PEDAL EXTREMITIESI am so tired of bicyclists whining about unfriendly motorists, et al. ["Riding Herd," WW, Aug. 10, 2005]. Perhaps if we didn't see 99 percent of them continually doing stuff like blowing through stop signs and not waiting for traffic lights, we'd have a bit more sympathy. The arrogance and entitled attitude ("I'm helping the environmennnnnt") that comes across from this behavior, does nothing to foster positive relations. Don't even get me started on Critical Mass.
Literally, over a period of several years, I've yet to use up all 10 fingers in counting the number of times I've seen a bicyclist obey the traffic laws, which they are supposed to follow. It is so extremely rare that it really stands out, and I always want to compliment the very small percent who did.
Bicyclists can't have it both ways. As long as their attitude is one of blatant disregard, they are not going to gain the respect of motorists. And this comes from someone who is an anti-war protestin', recyclin', nonprofit workin', never-in-a-million-years-would-I-own-an-SUV, liberal female.
Rashas Weber
Southwest Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway
CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET AROUND?
I can tell that Frank DiMarco, self-described "Portland bicyclist" [Mailbox, WW, Aug. 10, 2005], has never attended the Bicycle Transportation Alliance's Bicyclist's Legal Clinics, or he'd know every cyclist has the right to the full travel lane if (a) she can go the speed of traffic, or (b) it is unsafe to stay to the side of the lane. Angela Valdez was probably following the letter of the law when she was hit by a motorist.
We disagree with Mr. DiMarco that cyclists should "get the hell off the main streets." We at the BTA believe that bicyclists should have equal access to all parts of our road system. Why should cyclists have to take a less-convenient route, while autos get to go from point A to point B in a (nearly) straight line? Also, many of the "alternative routes" Mr. DiMarco refers to don't have signals at major streets, so it can be difficult to go long distances.
Most cyclists will choose neighborhood streets because they like quiet streets, but cyclists who choose major routes have a good reason: They use the signals at major crossings, they are strong, speedy cyclists who want a direct route, or they simply need to get to a destination that's on that street. Don't forget that cyclists, just like motorists, need to get from any starting point to any ending point. Does Mr. DiMarco think cyclists shouldn't shop at businesses on Hawthorne or Belmont?
Our next free legal clinic will be held on Sept. 21, from 6 to 7:30 pm. Please call to RSVP and for directions (503-226-0676).
It doesn't need to be a civil war out there, folks. We're all just trying to get around. With a little bit of effort and empathy, we really can share the road.
Jessica Roberts
Bicycle Transportation Alliance
Southwest 12th Avenue
IN DEFENSE OF NEPOTISM
Some of the things I see in your newspaper lately really make me wonder what your editors are trying to prove! All at once you are attacking anyone and everyone that has a hint of belonging to the establishment. The recent "investigation" as you put it [Murmurs, Aug. 3, 2005] of a city employee who has worked diligently long and hard for the city's fire department is going beyond acceptable journalism!
I personally know Mike Speck and have had business dealings with him for the past 20 years. He is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet and has always been a "straight shooter"!
It's time you stopped picking on anyone and everyone that has a hint of a tie to the establishment bureaucracy.
Many corporations in the city give work to relatives or individual contractors who own contract firms. As long as they do a good job, where is the ethical violation? The so-called bidding process does not always create the best bang for the dollar and can require hours and hours of city supervision to get a quality product!
I suggest you concentrate on the real corruption that is going on under your nose in this city and leave the good workers alone to do their jobs as they see fit!
Dave Pitzer
West Linn
Editor's Note: We aren't the only ones to question the actions of Michael Speck, the Portland Fire Bureau facilities-maintenance manager who awarded about $85,000 in contracts to his son's business. On July 29, after a probe sparked by WW's document request, the bureau suspended Speck for four weeks without pay for violating city purchasing policies.
TYRANNY OF THE MAJORITY
I take great exception to your characterization of the Oregon House Democrats in your "Dubies Awards" [Aug. 3, 2005]. You stated that the House Dems ran "only" nine minority reports during this legislative session, suggesting they were wimps.
In truth, the House Democrats fought their guts out for what's right for all Oregonians.
After the Democrats offered a minority report forcing a vote on a "no-cuts" schools budget, Speaker Karen Minnis and Republican Leader Wayne Scott adopted an insidious counter-tactic: Whenever a bill emerged with any possibility for a minority report-even unrelated policy bills-it was referred to the House Budget Committee, where the rules prohibited minority reports. This allowed them to avoid votes on issues they found embarrassing.
Unable to run minority reports, the Democrats offered motions to pull bills from committee for a direct floor vote. More than a dozen times, the Democrats forced the Republicans to vote on issues such as school funding and affordable health care.
The tactic so infuriated Minnis that she again changed the House rules, and stripped the minority of the prerogative to withdraw bills from committee. Never in Oregon's history has the house majority gone so far to stifle minority dissent. For this, you attributed great political skill to Minnis. Whether or not bullying constitutes political skill, this is no way to run a democracy.
Minnis and Scott may have succeeded in blocking many good bills in 2005, but they won't be in charge forever.
Jon Isaacs
Campaign Director,
Oregon House Democrats
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An Article written in response to three articles in the Oregonian 8/23/05Who Cares?An Article written in response to three articles in the Oregonian 8/23/05What a Coincidence that the head of Dept. of Human Services is the ninth recent high staff quit in Oregon at the same time DHS produces a nine-point strategy for the 'prevention' of elder suicide. And the problem of young adult cancer pops up in the same paper.Why do successful heads of organizations quit?Why do kids get cancer?Why are elders choosing to murder themselves rather that go on living?One simplistic yet simple reason is that there are no answers being provided to these questions, only more of "learning how to live with" unanswerable questions and incurable diseases. Such are the "solutions" provided by a system that cares only for its own temporary and short term 'survival', and not a bit about the individuals who go down under it. Yet if any one chooses to look beyond the hopelessness, searching the internet alone (let alone bookstores like New Renaissance) will come up with dozens (some better than others) answers to these three (and more) symbolic questions. The common thread among the best and most successful responses to these questions is that of psycho-spiritual stability. The bosses quit because they're not getting what they want out of life either in or out of their jobs and the system. Many of them see the problem, and maybe even a solution, but feel overburdened by the hopelessness of an economically driven system that consistently overlooks any viewpoint, no matter how rational or based in fact, that threatens its priorities. There is considerable evidence backing the theory that kids get sick because they can't get anything else. I'm not referring here to material advantage, but to the genuine spiritual recognition and attention they need. If the fastest, and sometime only, way to get back to God is to die, then sign me up, they say. And I know that sounds vengeful, but it is indeed a form of that - "if I cannot bring genuine deep love of God and healing into this family, then I'll do whatever is necessary to show you what you need, and it's not more money or better medicine". From the standpoint of our health and spiritual maturity, God is not elsewhere!The deepest psychological research is beginning to show that there is truth to the theory that "living good is the best revenge" is a major social impetus and driving force in our prosperity oriented western society. The focus is so much on the orientation to "living good" that it places the revenge aspect of the phrase in an almost laughable place; literally trivializing it to the point of a joke. But therein lies the rub and the point of it all - our true motivations of hatred (for lack of love) are camouflaged by mutual consent, while everyone senses and knows that underneath the nicest guy could be rumbling the fiercest volcano. That's why we have these "totally unexpected" outbreaks of child murder, anonymous stabbings, concerted terrorist activity, and an overall disrespect (unless forced or coerced) for parents and parenting. If illness is willful - and it is well known that much of it is and certainly can be - then it is a manifestation of the same statement as elder suicide, "I'd rather die or get sick than live in a sterile hopeless environment without light or help." And bosses say, "I'd rather quit (often interpreted, and even meant, as a form of career suicide - "scuttling the ship" so to speak) than go on living in this environment". All this means that they can see no way out, either for themselves or for their lives and situations. And many stoically face it, many attempt the battle of "victory" or "overcoming", and many simply look at it and say to hell with it and check out, mentally or physically. Yet the spiritual traditionists of our great country are screaming from the roof tops, "It's only a shift in perception!" "Salvation (from your predicament) is closer to you than your jugular vein!" Health is as close to us as God. What's killing us and causing us to kill ourselves is the consensus reality mandating our fixation on the artificially inspired goals of material success. It's the "I'll show you" mentality that drives us beyond our human and spiritual capacity, putting endless stress on our bodies until that simply cannot take it any more and then having nowhere else to turn or run to, we give up in hopelessness and let ourselves die or be destroyed, while our hard-earned earnings dissipate into the hands of uncaring children or medical bills. Do we live in such a wasteland that there is really no hope? Is anyone listening to or searching for the voice in the wilderness? Give me a break! There IS hope. Of course there is hope. When hasn't there been, but where or why not are we looking? For proofs in the case of cancer, read about the research done by the now imprisoned (remind you of Carl Reich?) Dr. Hamer on www.newmedicine.ca if you're not too busy earning money. And that's only for example. Here's the bottom line: There are psycho-spiritual reasons for every perceived problem. Dr. Wayne Dyer, world famous speaker and author, along with hundreds of people of similar stature such as Dr. Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson, are all stating the same thing. "There is a spiritual solution to every problem". This is the age and time for spiritual healing. Ask anybody. Bulimia, anorexia, obesity, eating disorders, attention disorders, cancer, heart attack, arthritis, all the ailment of mankind come from one simple source, defined clearly in the ancient Sanskrit language centuries ago as "ignorance". Would any one dispute that? Is it not ignorance, our blanket inability to understand what, exactly is going on here, that is causing and exacerbating our painful and deadly situation to the point at which suicide is the more viable option? Are we going to overlook scientist like Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawkings and philosophers like Ken Wilbur, and doctors and psychiatrists, and psychologists and healers in many walks of life all of whom are talking about and experiencing the healing powers of Unity and the destruction of separation? Come on. This is the town of "What the Bleep Do We Know?"!! Let's smile on that water and that cancer, while we have a chance, and ask it what it has to offer, of what benefit to us is it and the deaths of those who suffered it. What do we have to gain from it, except a "living." Let's step into the future where all of these manifestations of dysfunctional society have been identified labeled cured and history - just like the past, when they never existed at all. This work has been done elsewhere, cancer is being cured all the time and everywhere. Do we care?Let's stop focusing on the enemy and ask "What the Bleep is going on Here?" We must believe that there is some truth, howsoever far it may seem to be from us. If we do not, then we are truly hopeless, but if we do, then what's stopping us from finding it all together? If we believe that "the answers are out there", then why will not go to the ends of the earth to find them? Why? Into what small shell do we scurry at the thought of challenging a system that is killing us even while in its own inexorable death throes? Ali Ansari 8/24/05Portland, ORali@surrenderworks.com—Ali Ansari