Salem may not have been at the center of the "freedom fries" controversy, but it did have its own naming dilemma with Peace Plaza. A group of people questioned its name and the United Nations flag that flies over the plaza. Salem Monthly covered the issue in August 2006, when the City decided that "peace" wasn't such a dirty word after all, and voted against renaming it to Freedom Plaza.

The political world and overall sentiment has shifted greatly, and last month Ms. Hare was honored for her activism at a celebration that took place in Peace Plaza. We applaud Ms. Hare's dedication to her cause and all of Salem for not getting carried away in the mob mentality.

:-(  FACT: Air quality was a concern during the Eugene Olympic trials.

Isn't it great that air pollution has been talked about so much the last couple of months? Too bad it was focused on a two-week time frame in one city. Yes, we understand that Beijing has air quality problems. But shouldn't we be a bit worried about the air we all breathe on a regular basis?

In Eugene, there was a moratorium placed on burning during the Olympic trials. Lucky for the Olympic athletes, yes, but not so lucky for the rest of us who have to breathe the obviously noxious air every day. Must we don spandex to breathe clean air?

:-(   FACT: George Orwell cannot turn over in his grave, because he is dead.

After receiving private funds, the City plans to install cameras and monitor neighborhoods throughout Salem. No, this isn't "1984". It's 2008 and the city is Salem.

The reason for the cameras is to prevent graffiti, but at what point do we stop giving up our civil liberties for the cause of justice?

Worse, the details are not clear on what the city plans to do with the data, how long it would be kept, and who exactly gets to keep track of that information.

Neighborhood associations have been asked to help raise matching funds. Once $5,000 has been raised, the City will move forward in that neighborhood.

Instead of actively pursuing a police state, neighborhood associations should consider raising money for after-school programs and other activities. In its current state, this plan is nothing but an invasion of privacy on citizens who haven't been accused of a crime.