CALL IT WHAT IT IS
RE: “Sorry, GOP. Pretty Sure Terrorism Was Already Political.” [News, Dec 2], in which Megan Burbank responds to conservatives’ criticism of their liberal counterparts for politicizing the recent shooting at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado.
ATTENTION MEGAN BURBANK—While I wholeheartedly agree with you on the points of your article, your rant lost me with your continued use of the term “abortion clinic.” Planned Parenthood is a women’s health care clinic last I checked. You referred to Planned Parenthood and other women’s health care clinics as “abortion clinics” no less than five times in your article, which made the article sound more like Fox News or GOP presidential candidate talking points.
Jerry Manuell, DC
LYSISTRATA
RE: “Chi-Raq Is an Insult” [Film, Dec 2], Ijeoma Oluo’s disgusted review of Spike Lee’s newest film.
DEAR MERCURY—While I had no intention of seeing Chi-Raq even before I read Ijeoma Oluo’s negative review, it seems only fair to the filmmaker to at least mention that the movie is a modern version of Lysistrata. Chi-Raq may indeed be an awful movie, but an acknowledgment of the allusion to an ancient satire may have tempered the reviewer’s disdain.
Jefferson Ranck
DEAR EDITORS—In the time spent bitching about Chi-Raq, Ijeoma could have read Lysistrata, the fabulous Greek satire Spike Lee is obviously adapting in his film. Please make sure your writers do their homework.
Ny
SENIOR EDITOR ERIK HENRIKSEN RESPONDS!: It was my decision not to mention Chi-Raq is based on Lysistrata. That decision was made because the other issues Oluo addresses in her review—like the film’s dubious treatment of its female characters and its oversimplification of inner-city violence—are not only more relevant, but significantly more deserving of discussion. *Disappears in a puff of charlatan smoke.*
CARDROOMS OF HISTORY
RE: “Say Goodbye to Two Pieces of Portland History” [News, Dec 2], regarding two historic downtown buildings, including the Lotus Cardroom and Café, slated for demolition.
Most people who want to stay in a “boutique hotel” aren’t coming to visit Portland to see generic modern design. I guess these developers hope everyone else maintains the culture of Portland while they demolish away.
Posted by pollo
The brick buildings have tons of character. They are also going to turn to dust when the big earthquake hits, taking lots of lives with them. New buildings in their place that are built to withstand earthquakes are not all bad.
Posted by styrofoamcup
It will be a sad moment when we lose the Lotus. It is truly a Portland institution. On the other hand, it is also a structural menace. Portland is not, and never will be, the same city that it used to be, and that is a good thing.
Posted by Sean F Gallagher
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
RE: “Portland Timbers Win 2015 MLS Cup” [Blogtown, Dec 7], in which… THE PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN THE 2015 MLS CUP, and author Abe Asher remarks: “Portland, for the first time since 1977, you have a major sports championship.”
Wait, I think the Thorns won some championship title in 2013, right? Oooopsie never mind, I see the qualifier “major” and forgot that women’s sports don’t count.
Posted by HowCanBe
Best thing to happen in Oregon sports since 1977! The Thorns victory in NWSL was great, but pretty sure “major” sports are considered according to attendance/viewership. While the Thorns have by far the best numbers in that league, the league overall is quite low in attendance/viewership. Anyway, we should be quite proud of our women soccer teams here. But the Timbers winning the MLS Cup is a bigger deal overall.
Posted by Demondog
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the Timbers from the Mercury, as well as well-deserved props to our belove Thorns. And congratulations to Demondog for winning this week’s Mercury Letter/Comment of the Week!, with two tickets to the Laurelhurst Theater, which we’re also, obviously, very proud of.
Yes, demondog, let’s not give attention to a league that doesn’t get enough attention because of the bias towards men’s sports in this country, so that they can continue to get less attention, so that the bias can continue to exist. Way to perpetuate the system!
@Vautrin. My point wasn’t to denigrate The Thorns, but I was responding to a comment about what is a “major” sports championship. I love the Thorns and think we should be proud of them as well. In fact, I’m a Thorns season ticket holder, as well as Timbers. The problem with NWSL is that Portland is pretty much the only team that gets substantial support in its own community. Sad but true.
Anyway, honored for the honor, and I’d like to donate my winnings to Vautrin.
A combined cash value of siiiix dollarrrrs!
@demondog – Thanks and apologies, but I can’t reap earnings on the back of misdirected snark.