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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us November 27, 2004 Don't miss 'Taking Sides' We were most fortunate to see one of three performances of "Taking Sides" by Ronald Harwood, author of "The Dresser" and the film "The Pianist," and give it an unequivical "thumbs up" recommendation. This powerful staged play-reading must be seen to experience the impact of the provacative questions it raises as to whether art in all its splendor can be isolated from politics when the two entities collide. In our view, this Ashland Community Theater production is a highly professional one featuring excellent acting by Jonathan Farwell, Bob McCracken, Michael Meyer and Deb Note-Farwell who also is its wonderful director. We were propelled through the material in an emotional roller coaster ride from its beginning to a most riveting end. In "Taking Sides," Wilhelm Furtwangler, a conductor of international fame, centers on his decision during the 1930's and 1940s to remain in Germany under the dictatorship of Hitler, calling into question his allegiance to art vs. a choice of residing under a state of fascism. We are the judges of the arguments set forth, pro and con, to arrive at the answers to the questions posed. A final opportunity to see the last performance will be on Monday at the Nuwandart Gallery on A Street (across from Ace Hardware) for a memorable rendition of "Taking Sides," a not-to-be-missed chance to see this electrifying staged play-reading at a price of $7 at the door. Anne Bodin Ashland Women on safari are appreciated Re: Mary Robinson's comment on "never take a woman on safari." She misremembers the story - I did not say that. Jacky Hammond, the white hunter I worked for, said that after the incident with Bill Henry's wife and the safari ants. My feelings were just the opposite since I found the macho male atmosphere that prevailed in the bush to be a bit stifling and enjoyed the few times women were with us in the two years I spent in Kenya and Tanganyika. Also, Ronnie Lawrence-Brown, the wife of the owner of Lawrence-Brown Safaris Ltd. (my employer) was one of the bravest people I've ever met regardless of sex. Mrs. Robinson needs to get her facts straight before she starts accusing me of being prejudiced against anything except ignorance and stupidity. Doyle Hirsch Ashland Thanks from the Ashland Kiwanis At 6:30 a.m. on Veteran's Day, the Kiwanis Club of Ashland discovered someone had vandalized our flag holders on Siskiyou Boulevard. The Kiwanis Flag Program is one our club's largest fundraisers. We contract with local businesses in Ashland to put the U.S. flag out on 11 days of remembrance each year. The flags on Siskiyou Boulevard are sponsored by the Kiwanis Club as a community service. After discovering the vandalism, one of our members contacted KMED radio. Bill and Bryce at KMED got the word out over the air. The outpouring of community support to clean the rocks and cement from the flag-holders on Thursday was nothing short of miraculous and very heartwarming. The Kiwanis Club of Ashland would like to thank Bill and Bryce from KMED radio for getting the word out and helping with the clean up. Hertz Rental Center donated the use of equipment. Others who helped were three gentlemen from the SOU Community Housing Department, City of Ashland workers Ron Ramsey, Ryan Madden, Dan Gunter and John Peterson. Others who helped were John and Michael Tucker, Greg Reeser, Linda Perkins from Eagle Point, Judy from Sams Valley, Rhonda Lawrence, Michael Murphy, Jerry Messinger with his sons Levi and Isaac, Steve, Josh and Dave. We also want to thank the many people who showed up to offer their support and cheered the workers as they did the clean up. Thank you for showing us all that patriotism, love of our flag and country is still alive and kicking in the Rogue Valley. For anyone who is interested in visiting the Ashland Kiwanis Club, we meet every Tuesday at noon at the Ashland Elks. Everyone is welcome. If you have questions about Kiwanis or our flag program, contact Karen at 482-4321 or Mike at 488-8065. Karen Stevenson Past President Kiwanis Club of Ashland An open letter to Gordon Smith In a blatant political move, a month before the Nov. 2 election, Treasury Secretary John Snow made a "creative accounting manuever" so the government could avoid breaching the $7.4 trillion ceiling on the national debt. In a letter to Congress, Secretary Snow said the department will be suspending investments that would be credited to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. After 30 years of government service, I am 23 days away from my Civil Service retirement from the Postal Service! Supposedly, Snow claims that civil service retirements will continue to be paid. Can you imagine how disconcerting it is to me, and countless other baby boomer government employees who have worked hard and faithfully for 30 years or more, who have retired or are about to retire, to hear that the funding for our retirement system is now suspended?! The president wants to make the tax cuts for the very rich permanent. He wants to permanently "lock in" a hit to the national debt in the amount of billions and billions, if not trillions of dollars! My Civil Service retirement is about all I have. The very rich most assuredly have lavish homes and multiple property holdings, huge stock investments, large savings accounts, and obscenely generous retirement packages! Yet President Bush wants to make their unneeded, budget-busting tax cuts permanent, at the expense of both so many average middle class workers' retirement hopes and plans, and the national debt. Senator Smith, are you going to stand up, speak out, oppose extending the tax cuts for the rich, to assure this government avoids breaching the $7.4 trillion debt ceiling, and to guarantee that the Civil Service Retirement System is fully funded for so many who have worked so hard and long? Or are you going to be a fiscally irresponsible puppet of President Bush and the very rich? To quote the president: Senator Smith, for the middle class, on fiscal responsibility, "you're either with us or against us!" 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