HOMO ON HIGH
DEAR MERCURY—The assertion by Dan Savage that the
Catholic Church is homophobic is puzzling [“The Church Militant,”
Blogtown, Dec 2]. Saint Paul was gay. Saint Augustine was bisexual (and
black). Between them they laid an impregnable foundation for the most
powerful, influential, durable gay entity ever: the Roman Catholic
hierarchy.
-James Lee
SIGNS OF CHANGE
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN—I have been much more than a casual
observer over the last 19 years, and it does seem quite ironic and a
“sign o’ the times” that two iconic symbols of Portland are in the
process of being altered or downright destroyed directly across the
street from one another. The first to go is our loveable, popular, and
still very much alive elephant, Packy, on the new Mercy Corps building.
Next is the dull uproar over the University of Oregon’s plan to change
the “Made in Oregon” sign to better suit their needs. I was told that
there were meetings and such where I could have voiced my concern, but
really? Would I have been able to overturn the entire Mercy Corps’
plans for their brand-new headquarters? Packy has done much more for
Portland over the years than, say, Greg Oden.
Anyway, on to the “Made in Oregon” sign. I was told two to three
years ago that there were no plans at the time for the sign, but [the U
of O] would be interested in doing something with it down the line. I
have watched numerous television shows about my hometown and almost
every single one of them has a shot of the “Made in Oregon” sign. I am
well aware of how it has changed over the years from White Satin/Stag
to the Naito-owned “Made in Oregon” that it is now. I just feel that
the words “Made in Oregon,” regardless if it is an existing business or
not, capture and encompass what is happening in PORTLAND right now. Do
we really need to advertise for a college that is based in Eugene?
DON’T TOUCH IT. It wasn’t very neighborly to welcome themselves to Old
Town by significantly altering the skyline of Portland.
-Tres Shannon, co-owner of Voodoo Doughnut, in the crotch of Portland
(just a reach around from the Pearl District)
A HORSE IS A HORSE…
HEY MERCURY!—I just got done reading your new column,
“High Horse: Opinions from the World’s Most Pompous Horse” [New
Column!, Dec 4]. Guess what? You guys aren’t fooling anybody.
Anyone with a history of reading the Mercury has to know who
this alleged highfalutin filly really is. Are you ready,
Portland? Frank Cassano is back! Don’t try to deny it,
Mercury. We all know the guy can’t get enough when it comes
to crushing people’s spirits. Perhaps he’s concerned that his
return under his real name will create a backlash, so he’s hiding
behind this horsey moniker. Come on, Frank! We all know it’s you!
You’re a bad dog who can’t be crated. Cast off this equestrian alias
and reclaim your throne that is built from the broken bodies of
imbeciles.
-Chris Hardwicke
CONGRATULATIONS TO CHRIS for his imbecilic yet amusing contention
that Frank Cassano has taken on an equine guise—imbecile!
Nonetheless, Chris wins the letter of the week, and gets two tickets to
the Laurelhurst Theater and lunch at No Fish! Go Fish!, where imbeciles
are welcome, so long as they can calculate a decent tip.