OPINION.

Byline: The Register-Guard

News flash: It rains in Oregon

I've suffered through hysterical letters from the right and left; put up with offensive letters from bigots, racists and anti-Semites; persevered through tedious rantings by, for and about Eugene City Councilor Bonny Bettman. But in his complaints about the Pre Classic, Matt Harvey (letters, June 6) went too far!

For the first time in 20 years, it rained on the Pre - not all of it, just the beginning. Guess what? This is Oregon, it rains here. If Harvey had bought reserved seats ahead of time, he and his dad could have been high and dry under a roof. More than 13,000 track fans enjoyed a wonderful event in a stadium that only seats 10,000. It would appear Harvey is neither a track fan nor a real Oregonian.

What really gets my goat, however, is his using his father as an excuse for his own shortcomings. Since when is 70 years old a measuring stick for frailty? As one rapidly approaching that milestone, I often find myself among my peers in walking the few blocks from parking spots to Hayward Field or McArthur Court for events. And as an active Obsidian, I frequently find myself striving to keep up with my elders on hikes.

Harvey proves, however, that one can be old and crotchety at any age.

MARSHALL KANDELL

Eugene

EWEB workers continue struggle

When I read Steve Buck's response to Eugene Water & Electric Board union members (letters, June 6), I thought about how it embodied an attitude that has come full circle.

I remembered back into our country's labor history when the first courageous Americans stood up and put their thoughts to work with their labor struggles, many with great sacrifice and blood, and brought into the world a new bottom line for those who labored - the eight-hour day, safety in the workplace, a living wage and health care. I thought about the vision that inspired these heroes to struggle for a better world for everyone, not just themselves.

Their legacy is nowhere near fulfillment. In fact, it has been chipped away piece by piece until it is hardly recognizable. Whether the EWEB workers are conscious of it or not, their particular struggle is almost all that is left of this legacy.

SARITA LIEF 

Springfield

Delta Ridge is an excellent site

I live in Cottage Grove. However, the location of the two major hospitals in Eugene-Springfield is important to me.

Coming from the south, we need fast access to our hospital of choice. Exiting off Interstate 5 onto Belt Line Road would get us over to North Delta Highway and to McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center's proposed Delta Ridge site swiftly. I know, because I've driven it. The location is also much more accessible for people living in West Eugene and the Veneta-Elmira area than Sacred Heart Medical Center's River Bend location would be.

Having only one major hospital in an area that is becoming larger every day doesn't make sense. It limits people's choices. That's why I support McKenzie-Willamette's proposal to build at Delta Ridge.

The neighbors who cite traffic as the primary reason McKenzie-Willamette shouldn't build are crying wolf. Traffic is increasing all over the metro area. Have these folks tried to drive west on 18th Avenue in the last 10 years? Try dealing with I-5 from Cottage Grove to Coburg. I've read McKenzie-Willamette's proposals for dealing with the traffic impact and I'm satisfied they will be a big improvement to the area.

Further, McKenzie-Willamette is an excellent hospital. My family has been hospitalized there just recently. The care my grandmother received was both professional and compassionate. I want to ensure they continue to thrive for another 50 years. Delta Ridge is an excellent hospital location.

CHRISTINA LUND

Cottage Grove

Bush's list of accomplishments

I just want to thank President George Bush and those who voted for him. Here is my list of his superior accomplishments since he took over the office:

1) Got Saddam Hussein out of power.

I say again how much I appreciate everything Bush has done for this country. If anyone wants to add to this list, just write in like I have.

DENNIS DWYER

Springfield

New courthouse is 'pile of ugly'

A few days ago a friend and I were in Eugene and she took the long way to Interstate 5. In the course of this detour I saw the most hideous travesty to this city's landscape yet: the new federal courthouse. Eugene has enough hideous buildings. Putting in this monolithic monstrosity that looks like something out of a bad sci-fi movie has made Eugene look even uglier, and more disjointed and schizophrenic. I find it classically Eugene to put a totally inorganic building with absolutely no soul or warmth basically across the street from where the the new natural foods market is supposed to be built.

With all the beautiful stone, tile and building materials available that actually look like something that belongs in the Willamette Valley, our brilliant officials have saddled Lane County taxpayers with yet another pile of ugly. If their intent was to intimidate the defendants coming to court - mission accomplished! The new courthouse looks like a giant death chamber from a futuristic military society.

I find it absolutely amazing that an area that can't get its head out of its '60s would allow this abysmal futuristic abomination.

L. MICHAEL ADLER

Creswell

Leaders share blame for Haditha

The June 8 letter from Paul Tyler seems to almost intentionally ignore logic. No one is accusing everyone who served in wartime of being a war criminal. That would encompass a very large percentage of the population, myself included.

The Marines at Haditha are accused of violating the Geneva Conventions that we, as civilized human beings, use to minimize civilian casualties during conflicts. The Geneva Conventions go back to 1864, and are one of the things that separate us from the barbarians.

That there will be civilians killed or injured during time of war is a sad reality. The rules of engagement are in place to guide combatants and to help them to avoid noncombatants when possible. It is the deliberate killing of civilians that is the issue here. If these Marines or any others are guilty of that, then they should be dealt with accordingly.

I am sorry for the Marines at Haditha. I was in their boots in Vietnam. I felt the fear of not knowing friend from foe, of fighting an insurgency. The Marines will be tried.

The people ultimately responsible, however, are far up the chain of command. Their names are George Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz and Condoleezza Rice. If you are placing blame, place it squarely on their shoulders.

JIM SCHMIDT

Eugene

Assistance League shop open

The Junior League Thrift Shop has closed its doors, but the Assistance League Thrift Shop is open for business. Gently Used, at 1161 Willamette Street, is the shop for Assistance League of Eugene. We happily accept your donations and your business.

Your patronage supports our community programs: Operation School Bell, which clothed 1,100 children for school last year; Assistance League of Eugene's Children's Dental Center, which provided free dental care to 350 school children; Caring and Sharing and Operation Bookshelf, which provide services to seniors. Proceeds from Gently Used also support Operation Hug a Bear; Oregon Heritage, which offers programs and tours to students at Lane County Historical Museum; and Assistance League of Eugene's Welcome Basket.

We at Assistance League of Eugene are very proud of the work we do in the community, and we want to thank you for your continued support.

CAROLYN VIKE, President

Assistance League of Eugene

Eugene

Rumsfeld should look in mirror

I couldn't help but chuckle when reading about the recent death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and seeing that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stated that we had perhaps killed the person with the most blood of innocent men, women and children on their hands in the history of the world.

I think it is time for Rumsfeld and his crew to take a look in the mirror, lest they have forgotten about the death and destruction they have wreaked upon the innocent civilians of Iraq and Afghanistan.

TIM BROADBENT

Eugene

Stewart didn't need to vote

I have one small question concerning Commissioner Faye Stewart's vote on June 7 to break the deadlock in regard to his father's Measure 37 claim: What deadlock?

It is basic parliamentary procedure that a majority is necessary for a motion to pass. To quote Robert's Rules of Order: "Since a majority in the affirmative is necessary to adopt the motion ... a final result in the form of a tie rejects it."

As two votes for the motion is not a majority of a four-member body, the motion to approve the claim failed. There was no reason to force Commissioner Stewart to vote at all.

DAVID HINKLEY

Eugene

Stop oil drilling off Oregon Coast

This is not to knock President Bush, but one of his more recent ideas in trying to find more oil was to put oil rigs off the Oregon Coast. Oil is becoming scarcer, yet for some reason the government has not made any serious strides in trying to pursue another way to produce energy.

Electric automobiles, solar power and wind power are now much more feasible and affordable. Yet we don't see nearly as much money being put in that direction. When we hear about any of these things we don't take any individual action to improve or stop the abuse of the environment.

I don't own a car because the effect on the environment far outweighs the benefits of my possible usage of it. I'm not saying people should give up cars, I'm saying people should learn to stand up for the environment in more ways than simply voicing their displeasure. If we don't, then expect the oil rigs on Oregon's Coast to only be the first step toward the demise of what is the most beautiful state in the country.

DOUG WEIL

Eugene