NOBODY GETS MY ART

HEY THERE, MR. BOWIE!—Loved your review [“Victims and
Voyeurism,” Film, Sept 13]. Especially revealing is your interpretation
of the film [Kamp Katrina], and our role in exploiting the
situation. And of course the audiences feel the exact way you do, which
means that we never get a chance to discuss the issues present in the
film because they’re too ideological[ly] stringent and righteous in
their beliefs.

David Redmon, director Kamp Katrina

AND PEOPLE SAY WE’RE SNARKY

DEAR MERCURY—I am new to town—it’s a great
town—and while reading the current issue of your newspaper I
discovered a review of a vegan restaurant [“Coincidentally Vegan,” Last
Supper, Sept 13]. Where I come from, there aren’t many restaurants that
specialize in vegan food—nor are there any newspapers that would
devote nearly half a page to the little known culinary delight that is
vegan cooking. I was walking up the street today, smoking American
Spirits and trying not to step on bugs, when I approached a group of
young people standing on a corner. I asked my new friends where I could
find Nutshell, the vegan restaurant reviewed in your newspaper. But
they told me where to find a better vegan restaurant, one that was
cheaper and had larger portions. I will go to “El Gaucho” this evening,
and in the morning I will write my own review. My stomach is upset from
lunch, probably because there were insects killed in the making of my
salad, but I’m sure dinner will be excellent.

Christian Skipper, Vegan

LEFT BEHIND

DEAR MERCURY—Your Back to School Issue [“Poli-Sci Is
Easy,” Back to School Issue, Sept 13] made several omissions. For
one, PSU Progressive Student Union is the group that successfully got
PSU to become the ninth college in the country to kick Taco Bell off
campus, in support of the nationally successful boycott for a living
wage for Florida farm workers, organized by CIW (Coalition of Immokalee
Workers). Currently, we work on the Coke-Odwalla Boycott for human
rights in Colombia—in August, 2007, the University of Illinois
kicked Coke off campus, joining NYU, Rutgers, DePaul, Bryn Mawr, and
Swarthmore colleges in 86ing Coke products from their campuses. Last,
but not necessarily least, your Back to School Issue, in the bookstore
and movie categories, left out Progressive Student Union’s free
Saturday night Progressive Film Fest at Laughing Horse Books, which,
for fall term, features films on Ireland and six African countries.

Lew Church, PSU Progressive Student Union

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

DEAR MERCURY—First, I’d like to thank the
Mercury for giving the International Socialist Organization
(ISO) some publicity in last week’s back to school guide [“Poli-Sci Is
Easy,” Back to School Issue, Sept 13]. For a look into who we REALLY
are, check out our newspaper at socialistworker.org.

Andrea H.

PS: Most of us prefer the term “women.” At least afford us some
respect.

SENIORITIS

DEAR ANN [ROMANO]—I could very well be one of your oldest
groupies. There may come a day when I will be using my walker or the
Missus will be pushing me in my chair, but your columns provide me with
the incentive to get out of bed every morning—well, at least on
Thursdays. Which brings me to your column of Thursday, September 13
[One Day at a Time], in which you share with your readers lustful
thoughts for Angelina’s current squeeze, Brad Pitt. Having been hitched
now for over 30 years, it is one thing to experience lust for someone
other than one’s mate, spouse, or significant other, but to put these
thoughts in print for public dissemination—shameful!

Ron

PUNKASS OL’ PITT

DEAR MERCURY—Brad Pitt is crying about being old and
ugly and creaky at 43 [One Day at a Time, Sept 13]? I’m 43, in the best
shape of my life—without the benefit of a personal trainer or
belonging to some punkass health club—still routinely get carded,
and I’ll kick Brad’s wrinkly old ass any day of the goddamn week.

Jason “The Hammer” Smith

CONGRATULATIONS TO JASON for his slam on that pansy ass punkass
Brad Pitt and his thrice-weekly manicures and silly fretfulness over
wrinkles. Did Clint Eastwood gasp and panic over every new liver spot?
We think not! Jason wins two tickets to the Laurelhurst Theater and
lunch at No Fish! Go Fish! where people of all ages eat pretty.