The purpose of the proposed safety margin is not to provide a panacea against all risks of riding a bike. Rather, the 3-foot margin provides police officers with a clearly defined legal requirement for determining if a motorist is passing a bicyclist too closely. Although current law mandates that motorists not endanger other roadway users, without a objective measure of a safe margin, police officers must make a judgment call.

A legally defined margin of safety will help officers. It also will remind motor vehicle drivers of their responsibility to interact with other roadway users safely. The margin will make it clear that it is not legal to "squeeze by" a bicyclist when there isn't enough room to do so safely.

The editor stated that more separated bicycle paths are the answer to bicyclist safety. Bicycle pathways are great for recreation and travel between cities in some situations (a great example is the proposed Corvallis-to-Albany path), but they are not the safety solution for those who use bicycles for their daily transportation. These bicyclists need access to places not served by bike paths (such as grocery stores, doctor offices, etc.). The solution to bicyclist safety lies in a combination of increased awareness - through education - that both motorists and bicyclists share the same rights and responsibilities of road use, and through enhanced enforcement against motorists and bicyclists who violate those rules. The three-foot safety margin will assist the public and law enforcement in both of these.

Brad Upton

Corvallis

Molly Ivins' humor provided perspective

Molly Ivins kept me from hating "Dubya." She modeled the ability to see the humanity of nuts and fools and to keep her sense of humor and humanity equal to her outrage.

She told great stories about the craziness of Texas politics. Rather than make you want to run away from the sausage, she made it fun to watch because there was so much to learn when you let go of the hate.

Molly Ivins was all about the difference between passion and hate. She cared up to the end, and she never gave in to the idea that "liberty and justice for all" was not about this world

She understood the stupidity of war and the courage it takes to do the work of peacemaking. She had no illusions about how mean and nasty the power-mad could be; she just saw how silly and pretentious they acted and let us know that we were seeing naked emperors together.

She was in on the joke with God about being human in this world. May she always find a reason to smile with the rest of the saints at the party.

Don Caughey

Corvallis

We aren't required to swear to God

I was surprised to read the Jan. 20 article, "One oath fits all," about the juror's oath.

In 2004, my jury pool was correctly informed of our right to an affirmation of the oath - without swearing to God. During the voir dire, I invoked Article 1, Sections 6 and 7 of the state Constitution and was granted this right. One may do this on religious as well as anti-religious or separationist grounds.

Several denominations refer to certain Judeo-Christian scriptures concerning this matter. Notaries public are also informed of these facts.

If such protections do not exist in any state's constitution, the federal courts may intervene. As late as 1968, the Supreme Court forced Maryland to correct this matter and revise its constitution regarding statements made by both jurors and public officials.

The U.S. Constitution does not require any official to say "swear" or "so help me God." Three presidents have invoked this right.

There have been other nonconformities. During the 1960s, one could be asked a pointed question about religious beliefs while being interviewed at the public University of Wyoming, and their form for reimbursement did not provide for the affirmation (without swearing to God). One might hope that this has since been corrected.

The federal passport office has done so. In 1973, its form had a religious oath at the end. I signed, but I protested. Upon reapplying in 2003, I found that the form simply stated "swear or affirm." One could strike out the first two words and receive the passport without trouble.

William M. McKinney

Corvallis

Film about Iwo Jima held history lessons

"Letters from Iwo Jima" is a truly great movie. Sixty-two years ago, I spent two weeks on Iwo Jima, fighting the entrenched Japanese, and another week recuperating from a gunshot wound until I was evacuated by air to a hospital in Guam.

This film captures some of the grim reality of this struggle. It tells us something of what our soldiers and Marines now are enduring in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have seen it three times. There were four other people in attendance.

In 1945, I thought I was fighting for an end to such awful bloodletting, and that after we got rid of Tojo and Hitler, the world would come up with a better way of dealing with the needs and conflicts of mankind. Unfortunately, this has not happened.

I wish more people would see this powerful film. It has many lessons to teach all of us.

My feelings about the Japanese are different from what they were in 1945. I could never have predicted how Japan and America have changed.

Craig B. Leman

Corvallis

Bush penitentiary a more apt tribute

In reading about all the disagreements over a presidential library for President Bush, I am thinking that perhaps a presidential prison might be a more appropriate memorial. It could house the financial and political miscreants in the current administration or even those people in the great state of Texas, whose DNA probably will exonerate them from prior convictions.

Any disputes over location would be entirely consistent with similar institutions that people do not want in their own backyards.

Susan Shumway

Corvallis

Leaders 'whispering in the shadows'

What a shame that our elected representatives need citizens marching in the streets of our nation's capital before they will consider taking action. What if our police, firemen, or teachers needed the public to march in our streets to get them to do their jobs? My only conclusion is that our representations listen to some other voices before they listen to "we the people." It seems that special interests whispering in their ear are more powerful than the voice of American citizens. It demonstrates the fact that the most important business of the nation can't be left to those few in Washington. Citizens must stand up, get informed and make sure our voice is heard above the whispers from the shadows.

David Anderer

Albany

Would leaving Iraq bring on genocide?

It is time to ask the awful question that many Americans have on their minds:

If the United States leaves Iraq, will there be genocide in Iraq? And will the other countries in the Middle East go to war with each other because of the sectarian bloodbath in Iraq?

Riley King

Corvallis

Nothing new about surge for Iraq

Bush's "new" approach to dealing with Iraq is lots and lots of MOTS (More Of The Same).

Rex Roberts

Corvallis