LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Bailey Hill has many near misses

I moved to Eugene three months ago and travel the stretch of Bailey Hill Road between 18th Avenue and Warren Street every day. The crash statistics do not reflect the many near misses that I've seen and been involved in during this short time. There is no caution light or call button to stop traffic at the crosswalk, and the signage is lost in the visual clutter of the shopping center on one side and trees on the other. There is no posted speed limit; people are just supposed to know that there is a school there, and they are supposed to know the unposted speed limits within school zones. Students from Churchill High School or kids from the skate park run or saunter across, totally oblivious to traffic. They just assume people will see them and stop.

I suggest that the city ask Churchill students to volunteer to monitor traffic and pedestrian usage for a few days in order to get the picture that the crash statistics don't tell. Then the city will have the data it needs to install an on-demand stoplight at the crosswalk. In order to slow down drivers, the city should include a speed sensor that will trigger a red light if a driver is speeding. This type of on-demand light worked wonders in my old neighborhood in Virginia and significantly increased pedestrian safety.

Given that a new development of over 250 homes is being built up Warren, the volume of traffic - and the danger - will only get worse.

Sue Palsbo

Eugene

America not yet a theocracy 

David Abbale's Aug. 29 letter "Is the Bible literally true or not?" pushes the bounds of inanity.

A Google search of New Testament references to homosexuality reveals that most references cited as condemning homosexuality come from those myriad new New Testament versions - those in "plain English" - interpretations, if you will. Which version is Abbale referencing, I wonder, when he asks is it "literally true?" There is no "literal" because every opinion, every reading, every translation and every position comes from a reading of another interpretation and not some concrete, literal, verifiable text.

Since we are not yet a theocracy in this country, it's an inappropriate position that people should be condemned and harshly judged on the basis of someone's interpretation of one religious text.

If you are Christian and believe that the New Testament explicitly condemns homosexuality, then don't be gay, and don't be proud. That's OK, I guess. Me, I prefer to remember my grandmother's favorite passage: "Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me."Her interpretation of her lifelong Baptist faith, practiced almost 103 years, centered on how she lived and how she treated others, and that left her little time or inclination to worry much about anyone else. She was the best Christian I ever knew.

Christy Bishop Cricow

Eugene

Merkley is a fence straddler

As an independent voter who is dismayed by the decline of democracy in this country, I have to say that I'm sick to death of politicians like Jeff Merkley, who would rather straddle the fence than take any sort of positive stand one way or another on issues like the Iraq war.

When President Bush began his tremendously transparent and ultimately disastrous march to war, the vast majority of our so-called representatives fell in lockstep behind him. Almost all of the Democrats who supported the war have since seen the light and repudiated their earlier stance. There is nothing here to distinguish them from Sen. Gordon Smith, who has also come to Jesus on Iraq - far too late to do any good.

Despite our leaders' sheep-like rush to war, there were a lot of people who saw through this smokescreen from the beginning. It's long past time to get rid of everyone who fell for this scam and elect people who recognized the folly of this war from the very beginning.

By refusing to stand up for his supposed principles, Merkley has forfeited the right to run for national office, in my opinion. I'll be registering as a Democrat and voting against his nomination.

Jim Johnson

Eugene

Kucinich won't be bought

If you wait for the primaries to see who is running for president, you'll get only those Democratic candidates that the media have chosen. If you haven't heard of Dennis Kucinich, it's because he's either being ignored entirely or dismissed as a viable candidate based on his looks, height or wife. When Kucinich speaks, he goes straight to the issues - not with vague promises, but with plans - many of them already established and put forth as bills in Congress. He can address the conundrum in Iraq, vital issues here at home and abroad, and hold corrupt corporations and government officials accountable without waffling.

Kucinich hasn't become a media darling because he won't be manipulated or bought. It's safer for mainstream media to deal with candidates who have plenty of money and celebrity status, so Americans will accept shallow coverage about expensive haircuts, cleavageand who is black enough. Though he will be "Swift boated" if he becomes the candidate (just as the other candidates would), Kucinich is not likely to crumble under the pressure.

Kucinich is not a third party candidate who will take votes away from anyone. Furthermore, he would be a formidable candidate against any Republican candidate. He's highly electable unless Americans buy the media lie that he's not. Supporting Kucinich won't detract from any of the other candidates in the build up to the primaries; it will just give him a voice. Call 1-877-41 DENNIS or go to www.dennis4president.com/go/issues/ to get informed and involved.

Judi Ivy

Eugene

Who wrote original program?

John David Buckmaster, in his letter of Sept. 2, was almost correct when he said "science gets things right." As one who has been doing science for a living for more than 40 years, I would say that scientists try to get things right - and are not always successful.

The scientist's basic job is to quantitatively measure natural phenomena and try to draw conclusions about how the underlying physical mechanisms work. This process is limited by the accuracy of the instruments currently available and the amount of prior understanding.

Often scientific theories must be updated as new understanding is gained. New knowledge since Darwin indicates that development of species follows a very complex set of rules called DNA, which science is trying to understand - and so far understands very little.

DNA seems quite similar to a type of computer program and, if so, may guide the development of all life, while itself is being somewhat modified by the environment encountered. The big question is, who wrote the original computer program (where did the DNA come from)? To me the idea that "God wrote it" is quite appealing.

Joe Palen

Eugene

Health care is No. 1 issue

Universal health care is "The most important issue" domestically! The Register-Guard's Sept. 3 editorial calling for a national health care plan must be on the agenda of every candidate for president. It should also be part of Oregon's agenda. There are at least 25 states where Health Care For All or allied organizations are working for a single-payer health plan for their state. Physicians For a National Health Program have 15,000 members continuing their efforts at a national level.

It isn't just the 47 million without any health care insurance who should be concerned. A fourth of all bankrupted families had health insurance but still could not pay their health care bills and went bankrupt because of them. Health care in America is a broken system. Every family knows someone who isn't insured or is underinsured. With health insurance CEOs receiving obscene salaries, some with enormous bonuses, this is national disgrace!

Booth 68 at the Eugene Celebration will have three organizations working for a universal plan; Gov. John Kitzhaber's Archimedes, Health Care For All Oregon and Universal Health Care Oregon will answer questions and provide information. Do stop by.

Ruth Duemler

Eugene

Law of Sea treaty flawed

At 322 articles and annexes, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) resembles covert "comprehensive immigration reform," and includes too many disturbing points to mention, while excluding our Security Council veto.

Provisions favor state-owned and large private corporations, raising barriers to entry by small companies and proprietors vital for free societies.

For example, Articles 156-161 discuss governing/managing structure, and article 170 speaks of the U.N.'s own revenue entity called the Enterprise. UNCLOS Annexes 1982-Part 1, Annex III, Article 5,?5say Enterprise shall obtain needed seabed technology on "fair and reasonable" commercial terms, as judged by the governing structure creating the entity. Proceedings become a show trial when individuals and companies holding patented technologies plead their cases, lacking powerful advocates.

Naval treaties provide protective illusions that are quickly dispelled by lack of forthright action.

The treaty must be re-evaluated to protect ships such as U.S.S. Cole from terrorist attack. Interpretation of Articles 19 and 20 defining innocent passage in territorial waters can exclude all but navigational radar.

Few countries can or will provide practical sea, air and undersea supremacy, substituting for our own aircraft, undersea craft, boats, sonar, and tactical radar and communication nets.

Nolan Nelson

Eugene