Posted: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 12:00 am
I am having a difficult time finding forgiveness in my heart for the Michael Vicks of the world, who believe that animals are here to do with as they please, no matter how cruel that may be.
Unfortunately the laws of this country do very little (or at least not enough) to protect animals from such cruelty. Dog fighting is despicable. Those who engage in should be dealt with harshly.
Sadly, in the case of Mr. Vick, his money will buy him a plea bargain that will see him serve little to no jail time. The National Football League should ban him for life.
Stephen di Stasio
Corvallis
Adair threatened most by growth
The Adair Village City Council wants to enact an "emergency curfew:" to "better protect public peace, morals and welfare."
How ironic that this same council is fighting for approval to build of 400-plus homes in the area. The area does not have the infrastructure and services to support the existing residents.
Cherrill Boissonou
Corvallis
How can men view tattoos on women?
Once upon a time, mostly-macho men, especially sailors, had tattoos to show off, which, in later life, many of them wished they didn't have.
Now it seems a fetish for young women to have numerous ink-inserted body embellishments. When this female fad has run its course, what will these ladies with comic-page pictures on their bodies do?
I was served in a Corvallis restaurant recently by an attractive young lady who was wearing a partial blouse and hip-hugging jeans. In the rear, between short shirt and low pants, was upper part of a tattoo.
Now, the purpose is to show the pictures, isn't it? For sure the waitress herself couldn't see the artwork. She would have had to back up to a mirror to get a view! Would it have been appropriate for me to ask her if she would mind lowering her britches so the entire tattoo could be seen?
Or, how about the bosom tattoos? Same story: colored picture only partly shown above the blouse. An unbuttoned blouse, and maybe a removed brassiere would reveal the entire engraving!
However, I think the exposed and unadorned natural body is probably more attractive than the funny-book look. I know for certain it would be a lot more sensual.
Chuck Wenstrom
Corvallis
Only his own record a plot against Smith
Jean Nelson gropes for conspiracy theories when her Aug. 15 letter suggests that those who attended Sen. Gordon Smith's GOP picnic on Aug. 8 worked in cahoots: I'm one of the letter-writers to whom Nelson refers, but I didn't attend Smith's picnic, so that shoots that theory!
I wrote as a caring citizen, and I thought it was important to remind ourselves of Smith's recurrent election-cycle flip-flops n on Iraq, healthcare, seniors, education and the environment.
Fortunately, we have three very principled, consistent alternatives: Democrats Steve Novick and Jeff Merkley, and Independent John Frohnmayer. None have the GOP big bucks that Smith has, of course, but all three are outspoken advocates for veterans, education, poverty prevention, issues affecting seniors, universal healthcare and restoring a viable middle class. Not to mention the environment and protecting Oregon from unrestrained Measure 37 development, nor getting us out of Iraq and developing alternative sources of energy.
No conspiracy needed: just check Gordon Smith's shameful voting record: "No" on healthcare; "No" on seniors; "Yes" on a disastrous occupation of Iraq leading nowhere. Smith has voted 20 times to continue putting our volunteer soldiers into an unwinnable - and fatal - hard spot.
Still looking for a conspiracy? Try looking at working folks' frustration at having their jobs and healthcare knocked out from under them. Try listening to employers who are crippled by staggering healthcare and fuel prices. Try listening to seniors, to teachers, to skilled tradesmen - then grope again for conspiracy theories as to why we sound so similar.
Louise Owens
Lebanon
'Free trade' accords spur immigration
At U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio's recent townhall meeting, stepped up immigration enforcement was mentioned only once: A concerned farmer urged DeFazio to consider the hardship on U.S. farmers when their trained work force is threatened.
I would have shared another concern about stepped up immigration enforcement. My perspective comes from my July experience in Nicaragua, where I witnessed the root causes of migration while on a Witness for Peace delegation.
Like NAFTA in Mexico, CAFTA is creating a migration scenario in Central America. The poor pay a high cost for U.S. "free trade" policies, especially in the agricultural sector. These policies set up an unequal playing field for small and mid-sized farmers. To support their families, many are forced to seek employment by fleeing to the city for unskilled, very low-paying jobs in "free trade zone" factories. These jobs fail to sustain families and result in migration to other counties where people can find work and send home remittances.
We must acknowledge that immigration cannot be separated from understanding poverty. We must acknowledge that U.S. free-trade policies contribute to unemployment, increased poverty and increased migration. It is time to find real solutions for the root causes of global migration instead of scapegoating immigrants.
In the meantime, we must respect the hard work and human dignity of immigrants. It's time to demand comprehensive immigration reform including a path to citizenship, family reunification, worker protections and living wages in the United States and around the globe.
Aleita Hass-Holcombe
Corvallis