Letters, letters, letters

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday.

To The Editor:

Carl Yee's response (The Nugget, Letters to the Editor, May 26) reminds me of an experience I had 33 years ago.

In Eugene in my mid-20s, I began protesting the Vietnam war late in the game. One day the local news told of a demonstration scheduled that evening. I skipped it.

My neighbor came over and said he was surprised to find me home. He was sure I was one of those ungrateful demonstrators. He accused me of being a communist hippie, and went on to say some of the same things Carl Yee said in his letter last week. He made a scary scene, so I said nothing.

But I was inspired by his comments to attend that demonstration and I have been speaking out against U.S. invasions ever since.

I've watched as the U.S. invaded Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Central America, Grenada, Iraq, Afghanistan and now Iraq again.

I've had enough of the White House bullying other countries in my name, lying to me when it says it's protecting the world from despots. Each time I scratch the surface of these "noble invasions," I find lies and deceit.

I have a young Army Reservist friend who's putting his life on the line every day in Iraq, not because he thinks the war is right, but because he needs the money to go to college. He's paying for his education with Russian roulette.

Meanwhile, like Nero, Bush fiddles -- and may well fiddle away my young friend's veteran's benefits, educational and job opportunities, and his civil liberties -- by the time this war is over.

What I learned from Vietnam is that I must speak up early against U.S. invasions of weaker, poorer nations and not wait until we've already lost tens of thousands of our troops and killed hundreds of thousands of inhabitants of those lands that we invade.

Jane Stevens

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To the Editor:

In the May 26 edition, Carl Yee, obviously a Rush Limbaugh dittohead, parrots the Limbaugh line that the Abu Gahrib prisoners "got less than some fraternity hazing when I was in college."

Hello? I wonder what fraternity Mr. Yee was in, Phi Delta Marquis de Sade? I challenge Mr. Yee to identify one fraternity in any college in the U.S. that allows its members to sodomize their pledges with light sticks and sic police dogs on them.

As to his claims they were only terrorists, the U.S. Command ackowledged that 70-90 percent of the detainees abused were non-combatants rounded up in street sweeps.

R.T.Tihista

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To the Editor:

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the numerous people who helped make the First Annual Sisters Elementary Garden Fair a success.

Despite 35-mile-per-hour winds, occasional rain, and chilly temperatures, we had a good turnout and managed to raise enough money to continue our free garden classes through the elementary school next year.

More than 60 children attend our lunchtime and afterschool classes each week, learning about basic plant propagation, composting, plant identification, watering, etc.

Thank you to all the vendors who braved the weather to sell their wares and to all the volunteers who gave hours and hours of their time to this project! A special thank-you goes to Tim Comfort and the office staff at SES; they have been very supportive since the beginning of our program last year .

A thank you and an apology goes to our guest speakers (Joni Shcumacher, Doug Stott, Suzanne Smither and Lorena Blivens). The weather was so awful, we couldn't get anyone to sit down for a presentation! These hardy souls adapted, and wandered through the crowd answering questions as needed.

Thanks to all the businesses and individuals who donated items or gift certificates for our silent auction; it's amazing how generous people continue to be in this tiny town, where it seems there's a fundraiser every week. Thanks!

Last, but certainly not least, thank you to the SES Garden Club kids, who grew so many plants and who, with their enthusiasm, motivated us to undertake this project.

Vonda Soliz, Shannon Pullard, Denise Mariman

Garden Fair Organizers

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To the Editor:

I feel so lucky to live in such a wonderful, caring and loving community.

I would like to thank all of you who came forward to give to someone none of you know (Patty Kolb). I would like to let you know Patty is now walking on her new legs and she will be able to dance with her father at her parents 50th wedding anniversary.

Patty has written me a letter and wanted me to thank all of you that helped fulfill her dream.

Thanks again,

Bobbie Tafte