IN THE BLIND SPOT
[Since the publication of “Blind Spot of Justice?” [Feature, Jan
17]—which discusses what level of accountability is necessary if
a driver kills a bicyclist— readers’ responses have been pouring
in. Below is a sampling.—Eds.]
DEAR MERCURY—As an active member of Portland’s
bicycling community and a fellow student of the late Tracey Sparling at
PNCA, I appreciate Amy J. Ruiz’s passion for the issue of bicycle
safety. I understand that it is against the laws of propriety to
insinuate wrongdoing on the part of the deceased, and may her family
forgive me for saying so, but the awful fact of this matter is that if
Tracey is not accountable for stopping literally next to the wheels of
an oversized commercial vehicle, then it is absurd to suggest that the
driver should be held accountable for taking a right turn across a
bicycle lane he perceived to be empty.
Jaclyn Campanaro
GREETINGS—So, District Attorney [Chuck] Sparks says there is
no compelling evidence for legal action against truck driver Timothy
Wiles for killing cyclist Tracey Sparling. This smells of laziness,
stupidity, absurdity, nepotism, an underhanded attempt to oppress
bikers, and a larger issue about activism. Timothy Wiles is culpable
and should be charged with the death of Tracey Sparling.
Theresa Seeley
DEAR MERCURY—As I read “Blind Spot of Justice?” I felt
a subtext trying to assert itself, like a watermark on paper slowly
surfacing: vengeance. We live in essentially the same world that
all humans have lived in through the course of time, and it is a very
dangerous world. Trucks are huge, heavy, and have massive blind spots.
Basic courtesy and right of way is a rarity. We have to assume the
worst when we’re on the road, and actively keep ourselves out of harm’s
way. If there is something to be learned here, I believe it is not that
we would be safer on the roads if there were more punishment, but that
we can be safer if we recognize just how dangerous the roads are, and
take an active part in our own safety and well being.
Nikwax
MATTERS OF CHOICE
DEAR MERCURY—Regarding Grant’s note to Mandee the
smokin’ vegan [“Where There’s Smoke There’s Ignorance,” Letters, Jan
17]: Stop blaming tobacco companies for the fact that people smoke.
They don’t cram cigarettes in your mouth, and they don’t light them for
you either. Put the blame where it belongs—in the hand that holds
the lighter.
Jon Walker
BAN BRITNEY!
DEAR MERCURY—Could you PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, maybe
take the moral high road… for once… and spare us all the Britney
Spears BULLSHIT in every single issue? NOBODY FUCKING CARES except…
well… YOU!!!!!
Bob Nod
The Mercury responds: Thank you for your
comment, and the answer to your question is “no.”
THE FRIGHTFUL FLATS
DEAR MERCURY—In regards to Officer Friendly’s letter
about blacks committing more crimes than anyone else [“Real Racism
Research?” Letters, Jan 24]. Here in Portland, racial profiling is
strong. The North/Northeast side of town never got as bad as Felony
Flats. Take a ride there and check out the crank fiends and meth
babies (all white) roaming the streets like zombies. Yes, these
are white areas of town, and the criminals all look like your old
toothless burnt-out grandparents, but the Officer Friendlys of
Portland stop blacks more than whites.
Scared Black Man
TO-DO LIST
DEAR MERCURY—I think you got one of the headings wrong
on [Katie] Shimer’s submission to the Drunk-a-Lympics article [“It’s
All Fun and Games,” Feature, Jan 24]. Specifically, the one about
what not to do while drunk. When else are you planning on dancing
around the campfire naked? In the right part of the world, driving
drunk in an ice storm to get more beer is not only perfectly safe, but
a blast. Don’t swim in anything but a pool? Pshaw! Don’t ride an
ATV in the woods? Baloney.
Ryan Parker
CONGRATULATIONS TO RYAN for expediting the natural selection of
the over-populous human race! For his efforts, Ryan wins two tickets to
the Laurelhurst Theater and lunch at No Fish! Go Fish!, where the
eating (and drinking) is perfectly safe.