Letters to the Editor

The latest on Marylin Shannon, former Republican state senator, is so repugnant and irresponsible that it's worth repeating. Here's what she said: "Two laws created in Salem have established a whole new era in re-verse discrimination, with a new and alien set of moral values that have now been foisted on the people of Oregon. … We're starting a new effort to gather signatures to repeal these two laws." That was followed by a statement from State Sen. Gary George to Basic Rights Oregon: "My ad-vice to the gay community is SHUT UP, just don't talk about it. If you walk around talking about what you do in the bedroom, you should be on the pervert channel."
Wow! My response to Shannon is that the entire state of Oregon knows that's a plea of desperation. I would ask Shannon if strip-ping someone of their basic human rights is part of her "set of moral values." Isn't that better defined as "immoral"? Measure 36 had nothing to do with domestic partnerships or anti-discrimination; it's a ruse. As for Sen. George, his comment sounds like what you might hear on an elemen-tary school playground - i.e., juvenile.

Hello Laurie J. Rice, I was excited to see an article on my new favorite place, the Brick House.

Though there are many things I don't like about Mt. Bachelor's spring schedule, there is one that bothers me the most. Having Sunrise and Summit as the only lifts for the last three weekends is unacceptable.
This is my sixth year to buy a season pass and I love spring skiing. However, I can't see driving over from Corvallis to ski those two lifts, and if I do, I will be upset that the skiing is so limited.
I am an advanced 49-year-old skier and have little interest in Sunrise lift. Summit is unpredictable, and even when it is good the window of time is limited. We need Pine Marten or at least Skyliner to make the day interesting and worth the trouble. In past spring seasons, we get most of our runs on Pine Marten groomers waiting for the top to soften up.
Why can't Skyliner be the weather back-up? (Who skis Rainbow?)

Letter of the Week 
Nothing is more vital to OUR democracy than fair and effective elections. We rely (with varying success) on public officials for fairness and competence in the design and administration of our election process. We also rely (with varying success) on our citizenry to participate in the process.
We must also rely on the media to do its part in promoting fair and effective elections. By providing adequate and appropriate information, commentary and analysis, our media can educate and inform voters on candidates, issues and on the electoral process itself.

After reading recent comments by Randy Grove, human resources director at Paratransit Services, I'm wondering if bulbous red clown noses are a management perk.
Grove says BAT workers want a 135% wage increase totaling $2.8 million. I've been following the transit union negotiations pretty closely, and I sure don't recall numbers that come remotely close to these outrageous claims.

To Matt Janney, president and general manager, Mt. Bachelor:
Hey man, remember those good old Healy days of summer? Yeah, those days when the mountain would stay open for all us snow lovers almost as long as the snow lasted? Dude, you were there and loving it all too! What happened, man? What happened to all those sunny summer mornings cruising down the hill under a hot summer sun? What happened to Bill's mountain, what happened to skiing thru July 4? What is up with May 18? That closing is so lame, man!

Earlier this month we marked the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's death, or should I say his assassination, in Memphis, TN. Hours have been spent on radio and television commemorating the event. Articles, some at great length, have been written about what this Baptist preacher accomplished not only for his race but for the problem of segregation we have in America.
What never seems to be mentioned is what context, motivation and background motivated this great man. Sure, he was a Baptist preacher, but what made him do what he did, say what he said, motivated this man?

"War in Iraq"??? It ended on an aircraft carrier with "Mission Accomplished"!

Kudos to the local TV station for positioning a reporter outside the 4th Street post office on April 15. What a strategic place to pin down the people of Bend and ask some hard-hitting questions about taxes! I approached the reporter to offer my view: Paying taxes sucks when nearly 50% goes to military spending and not even 5% goes to education and social services.

Letter of the Week 
In reaction now to the news about Thomas Beatie, the pregnant man in Bend, I offer some thoughts that have come out of conversations I've had over the last few weeks.
It doesn't matter how you feel about the issues of gender, sexuality and fertility, but I respect the Beaties' courage to stand up and put themselves and their lives in the spotlight. People have wondered why they are doing it. Why? Because! Because nothing will ever change, wrongs will not be righted, until someone has the courage to be out there in the open and help clear the way for others.