Letters in the Editor's Mailbag.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Can attack be justified?

While reading last weekend's graphic account of the Ukrainian air show tragedy in which so many people died and many were mutilated, it occurred to me that this scene was exactly what our president wishes to re-enact in Iraq. Bombing in cities will create the same hell many times over that the errant jet rained from the sky.

An average person is an average person, whether in downtown Portland or downtown Baghdad - a person much more concerned with their daily life and family than with political events over which they feel little control. Can we feel justified in visiting death and destruction upon thousands of these people so like ourselves? What could give us that right?

Are we actually in such danger that we need to resort to a first strike? We say they're evil and they say we're evil, each convinced that God is on our side. But in the final analysis, however the dust may settle to the bloodied earth, which will have been the attacker?

JOE VALASEK Eugene

Stop park vandalism

About 1 a.m. on the morning of July 25, a carrier for The Register-Guard saw children ages 12 to 14 at Petersen Park. When the carrier returned to deliver the paper around 3 a.m., flower pots at the park had been overturned. I live across from the park, and part of my small fence was kicked over, too. This is the latest, but not the only, vandalism in and around the park.

Parents, why are your children out at that time of night? Are they telling you that they're spending the night at a friend's house? Maybe you need to check with other parents. Maybe you need to spend more time with your children. Maybe the city councilors need to set the closing time for parks to 10 p.m. instead of 11 p.m. Even during the summer, it's dark by 10 p.m., and an earlier closing would be easier for park watchers and neighbors.

JOANNE VINTON Eugene

Clear Oregon's skies

What a delight to read The Register-Guard's July 27 editorial praising California's new auto emissions law. I wish The Register-Guard would start a movement to make Oregon the second state with high standards for car and truck emissions.

Just think how great Eugene (as well as the Willamette Valley) would look if we could see it without the haze.

CLARE TUCKER Eugene

Plan worsens crisis

As an employee of a health insurance company, I decided to take a look at the web site of the Health Care for All Oregon initiative to see what this proposal is all about.

I found it to be an eye-opener that the phrase "medically necessary treatment" was used throughout. Who decides what is medically necessary treatment? Is it the "board" referred to in the web site, or is it truly going to be your medical provider? Is Viagra considered medically necessary? What about cosmetic surgery? What about massage therapy and other feel-good treatments? While massage is medically necessary for some, for others it isn't. Who decides?

Also, the initiative says it would provide 1 percent of funds to retrain workers. One percent would not be enough to retrain all health insurance workers throughout Oregon. Also, there are no copayments, no deductibles, no out-of-pocket expenses - so Oregonians will not be responsible for any of their treatments except for the tax. How fair is that? Some people go to the doctor like they go to the corner market, and others never use the doctor. But because there will be no copayments, we will be responsible for those who use the doctor daily.

We must take some responsibility in our health care. Don't misunderstand me, we need health care for uninsured and low-income people. We need to help the elderly pay for their prescriptions. This plan is not it. This plan will increase the cost of health care, because if people can receive treatment as often as desired, there are those who will use it daily. And if "medically necessary" is at the patient's or physician's discretion, the costs could become exorbitant.

Please, I urge people to vote no. This plan will make the health care crisis worse.

JENNIFER TURLEY Eugene

Well-organized event

Don Oakerson and his staff are to be commended for their work at this year's Relay For Life. Once again, they put on a great event and the community came out to show its support for the American Cancer Society.

As a team captain for AccuTelI Inc., I have attended monthly Relay for Life meetings since February. Don has shared stories, tears and sincere gratitude at each meeting. He motivates, inspires and is a genuine person.

I am grateful to Don for being the person he is. I look forward to Relay For Life 2003. I am already planning fund-raisers for it.

JESSYCA DIOSZEGHY Eugene

CAPTION(S):

The Register-Guard welcomes letters on topics of general interest. Our length limit is 250 words; all letters are subject to condensation. Writers are limited to one letter per calendar month. Because of the volume of mail, not all letters can be printed. Letters must be signed with the writer's full name. An address and daytime telephone number are needed for verification purposes; this information will not be published or released. Mail letters to Mailbag, P.O. Box 10188, Eugene, OR 97440-2188 Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]