlands location.

What I have learned from many sources concerning wetlands mitigation and rebuilding from the damage made by previous tenants adds to my support of the project as an EWEB customer.

I also have watched EWEB staff members struggle to maintain sustainability features as the budget has been reduced by the board on behalf of EWEB customers. My concern about the efforts to put this project on the ballot is not that it would not pass - it appears to have the full support of the community. My concern is that this will cause a substantial delay and that the rising building costs over the next year would by necessity reduce the sustainability and environmental enhancements, many of which require a higher upfront investment.

I cannot imagine that the people gathering signatures have that outcome in mind. It would be good if they did a little more homework; I would certainly like to think that the contributions I make to environmental advocacy organizations would be targeted at areas of greater need.

Beth Eldridge

Eugene

Bobby Green leads by example

As a young African-American male who has resided in Eugene for the past 10 years, I will be casting my vote for the first time to re-elect Lance County Commissioner Bobby Green.

I graduated from Sheldon International High School with honors in June 2007. I am active in my community, and I don't fit the typical stereotype that is often displayed in the media. I am proud of who I am and confident that I will achieve greatness. Commissioner Green played a significant role in helping me to achieve that confidence.

As an elected official who takes his position seriously, he always has an encouraging word for me. He leads by example. In Lane County, it is great to see leaders who resemble me.

Commissioner Green's efforts are second to none, and I applaud his commitment to serve. In my opinion, no candidate compares with Green's knowledge of the issues, his patience, his ability to include people with diverse opinions, his skill in finding consensus and his courage to make tough decisions. He represents the past, present and the future.

Be sustainable and join me in supporting Bobby Green for Lane County commissioner.

Blake Poole

Eugene