LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.Byline: The Register-Guard Keep preferences private I am mystified mys·ti·fy tr.v. mys·ti·fied, mys·ti·fy·ing, mys·ti·fies 1. To confuse or puzzle mentally. See Synonyms at puzzle. 2. To make obscure or mysterious. over the sprouting of signs reading, "Easter - Jesus, He Is Risen For the religious phrase, see . "He Is Risen" is the thirty-fourth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the eighth of the show's third season. It was written by Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess and Todd A. ." It seems confrontational to me, or messianic at the least. We all hold deeply felt beliefs, and since this is a free country we can express them any way we wish. But I wonder if I placed any of the following messages in my front yard - "Abortion Rights," "Gay Rights," the Star of David, "Right to Life," "Black Power," "God Bless George Bush" or "Impeach To accuse; to charge a liability upon; to sue. To dispute, disparage, deny, or contradict; as in to impeach a judgment or decree, or impeach a witness; or as used in the rule that a jury cannot impeach its verdict. George Bush" - if they would offend anyone. Of course they would. Our gender or religious preferences should be private matters, not advertised on our lawns. Has religion descended into the political arena with signs about which side we're on? Doesn't that demean de·mean 1 tr.v. de·meaned, de·mean·ing, de·means To conduct or behave (oneself) in a particular manner: demeaned themselves well in class. one's faith? Maybe someone can explain the purpose of the signs. ANNE CUTTING Eugene Be aware of oppression McKenzie Kamp (letters, March 11) points out that there is a lot of diversity in Eugene. However, in trying to rework the definition of diversity, she misses the point. The lack of diversity is as much about awareness and respect as it is about demographics. It doesn't matter that much if we have lots of liberals and conservatives if each group is drastically unaware of, or non-responsive to, important issues and concerns of local minority populations. Kamp claims that the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard debacle is irrelevant to issues of racism. People weren't against MLK MLK Martin Luther King MLK Milk MLK Medialess License Kit , but simply thought Centennial was just such a gosh-darned good name, remembering Oregon's 100 years of statehood state·hood n. The status of being a state, especially of the United States, rather than being a territory or dependency. . Yet this is a perfect example of the pervasiveness of racist assumptions. As a person of native descent, I take issue with the assumption that the value of Oregon and its legitimacy as a government began only after white settlers arrived. While it's fine to be proud of our state's history, the name Centennial is a reminder that the history of white Oregonians is valued over others. We can and should recognize the diversity of experiences and perspectives, but we must also be aware of the forces of racism and other oppression. When dominant perspectives become the so-called norm while minority perspectives become invisible, when people of color Noun 1. people of color - a race with skin pigmentation different from the white race (especially Blacks) people of colour, colour, color race - people who are believed to belong to the same genetic stock; "some biologists doubt that there are important , transpeople and other minorities leave our city out of concerns for their safety, we should not simply redefine diversity to focus on other issues. TOBY HILL-MEYER Eugene Rushdie lament misguided Salman Rushdie Noun 1. Salman Rushdie - British writer of novels who was born in India; one of his novels is regarded as blasphemous by Muslims and a fatwa was issued condemning him to death (born in 1947) Ahmed Salman Rushdie, Rushdie (Register-Guard, March 13) laments the fact that a professed atheist would have no chance to win election as president of the United States The head of the Executive Branch, one of the three branches of the federal government. The U.S. Constitution sets relatively strict requirements about who may serve as president and for how long. . Given the untold millions that the great secular, atheistic a·the·is·tic also a·the·is·ti·cal adj. 1. Relating to or characteristic of atheism or atheists. 2. Inclined to atheism. a regimes of the 20th century - Communist and Nazi - managed to exterminate during the relatively brief periods in which they held power, I can only say, along with the 266 million other theists in this country, "Thank God for that!" TED D. SMITH Eugene C.S. Lewis a better writer Regarding your lead commentary by Salman Rushdie (Register-Guard, March 13), I understand that some Muslims have put a price on his head. I do not think we Christians should go that far, but I do want to question that such a shallow thinker - who, for example, ends his article with a Clarence Darrow quote equating God to Mother Goose Mother Goose, name associated with nursery rhymes. Most English nursery rhymes have been ascribed to Mother Goose. The origin of the name is still a matter of dispute. - should be given such a prime spot in our trusted newspaper. If this is necessary to show fairness and balance, then please treat us to an essay or two by C.S. Lewis - a much better writer at that! I pray I beg; I request; I entreat you; - used in asking a question, making a request, introducing a petition, etc.; as, Pray, allow me to go s>. See also: Pray that Rushdie will not live his whole life without a true encounter with the wonderful and awesome almighty God. Once that happens, he will not be so concerned with the issues he worries about in this article. JOSEPH W. PALEN Eugene Budget cuts funds for needy It's shocking that Oregon's rates of hunger are among the worst in the nation and many of the households suffering most are families with children (Register-Guard, March 9). President Bush's current budget proposal would slash funding for shelters, food banks and other necessary services. Clearly, this will be disastrous for Oregonians struggling to make ends meet. ADRIENNE GREEN Eugene |
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