Letters to the editor: Russia and Ukraine, the Big Lie, and high-density housing

Russia-Ukraine war has exposed the hypocrisy of the US and its allies

For decades, the United Nations and human rights organizations have documented Israel’s crimes against humanity and numerous violations of international law against the Palestinians. There have, however, been no condemnations from Washington or sanctions imposed on Israel.

Unlike the reports from Ukraine, the U.S. news industry has closed its eyes to the bloodshed and violence that have become the hallmark of Israel’s violent colonization and occupation of Palestinian and Syrian land — as witnessed in al-Quds (Jerusalem) today.

International law is very clear. The 1945 U.N. Charter, 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 2002 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court state unequivocally that occupation and annexation of territory captured through war is absolutely prohibited and is a flagrant violation of international law and order.

The Biden administration has implemented harsh sanctions against Russia for violating international law in Ukraine. Any discussion, however, of sanctioning Israel, as it continues to defy international law, is met with fierce opposition.

According to the United Nations, armed struggle is the legitimate right of the colonized against the colonizer. Palestinians, like the Ukrainians, are fighting for that right.

M. Reza Behnam, Eugene

Where's the love for DeFazio?

An article on April 22 on Page 1 reported President Biden promoting more investment in infrastructure. I read this with interest, looking for any mention of the role played by U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, and failed to find any such mention. DeFazio, as the chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has been a feature of such coverage in past Register-Guard articles. The fact that DeFazio is not running for office again should not justify the elimination of his name from this report of one of the U.S. economy's vital issues.

The R-G needs to describe some aspects of this issue led by DeFazio, and to thank him for all he has done for Oregon's economy over his many years in office.

Dennis Shine, Eugene

A referendum on the Big Lie

The Republican Party has turned the 2022 midterm elections into a referendum on the Big Lie that Biden lost to Trump in 2020. Even after Trump sent an armed mob against the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, polls show a frightening 30% of voters and an overwhelming majority of Republicans continue to support him.

Looking at these numbers, Republican leadership has decided to pursue a strategy to control the electoral process so it can rule the country without the support of a majority of voters — to essentially put an end to democracy in this country. Republicans have blocked voting rights legislation in the Senate. In the states they control, they are passing laws that restrict voting for the poor and minorities, a traditional part of the Democratic base.

By undermining democracy and democratic institutions, Republicans weaken the rights and liberties they pretend to defend. Without a strong democracy, the Constitution is just a scrap of paper with some noble ideas. The white middle-class voters that Republicans depend on can protect the Constitution and show their patriotism and love for this country by refusing to vote Republican in 2022.

Donald M. Brasted- Maki, Eugene

The byproduct of high density

As a fairly new resident to Eugene, it’s interesting to see opinions on housing. The last city I lived in for 25 years went through the same thing.

In the city I lived in, developers with city approval built high-density housing north to south, east to west.

I hope Eugene keeps in mind what my previous city didn't until it was too late: how high-density housing affects other parts of a community.

Schools had to build temporary classrooms and school choice disappeared. Because of class crowding, children had to be bused away from neighborhood schools. This made parents angry as they purposefully bought homes so their children could go to nearby schools.

Higher density affected traffic. Congestion became much worse on city streets. The expression "It only takes 15 minutes" that most Eugene residents use could become a thing of the past.

I lived in a more populated metro area than Eugene, but it's all relative. I hope city leaders keep other factors in mind that come with high density housing.

John Crook, Eugene

A new Civic Stadium

Eugene has many pressing needs. Among these is a need for our community to gather together. Many of us use baseball to meet that need. I attend events at the Hult Center, Hayward Field and Matthew Knight Arena, but what I enjoy most is Emeralds baseball.

Baseball invites families and groups to not only watch professional sports but also participate in the game.

Bringing the Eugene Emeralds back to the core of our community ushers in vitality and excitement that has been missing at the fairgrounds. Along with baseball, it brings community events that include more of us. It utilizes property intended for this purpose as well as improving financial stability.

There are, of course, issues to be mitigated such as cost, increased traffic, light and noise. The Emeralds management team has a good track record of responding to needs and is considering designs that address these issues. Instead of standing in opposition, consider participating in creating a successful new community asset for Eugene. Join in supporting a New Civic Stadium.

Ed Willson, Eugene

Common good over industry and business

Jim Ball's letter defending the use of natural gas (Letters, April 13)is a string of logical errors, all with clear purpose of defending continued use of natural gas. Ball equivocates different situations such as retro-fitting existing facilities with building new ones. He uses a straw-dog attack against things that are not being proposed such as the elimination of existing natural gas infrastructure. And he turns to a cost-benefit analysis that externalized (i.e. fails to include) the huge future costs of continuing to use fossil fuels. If we fail to pay the costs, those costs will escalate and we will shift those costs onto our children all so that NW Natural's profits remain what they are today. My biggest complaint, however, is with The Register-Guard. It provides lobbyists with a key venue to spread their disinformation. They do not have the public's interests at heart. Rather, their goal is to frame and shape issues to promote visceral rather than logical responses from some of the public. But our best interest as a nation is pursuing the common good, not those of one industry or one business.

Humanity's fate now demands this. Michael Dean, North Bend

Submit a letter of 200 words or fewer to rgletters@registerguard.com. Include your full name, mailing address and phone number for purposes of verification.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Letters: Russia and Ukraine, the Big Lie, and high-density housing