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Letters to the Editor: Let's be a multi-modal town Thomas Howser's "Guest Forum" demonstrates an amazing lack of knowledge. Addressing his question of "does anyone really ride a bicycle for transportation?" Yes, many of the "needy" use a bicycle for transportation along with other Ashlanders. Just open your eyes downtown, Shop and Kart or anywhere in Ashland to see our good citizens biking in this "unbikeable" town. Bicycles reduce pollution, traffic congestion and save precious oil reserves. What makes him think that the construction in Ashland is all about bicycles? Medians being installed, a total redesign of the intersection at the fire house, bicycles? What about the "millions of dollars spent on the bike path?" It is not a "bike path" but rather a multi-use path designed for all non-motorized users. As to bicyclists not paying taxes, this is an old and erroneous argument. One, it assumes that a person riding a bicycle doesn't own a car. If so then Mr. Howser's argument that no one rides a bicycle for transportation is incorrect by his own rationale. Two, he assumes that gas taxes pay for the entire roadway system, again not correct. Much of the money for highways and streets comes from the general fund, generated from income, real estate and other taxes, not fuel taxes. I agree with Mr. Howser that some cyclists disobey the law. This does not justify eliminating them, but rather educating them. Bicycles are a legitimate part of our transportation system and their needs require addressing. Let's be a multi-modal transportation town. William Heimann, Ashland The homeless could use our help; donate to ICCA of Ashland Having read about the homeless being in the Plaza, I wasn't too surprised to see them when I parked by City Hall February 26. My first response was the old saw "The world owes me a living." As the day passed, I gave it more thought. Why were the homeless here? Remember when states closed mental hospitals and expected the counties to care for these people? Why don't they get jobs? Are jobs really available for them? How many have the skills for a job? If they do, could they make enough at minimum wage to pay the rent? Maybe we should get them a place to sleep. Could the city and/or the county designate a place to camp and provide them with a porta-potty? I urge Ashlanders to donate regularly to ICCA (Interfaith Care Community of Ashland) at 144 N 2nd St., Ashland. They are open to help these people. Jean Strand, Ashland Guest forum: Spring has sprung and so have kitty litters By Julia Roupp Ashland Ah, spring - you gotta love it. Bright splashes of flower-color promise the arrival of warmer temperatures and plenty of sunshine. But unfortunately, spring also brings with it the beginning of "kitty season." Don't get me wrong - I LOVE kittens. I just hate the fact that there are far too many born who will never have a loving home or who may be euthanized for lack of space at a shelter. Please, please, PLEASE make sure your cats are spayed and neutered. If you need financial assistance, call SNYP (Spay/Neuter Your Pet) at 858-3325. If you'd like to do more, there are several ways: 1. Consider adding a kitten (or an adult cat) to your home. If you already have one, perhaps two would be even better! You'll find just about any size, age, color, make or model (even breed, if you're into that - 1 in 5 shelter animals are purebred) at one of the adoption facilities in the valley - the Jackson County Animal Shelter just outside of Talent, and CATS (Committed Alliance for Strays) and Southern Oregon Humane Society in Medford. Please don't buy from a breeder or make the misinformed or selfish mistake of thinking that having a litter of your own "would be a nice experience for the kids." Which brings me to my next suggestion: 2. Foster a litter of kittens from a shelter. It's a delightful experience. There's nothing like watching a group of 5-week-old kitty siblings playing with boundless energy and then napping, using one another as pillows. Observing a momma cat nourish, groom, account for, and discipline her offspring is a truly moving and educational experience for kids and adults alike. Yes, fostering a litter of kittens is a nice (and responsible) experience for the kids and it saves lives. For more information, please call the Jackson County Animal Shelter at 774-6643. 3. Donate time and/or money to Friends of the Animal Shelter, CATS, the Humane Society or the Jackson County Animal Shelter to help find homes for cats (and dogs too), or to SNYP, to help them in their mission to see that more cats get fixed so that many less die. Yes, spring IS a wonderful time of year. We can make it even better. Julia Roupp is president of Friends of the Animal Shelter. Cyclist who has biked around the world is upset with commentary By Annette Lewis Ashland I was totally confused by Thomas C. Howser guest forum saying "elitist" bikers can dig in their pockets like the rest of us. He stated: "We have torn up the boulevard, torn up the streets, invested millions of dollars and created a traffic nightmare for one reason, to indulge a bunch of vocal, elite bicycle riders." Was he referring to the decorative medians being installed on Main Street? If so, could he please explain how these aesthetic features aid any bicyclist much less the "elite" ones? These medians are visually pleasing, or I assume will be when completed, but they take away road surface area making less room for cyclists, elite or otherwise, to coexist with traffic easily. I am a fifty-something retired school teacher who has ridden a bicycle around the world. Sometimes I ride in cycling shorts and jersey, sometimes I ride to volunteer at Tudor Guild in regular clothes, sometimes I ride the bike path with a police radio as a Senior Volunteer Police, but sometimes I drive my Dodge 4x4. Now, am I an "elitist biker?" Certainly, I believe "same roads, same rules." I believe that must be taught and enforced no matter if the cyclist is recreational or commuter, elementary student or adult. I prefer marked bike lanes and bike paths, but I'm courageous enough to improve my health by cycle exercise and my community by not polluting the air with toxic car fumes no matter what the misinformed like Mr. Howser thinks. By the way, I rarely see "families of four" shopping, and all the "elitist" bicyclists I know own cars and pay the same taxes Mr. Howser pays, just like the "elitist" fishermen, hikers, skiers and kayakers I know. I'm all for helping the needy, but I don't understand how the new traffic medians aid bicyclists. My children will not die for P.C. By Sean Reid Ashland Bravo Isaac Walker, and Bravo Joseph Powell in the Friday, Feb. 21, 2003 edition of The Ashland Daily Tidings. The flag is a symbol, not of the American people, but of the United States government. This government media propagated aspect of being P.C., "Politically Correct" is insane. If you don't agree with the present "appointed" government you are somehow unpatriotic. If that were actually the case we would never have separated from the most corrupt, genocidal, perverse government ever established in our planet's history. The British government. Why would anyone model their moral emotional beliefs after dictates of the United States Government? A government that has an established history of saving, "Do what we say or we'll kill you." Period. Our country threatens other countries, and their people with a bullet. Not with intellect, education, charity, or even food. You people are policed the same way. Always the threat of a gun on someone's hip. Believe it or not that threat is always present. It will always be stated with "political correctness" that it was "justifiable homicide." Is any government, no matter at what level, always justified? Your government has a documented history of genocide against its own people. You let them slaughter the indigenous people of this country, African American slaves, and knowingly irradiate, poison, murder, and bankrupt United States citizens of every shape, color and size. And the reason you don't say anything, or stop this, is because you are afraid of your government. Period. Is the death of a sick little man halfway across the world actually going to make your life better, or safer? $40 billion to $180 billion of your money for a perceived personal grudge by the son of a vicious man who was too stupid to follow through when he could have. Every country in the world will hate not only your government, but every American citizen will be a target past your great grandchildren's deaths. And that's politically correct? Do not support a government, or a flag that will allow an "appointed" wealthy draft dodger, or coward that hides in a hole when my country is attacked, to represent this country. I do not support the law of the gun. I will not support any person whose infantile P.C. concern is over the wording of a sign on a road when they follow like willing sheep a government that enjoys, likes the taste of, and advocates, spending of billions of dollars to murder. You have created this, and my children will not die for your P.C. malice. My name is Sean Reid. I believe in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, am a veteran, am a Tehewah Native American, am a citizen of my homeland and this country, I live in Ashland, and I do not hide in a politically correct hole. Why not try peace? By LeRoy D. Owens Ashland There comes a time in the annals of human passage when a clarion cry for peace can be heard, and at once the ultimate dream of the ages is possible, practical and attainable. Such a moment can be nurtured when the power of human desire and the control of human destiny can be joined through altruism and shared responsibility of people everywhere. This moment requires a spark of leadership that demonstrates the common sense of a peace-driven world, born out of the agony and lessons of past history. Humankind has arrived at a time when a dedication to a new beginning is possible, using our past experience of human anguish in a desperate desire to change the course of human history. Never before has the global necessity for universal cooperation attained such an urgent recognition. The world has the basic pieces to mold together a new design for the future of human existence. World power languishes. No one nation can meet the challenge alone, yet most nations are poised to join in an effort to employ our tools of international organization to establish a global base of peace - born of power amassed through human struggle, and held momentarily in a state of potentiality. We can use that power to forge a lasting world harmony or again fall victim to human frailties, and allow this opportunity for a free world to again be dashed by our own arrogance and greed for a brief and fiery domination of a restless world. Those who hold the power must assume the responsibility to bring international peace lest history record a continuing weakness of leadership resulting in societal failure. The task calls for greatness of vision, practical foresight, and perseverance to dare the personal and collective risk to set a new course, and to muster the fortitude to override the fear of change. The United States may hold the first global opportunity to mass the leadership and resolve to engender all nations to take this bold step to international sanity. To accomplish this does not require an abrogation of power, but rather an honest resolve to use that base of strength to allow all countries to join the vision, and to share strength to ensure collective security, while this emerging foundation of world peace can flourish and grow. This present generation of world peoples can combine the energy born of universal altruism and establish peace as the non-negotiable flagship of world order. We are now building the past history for future generations. An initiative for lasting peace must be our grandest legacy. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. 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