Doyle Srader denounces hostility (“Get Over Yourself,” EW 1/20) but seems OK with insulting the angry. Anger is a valid emotion, useful or destructive; best to identify the difference and act accordingly. Everyone doesn’t have that emotional intelligence. I’ve heard inaccurate arguments: “My laziness or refusal to wear seat belts affects only me.” Avoidable bad health or injury costs all — use of public resources, increased costs of insurances, etc. Our republic respects people’s autonomy and accepts these costs regardless of choices.
It may anger me, but I accept it as part of the social contract. The equivalency of these examples — as well as a pandemic decimating families, towns, our health providers, and supply chains that caused inflation across the planet — simply fails. There is no equivalency with an individual’s battle with cancer (seriously, a sledgehammer and tumor?) or the heartbreak and healing of the Mines School shooting families.
These incidents impact society but are not close to impacts of a virus indiscriminately killing or harming millions. We do not have a cure for cancer, mass shootings or for a lack of intelligence. We do have a 99 percent effective, safe, treatment for COVID and should we all use it, 99 percent would be in less pain today. To those who refuse vaccination because they are angry about being told what to do for the public good, they just need to get over themselves. I concur with what appears to be your point, that public challenges are complicated and solutions require intelligence and cooperative spirit. This will not preclude anger.
Timothy Gardner
Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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