You are viewing an archived issue of the Eugene Weekly. To return to our current issue, please click here.
 |
  |
 |
|||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
Feature: The Poets Speak Desiring peace inspires verse. Happening Person: Jan Cuny Zinn
in Eugene
For nearly a half-century, Dr. Zinn has been both chronicler of and participant in major U.S. peace and justice movements. A Jewish American whose working-class immigrant parents labored in poverty all their lives, Zinn does not suffer from the delusion that hard work is all that's required to realize the "American Dream." Likewise, he is keenly aware how past and present U.S. political leaders and institutions preserve our nation's wealth for the few and perpetuate for tens of millions of Americans the concomitant violence of poverty, hunger, and ignorance in service to so-called national interests. Nevertheless, Zinn remains hopeful. In his writings, teachings, and activism, Zinn bears witness to the indefatigable spirit of ordinary people who successfully overcome their oppressors. "How often in this [past] century we have been surprised," Zinn proclaims, "by the sudden emergence of a people's movement, the sudden overthrow of tyranny. We are surprised because we have not taken notice of the quiet simmerings of indignation … of protest … of resistance that, in the midst of our despair, portend the excitement of change." Zinn adds, "Isolated acts begin to join. Individual thrusts blend into organized actions, and one day, often when the situation seems most hopeless, there bursts onto the scene a movement." Ultimately, Zinn concludes that to be hopeful "is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness." Tickets for Zinn's lecture are available at the EMU ticket office ($6/stu., $8/public). Call 346-0634 for further information. — Bo Adan, UO Concerned Faculty for Peace and Justice
Rudderless
Council "I don't think any of us would disagree that the session did not meet its objective," Sue Diciple, a Portland facilitator hired to run the meeting, wrote the council. "The dynamic of the council, as it exists now, is not such that a collaborative process will work effectively." After new members are elected every two years, the city council traditionally meets to set its high priority goals for the city. This is the first time in at least a decade that the council has failed to reach consensus on what broad goals the city organization should pursue. Diciple pointed to "process guidelines" handed out to the council to facilitate the failed meeting. The guidelines included such advice as: "be willing to listen;" "focus on the good of the group;" and "manage your own disappointment." Diciple said "none of those guidelines were successfully met by the group as a whole." "I don't think the guidelines are unrealistic," Diciple said. "Some councils, even some that can be quite contentious, are largely successful on all six points when conducting their goal-setting business." Mayor Jim Torrey said at a March 12 council meeting that he found the fractious meeting embarrassing. "I was [embarrassed] as the facilitator was as I'm sure most of you were. I'm glad we weren't on television that day." "I didn't feel real good about the way it came out," said Councilor Nancy Nathanson. "We're going to produce flawed goals for the next two years," said Councilor George Poling. City staff developed a list of four possible council goals from the Feb. 8 meeting that they felt might have majority support on the council. "I didn't perceive there was consensus around any of the four issues," acting City Manager Jim Carlson said. The four proposed goals included: "Strengthen relationship with University of Oregon;" "Address the needs of the community's most vulnerable members;" "Address the needs for out-of-school educational and recreational activities for children and youth;" and "Ensure effective, efficient local government services." Possible actions under the goals included such things as: privatizing city jobs; giving free library cards to low-income Springfield kids; and working with the UO to site a new basketball arena. "I'm really disappointed" with the list staff came back with, Councilor Scott Meisner said. "I don't think it matches what we discussed at all." Councilor Betty Taylor faulted the facilitator for wasting half the day with staff presentations rather than council discussion. She said Diciple had focused on her own goals rather than the council's. Taylor questioned whether siting a basketball arena was an appropriate goal of the city council. "It would be embarrassing to say that's one of our goals," she said. Councilor Bonny Bettman said the city should not subsidize the UO basketball arena with city land and staff time as it did with the Autzen Stadium expansion. Taylor said many of the goals are supported by only four councilors but, by new council rules, at least five councilors must vote to even schedule a discussion topic at a council meeting, adding, "I find it very ironic." It's not clear how the council will continue to work on its goals. Some suggested another goals meeting after Dennis Taylor, the newly appointed city manager, takes office this month. In the past, city council goals haven't been very important. Most city staff time and money is already committed to the daily operations of the city and meeting goals and projects established by prior councils. Some earlier councilors have criticized city staff for simply listing what they already are doing as working toward the broadly worded council goals. There did appear to be at least some hint of consensus on not having any goals at all. "We haven't even decided if we need goals," said Councilor Jennifer Solomon. Taylor, Solomon's political opposite on the council, appeared to agree. "I'm not sure we need goals." —Alan Pittman
Don't
Fight The training focuses on the philosophy, principles and tools of nonviolence. Participants will learn the stages of organizing an effective and progressive social movement, and plan together for future political actions and continued community building. The Sunday, April 13th free training is from 1 pm to 6 pm in the EWEB Training Room. Call the Nonviolence Response Network, 896-3996 for registration and information.
Bikes
Not Bombs About 35 students rode bikes and carried signs through the streets of Eugene in the first Bikes Not Bombs ride March 6. The cyclists circled the Federal Building several times to make their presence felt. Although "Bikes not Bombs" does not formally protest
a war in Iraq as the name implies, the connection is unavoidable.
"Oil consumption has led to countless environmental, economic and
political problems in the U.S. and abroad," says one organizer. The
U.S. Office of Transportation Technology reports that the U.S. consumes
840 million
Urban
Environmentalism Organizers note that while most demonstrations of ecological living to date have focused on rural living, the fact is that most of the people in industrialized countries live in urban or suburban areas. "How do we move ecological design from remote and often fringe experimentation to becoming the mainstream way we design our urban environment?" they ask. Featured speakers include Stuart Cowan, Kathryn McCamant, Lois Arkin, Mark Lakeman, Richard Register and Jim Leach. Live music, networking and a showing of the film Visions of Utopia will be part of the conference. For further information and a complete schedule of events, see http://edc.uoregon.edu
Weed
Heater An "eco-weeder" system kills plants with infra-red heat. The device superheats the targeted weed, causing it to dry up and die. The eco-weeder works well in sensitive natural areas because it doesn't harm nearby plants or pollute waterways. It can also be used in rainy weather where chemical spraying is not very effective. But the city still plans to use plenty of toxic chemicals in parks. The eco-weeder doesn't work well on grasses and bigger weeds and takes more time to use than herbicides, according to a city newsletter that stated, "Although it will not entirely replace the need for chemical-based products, this system will reduce the amount of herbicides used in Eugene's park system." —Alan Pittman
A
World Against War China held its first ever officially sanctioned anti-war protest, although only about 100 students gathered at Beijing University. Students held a banner that read "Respect life, oppose war." The BBC further reports that in Genoa, people lay down in busy streets to simulate Iraqis killed in air raids, while in Bogota, people marched naked through the streets. At home, protesters came out in droves. Boston held the biggest protest since the Vietnam war, attracting tens of thousands who chanted, "This is what democracy looks like." Other cities throughout the U.S. have held major anti-war demonstrations. —Aria Seligmann
Moore
on Bush Variety says Moore will use his camera lens to look into the alleged dealings between two generations of the Bush and bin Laden clans, and quotes Moore as saying, "The primary thrust of the new film is what has happened to the country since Sept. 11, and how the Bush administration used this tragic event to push its agenda." Moore told Variety the film "certainly does deal with the Bush and bin Laden ties," and "asks a number of questions that I don't have the answers to yet, but which I intend to find out." The Variety report said that President George Bush I and Saudi construction magnate Mohammed bin Laden, the father of Osama — had a longterm business relationship. "The senior Bush kept his ties with the bin Laden family up until two months after Sept. 11," Moore told Variety. The planned release of Fahrenheit 911 is in time for France's Cannes Film Festival in 2004, and just before the U.S. presidential election in November.
The
Poets Speak It's been said that in time of war, there's no holding back the poets. Copper Canyon Press (Port Townsend, Wash.,) founder and poet Sam Hamill was invited to the White House for a poetry symposium in January. To celebrate his invitation, Hamill e-mailed 50 people asking for anti-war poems to send to the First Lady. He received 1,500 responses in four days. "I didn't know there were 1,500 poets in America," Hamill told the New York Times. In response to Hamill's poetic peace protest, Laura Bush canceled the symposium. Her press secretary explained to the NYT that while the First Lady believes in the right of all Americans to express their opinions, "She, too, has opinions and believes that it would be inappropriate to turn what is intended to be a literary event into a political forum." The symposium was intended to honor the writings of Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes and Walt Whitman. For two weeks in March, we ran a blurb in the "opportunities" section of our calendar asking for submissions of anti-war poetry. The submissions were not paid for. We heard from local poets whose works of art are inspired by deep feelings and the desire for peace. In honor of National Poetry Month, we give voice to our readers and dedicate this space to all who know the pen is mightier. Please check the calendar for ongoing poetry events
throughout the month of April. –Aria Seligmann Lady Liberty "Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, – Inscription on the Statue of Liberty, New York City, NY, USA -
Pack up the statue of liberty &
ship her back to France.
The horrors of history are about to
be revisited.
Holy shit! I guess we didn't learn
anything from history, So tell
her to get packing Nowadays liberty is overrated anyway Our cultural
umbilical cord no longer pulses with revolution. We are the huddled masses, So yeah, send her packing. America, Americans
I for one believe common ground
Jan Cuny
For the past three years, UO computer science professor Jan Cuny has served as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children. "They have a terrific training course," she reports. "After that, you're appointed to a case." Each CASA volunteer is assigned to a child in foster care and remains with that child until a safe and permanent home is found. The advocate attends family meetings, talks with teachers and case workers, and writes reports for the court. "Kids have a lot of different care providers," Cuny notes. "No one has the total picture except the CASA." A New Jersey native, Cuny volunteered in a big-sister program as an undergrad at Princeton and worked with abused kids while in grad school at Michigan. She and her husband, Steve Robinson, adopted three older children while she was teaching at UMass. They moved to Eugene in 1993. "Kids benefit from seeing the same face in different situations over a period of years," Cuny says. "It's one of the most rewarding things I do." CASA of Lane County advocated for 148 children last year. More volunteers are needed. Inquire at 984-3132.
Know anyone whose good work deserves attention in this space? Call the editor at 484-0519 or editor@eugeneweekly.com |
||||||
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
