Document text
- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us January 12, 2005 Peace House misrepresented In their rambling attempt to "help Peace House get back on track" Solomon Tahoma and Asoka Gregory (Jan. 3) badly misrepresent Peace House's recent and current positions on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. They state "it has gone from being a neutral center to mediate local dialog from all sides to supporting one side. I miss the dialog." Let's remember that the last director of Peace House, bowing to pressure from local Israeli supporters that included threats to end financial contributions, made the regrettable decision to cease addressing the conflict altogether, as if it didn't exist. One "outrage" was a Peace House volunteer wearing a pro-Palestine T-shirt to a lecture at SOU in early 2003. So much for freedom of speech in Ashland! The current staff of Peace House, who are doing a great job, admirably decided to reject such passive acquiescence and treat the situation for what it is - one of the most important international stories of our time. Sadly, some in this country tolerate no criticism of Israel whatsoever; Peace House is now feeling their heat. Tahoma and Gregory give no examples of "supporting one side." At an event I attended, the showing of the documentary "Jenin Jenin" at Headwaters, all audience members were encouraged to dialog (you only "missed" it if you weren't there) and Israeli supporters spoke quite clearly on Israel's behalf. Whoever is director, Peace House will always have supporters and critics. Most of the recent criticism is baseless and speaks to a hidden agenda. Brad Jones Ashland Blues Festival a great time A friend reminded me today that the Rogue Valley Blues Festival is coming up this weekend at the Old Ashland Armory. I had a great time there last year, listening, dancing and learning more about the Blues. Saint Clair Productions is a not-for-profit organization devoted to bringing outstanding music to our valley, and deserves our support. Donna Taylor Talent Nowhere to get out of the cold She arrived at the Interfaith Care Community of Ashland while frost still covered the parking lot. I will call her "Jane" for privacy sake. She wore only a short dark dress, a thin coat, a tattered knit hat, no gloves, and two pair of socks under her sandals. Jane's face is hard, turned red by the cold; her whole body quakes as it begins to warm up. Sitting by herself she rants about her poor health (which is confirmed by a deep cough) and about how people continually steal from her. Jane is mentally ill and has been sleeping in the bushes of Ashland for the past year. As temperatures drop into the 20s, Jane barely survives the long nights. Jane receives Social Security for her illness, but it is not enough to rent a room, so Jane spends her money on cigarettes and miscellaneous items. She refuses to go to Medford's shelter, afraid of leaving her small world in Ashland. And, tragically, Jane is not the only woman or man sleeping on the streets of Ashland. Despite the fact ICCA has opened a women's house in Ashland, the numbers of women needing the facility far exceed the available space. With limited income, putting clients up in motels, even hostels, is cost prohibitive to faith-based organizations. Ashland is one of the wealthiest communities in the Northwest; however it is one of the few that has no overnight shelter for the homeless. The Janes of Ashland are sleeping under bushes as most of the rest of us snuggle in our warm beds at night. It's time that we address the fact that we will always have the homeless, and that they have human needs that deserve to be met. In New York, they rented a local Armory and opened it at night to the homeless. The shelter was available only when the temperatures reached below 30 degrees. Records were kept, and advocates were available. The shelter, run by volunteers, was a safe, warm place to spend the night. Churches and private donations paid for the Armory rental. As the House Manager of ICCA, and as a private citizen of this town, I am appealing to the people of Ashland to help in heading up a temporary shelter during the winter months. I welcome any suggestions. Time is short; we need to take action. Jean Hallinan House Manager for the ICCA DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Generic Viagra Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Sportsbook Absinthe Supply Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations African Safari Hammocks Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino King of Spirits ink cartridges Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams