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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels July 27, 2004 A lesson from both sides Friday morning I stood in a park near the Forest Service office in Medford and listened to a man with a microphone accuse environmentalists on the other side of the road of being un-American while a group assembled at the entrance to the Forest Service office responded with salvos of similar, accusations. I crossed the street to the "environmentalist side" and found the crowd to be made up of personable youth, many of whom had a supportive position on proactive forest management such as thinning the forest to reduce fire hazards. All had a concern for the future of America. I crossed back to the other side of the road where the man with the microphone continued to rankle the environmentalists and met personable, hard working people who were also concerned about the condition of the forest and the future of America. Ironically, these two groups with so much in common were sitting on opposite sides of the road. Lesson learned: If you get a microphone in your hand, be a leader who brings a community together rather than wedge it apart. Be a leader who helps us understand what we have in common. Lead toward a unified nation. Roger Brandt Cave Junction In fairness, a different view A recent letter by Gerry Mandel commenting on media bias over Israel/Palestine coverage is timely. With reporting, all sides in a dispute should have a fair hearing. Mr. Mandel rightly recommends CAMERA, www.spj.org/ethics-code.asp to obtain the Israeli viewpoint on the ongoing Middle East problem. In the interests of fairness, the Palestinian Arab side should also be considered. A publication: 'Americans for Middle East Understanding, Inc'. Link Archives: www.ameu.org will enable those interested to see the Arab side of the coin. By contacting both parties, readers will be able to form their own opinions about the continuing horrors in the Holy Land. John Braybrooke Ashland Obesity problem out of control Obesity in the United States has become a national disaster! Every year Americans spend billions of dollars on prescription drugs, over-the-counter pills, diets, and exercise programs. The problem of obesity continues to increase. There is, however, a very simple solution to this tragedy. Don't eat so damned much. Gordon B. Wilson Ashland Dog ban takes away from dining Your pleasant article on the ease of relaxed creekside dining along the Guanajuato for locals and tourists failed to note something newly missing that's not so nice for many locals and tourists - dogs. Owners have always been welcomed to have their dogs sit with them at the creekside tables of Guanajuato. Two months ago, I and my new pup were turned away from my much longed for breakfast table with many apologies from three staff members who explained, "We got busted bad!" They said health inspectors were prohibiting the dogs from sitting at the tables, though, I could always, they said, tie my dog at the end of the street (ode to doggie howls and potential trips over the leash from strollers). As I was receiving this information, the staff were also having to explain this to two other returning tourist families - one left, and another said they'd try the distant tether. Restaurant staffers said management had tried to protest the ruling, but unsuccessfully. They were hoping bad press might help turn the tide - your recent article was hardly that. There doesn't seem to be any health code rationale for this sudden "bust" since the tables are outside, away from any kitchen area. Also, since I'm allowed to have my dog sit at tableside while I dine outside the Bull's Eye Bistro and at Starbucks on Main Street, etc., why should the very public Guanajuato "restaurant row" be any different? Claire Krulikowski Talent Food page helps with new ideas Thank you for publishing vegetarian recipes every week. I have tried many of them and all have been excellent. Vegetarian cooking may take a bit more time until you understand how things go together but the dishes are always tasty and nutritious - and no animals are cruelly slaughtered beforehand. Ragan Cavanaugh Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams