LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Secrecy leads to impropriety

The current administration in the White House has reached an all-time low with its ongoing apparent need for secrecy using the National Security Agency to spy on Americans. When are the president's apologists going to wake up?

I ran across this quotation from President Woodrow Wilson giving his views on secrecy: "Everyone knows that corruption thrives in secret places, and avoids public places, and we believe it is a fair presumption that secrecy means impropriety."

I found it very ironic that the backdrop for one of President Bush's recent speeches was for a Woodrow Wilson group.

DEANNA ADAMS

Eugene

Thank God for President Bush

A liberal looks at President Bush's success in preventing another terrorist attack after Sept. 11 and says, "See, there was no real threat."

A conservative looks at Bush's success in preventing another terrorist attack after Sept. 11 and says, "Thank God for George W. Bush."

A liberal looks at intelligence gathered by Bush to prevent another attack and shrieks, "Impeachment!"

A conservative looks at intelligence gathered by Bush to prevent another attack and says, "Thank God for George W. Bush."

A liberal looks at wiretaps used by the United States to spy on terrorists and shrieks, "Impeachment!"

A conservative looks at wiretaps used by the United States to spy on terrorists and says, "Thank God for George W. Bush."

A liberal looks at our president doing what he thinks is right in order to protect American lives, his most important duty, and thinks that he wants to spy on their miserable and unimportant lives.

A conservative looks at our president doing what he thinks is right in order to protect American lives and says, "Thank God for George W. Bush, with more integrity in his little finger than the entire festering cesspool of ignorance, deceit and corruption that has become our American left."

Here is what would be really impeachable: To not do everything in the power of the president to protect the lives of all Americans. Most normal Americans have no problem with our violating the rights of terrorists whose goal is to kill Americans.

JAMES T. BRYANT

Eugene

Whitewater park has drawbacks

In response to The Register-Guard's Dec. 11 article about Ed Fredette's proposal to establish a whitewater park in the current canoe canal, I feel that staging whitewater activities and events will likely drive away the very animals that maintaining and restoring habitat is meant to help.

Blue heron, green heron, osprey, ducks, turtles, fish - all will be affected by more turbulent waters, not to mention noisy people dashing about to watch the events or participate in the more aggressive type of paddling done in whitewater.

As a paddler using the canal two to three times a week spring, summer and fall, I feel there is no better way to relax after a stress-filled workday than to grab my kayak and paddle peacefully in the canal alongside the ducks and listening to the birds - or to put in for an early morning float and watch the birds fishing on the shore.

Walkers and joggers also enjoy the quiet surroundings. I've met other paddlers on the canal who are like me, only wishing for flat water and peaceful surroundings.

The canoe canal is a hidden jewel between two busy cities. I look forward to the public hearings in February to learn more about Fredette's proposal. I strongly support habitat maintenance but am very much opposed to a whitewater park.

VALERIE BAILEY

Springfield