FLAG POLE

RE: “Stormy Daniels to Appear (with Nude Trump Statue) at Stars Cabaret This Weekend” [Blogtown, May 14], Editor-in-Chief Wm. Steven Humphrey’s story about the single most important arts and culture event to ever happen in Portland. “Stormy will perform alongside the nude statue of Trump, reenacting their alleged spanking scene,” wrote Humphrey. “WHAT A COUNTRY, HUH?”

When they go low, we go... oh, fuck it.

EverydayPeople

THE WORLD’S SMALLEST VIOLIN

RE: “Portland Trampoline Park to Shut Down... Because of Minimum Wage and ‘Millennial Parents,’ of Course!”[Blogtown, May 17], Humphrey’s post about the closure of the G6 Airpark. Owner Wesley Dameron blamed the closure on “minimum wage increases” and “millennial parents” who refuse to take “responsibility for their decisions.” “It’s frustrating to live in a part of the country where the legal system and insurance companies are incentivized to default against companies that provide extreme or risky activities,” Dameron wrote. “You know, things that are fun.” In 2016, a Clackamas man died after breaking his neck at G6 Airpark.

My favorite part is when he blames his problems on other people for not taking responsibility for their actions.

ebag

POSSIBLE SARCASM?

RE: “Love Notes” [May 16] and “Someone Mysteriously Placed Cement Planters in a Regular Homeless Camping Spot” [Blogtown, May 10], News Editor Alex Zielinski’s post about large planters that have been placed on Southwest Naito beneath the Morrison Bridge. Since the appearance of the planters, Zielinski wrote, “the number of campers under the bridge has plummeted. We’re assuming that this is exactly what their installers had in mind.”

I say we let the homeless sleep wherever they want. The concept of “private property” is an antiquated one, and used only by evil homeowners and businesses to oppress those who do not work or pay taxes.

There should be no rules or laws that enforce open drug use, public urination/defecation, littering, or environmental damage. BUT! Having no rules or laws should only apply to the homeless. If I, a working class homeowner who barely scrapes by, were to do any of these things, I should be ticketed or arrested.

No rules! No laws! Homeless everywhere! Discarded needles everywhere! Human waste everywhere! Paradise awaits us all!

Douglas_Banter

TALKING ABOUT IT

RE: “Finding Purpose in the Wake of Tragedy”[Feature, May 16], Jenni Moore’s profile of Brandon Wolf, her classmate during the 2005-2006 school year at Canby High School. In 2016, Wolf survived the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida; since then, he has spoken in favor of common-sense gun laws. Wolf recently returned to CHS to speak of his experiences and remembered events during the school’s Diversity Week in 2006. “While our high school experiences were positive overall,” Moore wrote, “our senior year was punctuated by demonstrations of widespread homophobia.”

I am proud of Canby High School. Nothing in high school is going to be perfect, and 2005-2006 was far from it, but we learned and continue to learn from our experiences.

Brandon Wolf is one of the most well-spoken students to graduate from CHS. Brandon’s life challenges have cast him into a role, in my opinion, that he is well suited for. The Student Advisory group and their advisor are to be commended for reaching out to Brandon Wolf, and the “Talk About It” campaign has made a positive impact on school-wide issues.

This was a timely conversation, and one that CHS was not prepared for in ’06. But after a lot of learning, conversations, and progression, the school has changed and will need to continue to do so. The incidences of ’05-’06 were not lost. The students and staff then and now must continue to learn from them.

Brandon is an inspiration to me and many who have met him. I am proud of Canby High School and its alumni. For over 10 years, I walked the hallways with students and staff, striving to make a difference. Thank you, Jenni, for sharing your thoughts and views.

Pat Johnson Canby High School Principal, 2004-2015

Principal Johnson, we were going to give you an A+ for your letter, but then we figured you wouldn’t think that was very funny—so instead we’re giving you the Mercury’s letter of the week and two tickets to the Laurelhurst Theater.