Letters in the Editor's Mailbag.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Minority voters blocked

What a surprise! Using any of the three standards (prevailing, least restrictive, or most restrictive) for counting Florida ballots, Al Gore won the election. Even by the accounting of the Supreme Court standards, George Bush won Florida by only approximately 500 votes - a result I would be pleased to accept, were it not for the thousands of minority voters turned away at the polls.

Accusations of civil rights violations are numerous: voter intimidation, polling sites closed without notice, roadblocks, lost voter registrations, interpreters barred from helping non-English speaking voters, and last but not least, removal of suspected felons from voter registration lists.

Florida was the only state in the nation to contract first-stage removal of voting rights to a private company (with strong Republican ties), Choice Point. Martin Fagan, spokesperson for Choice Point, acknowledged that 8,000 of its listed felons to be scrubbed from Florida voter rolls were guilty only of misdemeanors - and went on to blame the original source of its list, the state of Texas. (A large number of the listed felons were African American, 93 percent of which minority voted for Gore.)

Choice Point refused to disclose criteria for its "scrub list," even to local elections officials in Florida. Even more alarming is Fagan's statement "Given the outcome of our work in Florida, and with a new president in place, we think our services will expand across the country."

I'll get over it someday, probably about the same time I get over the John F. Kennedy assassination, or Oliver North's admission (after his pardon) to the sabotage of Jimmy Carter's Desert One hostage rescue initiative, or possibly when I get over the Sept. 11 World Trade Center terrorist attacks. Don't hold your breath.

ARTHUR ROSS CADY Springfield

Move Donnesbury strip

The so-called "comic" strip Doonesbury belongs in the Commentary section of The Register-Guard, not in the funny papers. There was nothing funny in the strip published on Nov. 11, Veterans Day. It was insulting to our nation and its armed forces.

I spent many years of my life developing the missiles that can strike an enemy from 2,000 miles away. I don't consider them cowardly, just good sense. I remember that the crossbow was once condemned to be cowardly. In fact, any weapon that gives one side an advantage over the other is condemned by the loser.

If Garry Trudeau wants to go out and engage the Taliban hand to hand, by all means let him do it, but meanwhile, get that piece of trash out of the comics section.

CALVIN W. HURD Florence

Smoking law costs jobs

The Nov. 3 article regarding the alleged violation of the new smoking ban by Eugene Bingomania missed key facts. Eugene Bingomania was a pioneer in the state of Oregon in providing a smoke-free bingo environment. Its non-smoking customers have played bingo in a smoke-free environment for several years, a unique feature in Eugene bingo. Hence, Eugene Bingomania is in compliance with all valid portions of the smoking ban ordinance. Questions remain as to the ordinance's validity, not an unfamiliar topic in Eugene.

The ordinance, as predicted, has had a devastating impact on charitable bingo. Under state bingo regulations this will force a closure of bingo halls if the current situation continues. This will hasten the migration of the remaining bingo business to Springfield.

Taken in a larger context, this is another story of Eugene businesses moving to Springfield. Eugene's ordinance threatens the loss of 25 to 30 jobs at the bingo halls, at the same time we are seeing stories of large increases in national and local unemployment. The ordinance is similarly contributing to the state budget shortfall. Lottery receipts are down substantially at bars and taverns subject to the smoking ban.

It is doubtful that Eugene residents take pride in de-funding schools and other state priorities, as well as local charities, and causing job losses, especially during an economic crunch. But that is exactly what the Eugene City Council has done.

GREG HITCHCOCK, Board member

Willamette Valley Track and Field,

Inc. Beaverton

Use air power sparingly 

I agree with Tom Lockard (letters, Nov. 8) and with the Bush administration. If bombing three of our most important buildings and killing thousands of innocent people on American soil is not a declaration of war against our country, I don't know what is.

The terrorists have set the tone for our engagement; military action demands a military response. Unlike the terrorists' actions, our campaign in Afghanistan is not targeting civilians, though it is inevitable that some civilians will be hurt and killed in the process.

Then there is the question of the refugees being generated by our bombing campaign. I think we do have a responsibility to help these people. In addition to humanitarian aid, I think one of the best ways to help them is to the end the heavy bombing so that they can return to their homes. A sustained bombing campaign is costly and becomes less effective after the first few weeks in a country like Afghanistan where there are few military targets to bomb, and we have already hit them all.

From now on I think that our air power should be used sparingly, only when it is absolutely necessary and decisive to the success of special forces and Northern Alliance operations.

HEATHER BOYD Eugene

Beneficial propaganda

One person's propaganda is another's public relations. According to The American Heritage Dictionary, "propaganda" simply means publicity for a cause or doctrine. Publicity may be reliable or deceitful, helpful or misleading, depending upon the conscience of the source.

I remember Hitler's war ministry of propaganda with its "big lie" technique. I also remember our war movies during World War II. Today they, too, have been called "propaganda," but our cause was just, and they promoted it. We were not naive and unsophisticated then, as some say of us. The movies did not dwell on death or the horrors of war, but their stories of heroism rang true.

Now, as then, our cause is just. We have seen again that Americans are capable of courage and heroism. I am glad Hollywood has been asked to make movies that support and encourage our fight against terrorism. Propaganda such movies may be, but in the best sense of the word. I believe they are necessary and right if we are to win the information war, especially abroad.

MARY L. REESE Eugene

Burn less wood

I am writing to ask people to burn wood in their wood stoves and fireplaces far less often. This year there has been no break in elevated levels of particulates for many months because field burning continued until early October, when wood burning began in earnest. Unfortunately, some people mistake the smog they see when looking at our hills and buttes as fog. Particulate matter is the major source of pollution in our valley in winter months.

Besides eye and throat irritation, it causes significant problems for people with asthma, heart problems and sinusitis. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable, and wood smoke is a likely source of cancer and respiratory and heart diseases. For people with existing medical problems it is an immediate threat. It makes sick people sicker and can make healthy people sick.

People who otherwise are environmentally conscientious often think of wood burning as "natural" rather than seeing the pollution it causes in a densely packed valley community. One chimney can often fill an entire neighborhood with billowing smoke. People who would not allow someone to smoke in their house and around their children often do not see the irony of filling their neighbors' yards with smoke. Neighbors who in other ways are kind and thoughtful don't realize that their burning today may lead to our child's trip to the emergency room with asthma tonight.

While burning wood may seem to be an efficient, cheap source of heat, the cost to all of us in loss of quality of life is high. Use alternative sources of heat and find other ways to create a cozy atmosphere at home.

SUZANNE GASCOYNE Eugene

How to site cell towers

I read the Nov. 8 letter from Clyde Carson complaining about all the Not-In-My-Back-Yard people, and thought great - here is the solution to our problem.

We are trying to keep a cell phone tower from being built in an adjacent lot, not quite in our back yard. Maybe we could connect Carson and the cell phone people and they can move it to his back yard. They would have less legal hassle, and all would be happy.

Maybe that should be part of city planning: Get a list of people who want cell towers or gravel pits next to them, and then send the businesses there - no more conflict!

I would like to see how many owners of cell towers or gravel pits are willing to live next door to their own businesses.

HERB KIEKLAK Eugene

Celebrate Kesey's works

As a commmunity, I believe we should come together to read "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" to celebrate our new library, the city we live in, and most importantly, the life and accomplishments of Ken Kesey.

ELLEN McCLEERY, Sophmore

South Eugene High School Eugene

Draft good for country

The draft: The word itself is drowned in negative connotations. To many Americans it means Vietnam. It means thousands of innocent American boys dead in a war that they could not understand. It recalls memories of the impoverished and minorities being sent off to a quagmire that the rich and educated could avoid. The draft also recalls images of the thousands of protesters and dodgers that helped to split America during a major military conflict.

However, the draft is good for America and needs to be reinstituted.

Although very undemocratic, it is an essential part of American democracy. It compels young Americans and their families to worry about foreign engagements. Essentially, it puts responsibility for U.S. foreign policy back into the hands of the public. It is too easy to send soldiers abroad when there is no real impact on the public's interests. Reinstituting the draft would place the public and our apathetic youth in the middle of the debate.

GABE Le CHEVALLIER Eugene

CAPTION(S):

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