Letters in the Editor's Mailbag.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Food bank chief got bad rap

FOOD for Lane County's mission is to alleviate the serious problem of hunger in our community. It is time to put this mission back on the front burner.

However, it is a shame that such a totally blown-out-of-proportion story needed a scapegoat - particularly when that person, Caroline Frengle, has devoted 19 years to building such a worthwhile organization.

The "whistle blowing" of a disgruntled former employee and of one or two vindictive board members made a mountain out of a molehill. Had it not been for their relentless attacks on Frengle, I feel certain that a more just conclusion would have occurred.

It was time for more defined policies and more in-depth board supervision, and, perhaps, it was time for new leadership - all of which could have been worked out in an orderly fashion. The majority of board members are fair minded individuals, and I believe they felt as much to blame as Frengle and that needed corrections could be made in a fair manner. Unfortunately, the majority was swayed to immediately throw out Frengle.

Did she deserve to be told on Friday to pack up and be out on Monday? I believe that several board members and most of the staff and volunteer workers would agree that she got a bad rap - and would join me in saluting the great work she has done.

Now, let's get back to the real problem - hunger in Lane County.

EBEN DOBSON

Eugene

Legalize gay marriage

Bill Northrup's Aug. 15 letter reveals a very common logical flaw. He is absolutely correct that it is OK to say of any act that "these things don't make sense to me."

However, nobody is asking him to do it. If two men are allowed to marry, this act will have zero effect on his own marriage. None whatsoever. He will still have all of the rights given to him by the state. He will still have all the same spiritual benefits he perceives in his own marriage.

However, by keeping gay marriage illegal, there is a very real effect on other people. There are literally hundreds of special rights bundled into a state-recognized marriage. It is unfair, and offensive to the concept of equality before the law, for any one group to be singled out to be denied these rights. I will stand loudly and clearly to say that Northrup has the right to marry the willing adult partner of his choice, no matter how I feel about his chosen spouse, and no matter whether I approve of his marriage. Why won't he do the same for other people?

His religion commands him to marry only a woman. I can respect that. Nobody is trying to force him to marry a man. However, by passing laws to force other people to follow the tenets of Northrup's religion only, then he really is asking everyone else to worship his god.

PAT LUTHER

Eugene

We must find common ground

Our country is more polarized than it has been since the Vietnam War. The events of Sept. 11 have stirred powerful emotions in us, and rather than bringing us together, they have become a catalyst to rip us apart.

On issues ranging from the Iraq war to abortion to the environment to separation of church and state, we have become a country of seemingly irreconcilable differences. Rather than fulfill his campaign pledge to be a "uniter, not a divider," President Bush has inflamed the atmosphere with belligerent "you're-with-us-or-you're-against-us" rhetoric. The press contributes mightily with its "Crossfire" mentality of pitting polar opposites in mindless shouting matches.

Those who, in the name of patriotism, threaten, vandalize or act violently toward those with whom they disagree are not being patriotic, democratic or American. They are violating the sacred premises on which our country was formed. Their actions are dangerous not only to the individuals whom they injure, but to the health of our nation and the freedom they profess to uphold.

I don't know how we meet in the middle or how we compromise when it seems our value systems are so fundamentally opposed. But if our civilization is to survive, we who feel passionately and hold strong opinions must engage in civil dialogue. We must speak our minds without personal attack; we must listen to each other; we must find common ground where we can, and when that is impossible, we must agree to respectfully disagree.

PAUL CHASMAN

Waldport

Teen treated like a nuisance

I recently participated in Oregon Festival of American Music's free events at the Hult Center and the Shedd chapel. Practically everyone there was a senior citizen. At first, I was surprised to see that hardly any young people went to see the films and lectures, but I soon found out why.

My friends and I were treated horribly by the elderly people around us. They glared, made sounds like they were disgusted and were just downright rude to us. I know that they think teen-agers don't respect them. Just because some people think all teen-agers are rude and horrible doesn't mean all of us are. Please don't treat us like we are that way, because so many of us aren't.

If I stereotyped all of the elderly people in Eugene because of what I experienced last week, I'd say they're rude and horrible. My friends and I are very interested in musicals and music in general. We came to enjoy the free events that were for the public. I guess we weren't informed that it was only for old people.

I would really love to go to more things like OFAM, but not unless I am treated like a human being, not a nuisance.

KAYLA STAPLEY, Age 15

Eugene

Raising taxes ignores voters

I am continually appalled at my state government's increasing willingness to ignore the will of the voters and pass legislation, specifically a proposal for income tax increases this time, that was clearly voted down by the people less than a year ago.

This government's paternalistic reversal of voter directives is both insulting and destructive to the democratic process. State officials are not my parents, and are not responsible for ensuring my safety from my own stupidity. I listen to enough news radio and political opinion shows to know that there are some very viable budget options that have been proposed that adequately fund schools and essential services without increasing taxes, yet the mainstream media and my state representatives are silent about these options.

In summary, there is no emotional rationalization that justifies ignoring the will of the people, regardless of how our elected officials may personally feel about the topic. Lawmakers may think we are all stupid, uninformed, apathetic or otherwise purely incapable of making such important decisions as limiting our own government, but the day of reckoning is coming, and we shall see who survives the next election cycle.

I forbid elected officials to ignore my will and raise my taxes. They should consider it an order from their boss, the citizen voter.

TIM POLLARD 

Springfield

KLCC changes? Who cares?

I am disappointed in and embarrassed by The Register-Guard dedicating front-page space to an Aug. 19 article about two radio personalities leaving the KLCC radio station.

There are a variety of global events occurring that would have been a more logical choice for front-page coverage and are more important to more people than two largely unknown radio personalities leaving a largely unknown radio station.

This is yet another example of The Register-Guard catering to the minority of Eugene's population. Perhaps the citizens of Eugene will someday demand a newspaper that caters to all citizens' interests.

SEAN HUGHES 

Eugene

Squeaky wheels getting greased

Now that most of us are being taxed, without a vote, an extra 3 cents a gallon for gas, I would like to point out an error made in the city of Eugene's thinking. A good example is the obstacle course that the city has installed on East 33rd Avenue between Hilyard and Donald streets and that is also appearing on other streets.

This street and others are through streets and have been for many years, yet people buy homes on these streets and then complain about the traffic. They remind me of people who buy homes near airports (or speedways) and then complain about the noise. If a homeowner lives on a street without sidewalks or curbs or if they need to be repaired or replaced, it is the homeowners' responsibility to pay for these improvements. It should be the same for traffic calming devices.

At least in Springfield and Cottage Grove, they are using their money for actual street repairs. So far, the insanity that seems to be the rule in Eugene hasn't appeared in the other two cities.

Back a few years ago, there was a ballot measure requiring all fees and tax increases be approved by vote. It was soundly trounced. Aren't you starting to wish you had voted the other way as I did? Ah, yes. The squeaky wheels do get all the grease in Eugene, don't they? And the taxpayers foot the bill for these few squeakers.

JIM ELIAS

Springfield

Go east, young man

A recent political cartoon (Register-Guard, Aug. 18) shows a couple leaving California because of the "flaky politics." We can only assume that they are headed east, not north.

KATHLEEN SHELLEY

Vida