BURN, BABY, BURN!

DEAR EDITORS: A decade ago, I argued with friends and family that the Supreme
Court decision allowing the right to flag burning would actually nullify this
inarticulate act. I believed that making the “taboo” legal would wash most of
the shock right out of the flag burner’s temper-tantrum. I feel somewhat exonerated
by the Mercury‘s report on a recent Portland rally and subsequent mass
flag-burning [News, Dec 20], as the report makes the mass burning appear contrite
and meaningless.

While my impression of the burning may be due to reporting spin, I’ll give the Mercury the benefit of the doubt–as long as it makes my decade-old point. (Wink. Wink.)

Kurt Kemmerer

ENVIRONMENTALISTS DON’T LIKE RACISTS

TO THE EDITOR: In her interview with arch-racist Tom Metzger [News, Dec 6],
Katia Dunn posed the following question: “Like WAR (White Aryan Resistance),
environmentalists in Portland are concerned about FBI scrutiny. They actually
seem to share your general distrust of government. Any thoughts on this?”

Both Metzger’s response, “we have a lot of supporters in the environmental movement, because the two are not that far apart. Open borders means more consumption of living space. With hundreds of thousands of Mexicans coming across the border, the biggest environmental problem is immigration,” and Dunn’s assertion demand a reply.

Having worked on the local environmental scene for over thirty years, no environmentalists I know would agree with Dunn’s question, or Metzger’s racist, anti-immigrant diatribe. A few rabid anti-immigrant zealots may ascribe to Metzger’s venomous views but they are racists, not environmentalists.

You did the community a service by allowing Metzger to expose himself for what he is. Your readers should know, however, that environmentalists, at least the ones I work with, share neither Dunn’s shallow and simplistic assertions about our collective “general distrust” of government nor Metzger’s repugnant ravings.

Mike Houck


THE GHETTO: WHAT IT IS

TO JULIANNE SHEPHERD: Thank you very much for reviewing Kankick’s From Artz
Unknown [CD Review, Oct 4], which I was featured on. I would like to just
clarify that the song “The Finer Things” wasn’t “denouncing the ghetto shit,”
but denouncing the material shit, and was more about enjoying some of the things
considered “ghetto” particularly by those not from the ghetto. I am from the
ghetto and take offense to the word being used negatively as an adjective (i.e.,
to indicate something is less than socially acceptable because it reflects the
culture of poor blacks in America). I would never say anything bad about the
ghetto. In fact I am of the opinion that “good food/good weed/good women and
good music” all originate in the ghetto before becoming part of popular culture.

Dr.Oop M.D

“PUSSY” CALLS DOOLEY “TWIT”

TO THE EDITOR: John Dooley’s story about becoming a “Not Smoker” through hypnotism
was cute [“You Are Getting Verrry Sleeepy”, Dec 13], but deserved a better headline.

Let’s see, he started smoking apparently because he was afraid of looking like a “pussy.” He increased his habit because a “friend” questioned his commitment to being a “real smoker.” Then, when he finally decided to quit, he paid a stranger to tell him to do it.

Maybe he should have called the story “Diary of a Feeble-Minded Sheep,” or “Desperate to Look Cool.” But the most accurate headline for Dooley’s essay would simply have been “Twit.”

A Big Pussy!

YEAH! WHAT RACHEL SAID!

TO THE MERCURY: This is to Chuck Sloan, the asshole who thought it was
his business to inform us that Julianne Shepherd sucks [Letters, Dec 6]. Mr.
Sloan, I have an idea the would make you and me happy: DON’T READ THE FECKING
THING!!! If you don’t like Julianne or Katia Dunn, that’s fine. Just don’t bring
your prepubescent nasal whining to the other readers of this fine magazine.
They are the greatest thing since sliced beetles. And while you were in your
basement smoking crack and touching yourself, the people at the Mercury were working hard to bring us a fabulous new issue. They have so many loyal
readers that your presence would not be sorely missed. And remember, I feed
stupid stuck-up wino losers like you to my Chihuahua everyday for breakfast.
Ya hear me?!?! BREAKFAST!!!!!

Miss Rachel

Congrats go out to Miss Rachel for winning the Mercury’s “Letter of
the Week“ contest. For her maternalistic diatribe, Rachel will receive
two free passes to the Laurelhurst Theater. Send your naughty or nice missives
to the address above and you could be next week’s winner!