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Letters to the editor: One-size fits-all sometimes doesn't work After recently enjoying a week in your beautiful city, I've also enjoyed reading your newspaper on the Internet. The Tidings is a fitting accompaniment to a beautiful place. Please allow someone who lives 350 miles distant what I hope are objective comments on the current argument about larger homes. I know no one involved, so none of this is personal. Large, or "oversized", or "monster" homes are judgment calls. Different families call for different solutions. Small hats don't fit large heads. My small home may not fit your large family. Some of your letter writers feel compelled to "live lightly on the land" or at least that their neighbors should do so. For them it may be a quasi-religious experience. I wouldn't argue their right to do so. You might even wish to live in a teepee or a tulle-covered hut or a Mongol yurt with a dirt floor. Follow your dream. However, no one should be forced to do so by the pressure of jealous neighbors, or those with an ax to grind. One-size-fits-all doesn't work for hats, shoes or houses. Paul Azevedo, Pacifica, Calif. Keep tabs on our pollution An advisory committee composed of representatives from industry, local government agencies, elected officials, and concerned citizens is planning to allow an increase in our air pollution limits. Some years ago Medford was designated one of the dangerously polluted towns in America and at that time the Environmental Protection Agency demanded that we clean up our air. We did so. Now Medford/Ashland are advertised as one of the 10 best places to live. Many seniors and retirees were attracted by our outstanding health and medical services, our university intellectual community, Shakespeare, music, art, drama, and the unsurpassed beauty of our valley. All of these boosted our economy by attracting many low polluting businesses, including a big Marriott hotel. Often last winter my chest pained while breathing during my early morning walks, dense fog/smog hung over the I-5, and smothered the airport canceling flights. There are many reasons why maintaining our present surveillance must continue. Particulate pollution, so toxic in profuse ways, attacks especially small children, ailing elders, and those with cancer, heart or lung problems, and everyone who breathes. I urge us all to become informed, to make our concerns known and to attend the July 23 public meeting. June E. Wells, Medford Guest forum: Editor's note: The Medford-Ashland Air Quality Advisory Committee meets at 9 a.m. July 23 at the Smullin Center in Medford. Believing in America By Bill Kreglow Ashland I believe in America! That means that I must accept three discomforting facts. One, America started a war in Iraq, and brave Americans are still suffering and dying there. Two, Americans are deeply divided over this war. Many of us believe we did the right thing. Many of us are ashamed of how we treated other nations and the United Nations. Many of us simply believe this war was wrong. Three, and this is the most important fact, neither rhetoric, nor events, will ever unite us all in our feelings towards this war. If I can not accept this last fact, I can not say I believe in America. I can only say I believe in people who think as I do, and that's not America, that's only a small piece of America. I believe in America! How can I say that? The unbecoming private actions of our previous president shattered my respect for presidential leadership. The public actions of our current President, who seems to hear only his own voice, really scare me. Even worse, we, the electorate, are evenly split politically and act as if it's a self-interest football game rather than searching for the common good. No wonder the political bickering in Congress is so nasty and appalling. And then there are those of us who could potentially break the stalemate who have just given up and don't even bother to vote. I believe in America! How can I say that? The ugly aftermath of the 2000 presidential election was horribly depressing. Then to top it off in grand style, our Supreme Court interfered in the electoral process outlined by our Constitution. I believe in America! How can I say that? Big money and passionate special interest groups unduly influence our electoral process, and not many of us know, or seem to care much, about campaign finance reform. I guess I believe in a dream of what America can be. I believe in an America that does not base its policies on fear, but compassion. I believe in an America that earns the respect of others for its political leadership, and is not satisfied just to be feared for its big guns and pampered for its big bucks. I believe in an America where the majority renounces tyranny by idolatry of the far left the far right, or passionate special interest groups. I believe in an America where the political leadership is responsive to all of us, as well as to our fellow nations who occupy this small, fragile, and wonderful planet. I believe we should measure political leadership by how well it unites us, not by how effectively it promotes the divisive policies of certain special interests. I believe our great coming together nationally, and the spontaneous worldwide support for us, in the immediate aftermath of the destruction of the World Trade Center can be resurrected for the common good by effective political leadership. I believe that America is more important than what I believe. I want leaders who believe in America more than in their own beliefs. When Americans work shoulder to shoulder in our democratic society, and in partnership with the other nations around the world, this is more productive in the long run than forwarding any abstract belief any group of us may hold, however fervently. I hope that our present political divisions are but a temporary stage in our movement toward larger, common goals. In America, we all count. Together, we, all of us, will determine our future. That's why I believe in America. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -