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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 4, 2003)
aprii 4. 2003 » J u t M d T" P io ta i M a A q a /v e t /H I ôcceUtOH ßluHcuyuifi..y the first bombs fa ll onto Iraq , w hat steps w ill you be taking to show either your protest Ju st RTST7T7TTT1 As of, or support for, this w ar? How do you see the conflict affecting you directly? I ’m a Vietnam-era veteran who is tom over sup porting the war for liberation of Iraq, but 1 sup port our troops; some of them are young enough to be my grandchildren. The citizens of Iraq deserve to have this oppressive tyrant Saddam Hussein removed and the country returned to the people. I am so angry at (some of) the protesters in Portland for stomping/buming our flag, I could just scream. I realize that my opinion is not very popular with the gay community right now, but know 1 am not an army of one. (vit/uuU CÂc “S S 5 0 3 $ 9 2 -2 6 7 7 com P eggy O’B rien Gresham • • • I will go attend protests as much as possible, educate people through letters to the editor and conversations, and simply be a voice for peace and reason in any way I can. As usual with U.S. wars of late, the conservative corpo rate media are going out o f their way to suppress important facts that would lead people to oppose the war. The media also, as during the first G ulf War, n e x I l M are trying to craft a negative image of those who oppose the war. Therefore, I see it as very impor tant to try to educate the public in grassroots ways about the truth behind the sound bites. I also see being a visible voice for peace as important, as this legitimizes opposition to the war during a time when the mass media and conservative politicians are condemning oppos ing views. This is comparable to how just being “out” legitimizes the cause of gay rights. A s a queer person this affects me as well because the war and its media coverage are designed to get President Bush elected in 2004. This would lead to more far-right rhetoric, poli cy and judicial appointments. T om S oppe Portland n T he downtown club Level joins B lackbird and several other establishm ents around P ortland in launching a queer night. D o you think this is in response to som e inadequacy of queer bars or an exam ple o f our acceptance into the m ainstream ? (P lease see related item on P age 4 8 .) Respond a t w w w .justout.com . (D on’t forget to include your nam e, city an d daytim e telephone num ber.) OK to identify who is gay in the military, but a show like Oprah on the subject might build pride. Gay U.S. servicemembers have to live in closets, but not so in Israel, which has no prob lem with it. If we can show the straight world what is being contributed, perhaps one day we could be like Israel; we would be able to know who they are and to send care packages and pen pal letters of support, but not so now, even though they are dying in Iraq. P hilip R emare Portland Sick and tired To E ditor : o all people who call themselves Ameri cans: I’m a local small-businessman who supports an old idea. An idea that was created by the people, for the people who wanted to make choices that affect their lives. Have we as Americans forgotten about how lucky we are to be able to make personal choic es that affect our everyday lives? In other coun tries some choices that you yourself and also myself have made could cost us our very lives. Have we forgotten about who we are? We are a people, a power divided by none who has elected its officials to represent us as a nation that stands together as one. We must put beside our personal goals and support an idea this country was founded on. We as Americans must protect at all costs our freedom of choice. Put aside personal feelings and support our elected government and those brave people who protect the American way of life. I’m tired of hearing about so-called Ameri cans bellyache about a lifestyle we all take advantage of. At least you’re free to love whomever you choose. Elect governing officials you choose. Live however you choose. A t least we have a choice. Americans, remember what you have. Pull together as one nation. Protect the personal freedom of choice at any cost. We call ourselves Americans. 'f the It’s time to show the world that we are Americans. Long live American freedom. F red G urr A &. G Automotive Squeal like a pig To E ditor : reader named Michael Field, newly arrived T \ to Portland, laments that he can’t find a gay physician or a physician who is sympathetic to gays (“What’s Up, Docs.7" March 7]. Please inform him that Fanno Creek Clinic has been open to all alternative lifestyles for many years. It is off Bar- bur Boulevard in the southwest part of Portland. As to the cutting off of almost all, if not all, funds for numerous social services because of the ongoing economic crisis, there is another way to kxik at the problem. Many of those now being cut off have lived literally at the expense of others who have had to both support themselves and their families and help support strangers via higher taxes. In the 80 or more percent of the world that is officially classified as Third World, those with any sort of medical, emotional, mental, chemi cal problems who don’t have money or families with money.. .they die.... * While thousands are in trouble or soon will be, had it not been for monies used for many years, the same people crying about the cutting off of ' “their” money would have ended up in jail or dead years ago. Since I am in one of the highest tax brackets in America, I get just a little bit tired of howling, screaming, whining, chanting liberal do- gtxxlers who have endless ways of spending my earned money, while they themselves for the most : part have very little or no money and percentage wise contribute very little or nothing to the caus es so dear to their hearts. It is us “ugly," “nasty,” “greedy," “piggy” capitalists who contribute most in taxes and, when business is ! down, as it is nationally and kx:ally, taxes are down. | The result is that, by necessity, the bottom 30 per cent of the public is cut off from “their" money, from what is “owed” them, from what they “demand." I the Meanwhile, people like myself derive virtually zero in these benefits for ourselves.. .but we are the “enemy,” we are the “capitalist pigs.” Lots of liber als just “don’t get it” how microeconomics, macro economics and global economics work; that would require thinking, not just tantrums. J ohn B oynton Injured? ...Call me Vancouver, Wash. Proudly serving our community since 1989 in personal Three is a magic number To the E ditor . would like to say that I really enjoy your paper and that the article *hat you did on polyamory was great! [“Three’s Company,” Feb. 21] My husband and I and my other husband like to go to Jefferson Theatre, where we can enjoy good movies as well as each other. On sev eral occasions we have been able to go as a trio, depending on who is taking the money. But lately we have come into a lot of dis crimination and have been told we only can come in as a couple (two men or man and woman) but not as a trio. So say their rules. They have gay male couples go into the couples section. They also have several normal husband- and-wife couples go into the roped couples section. We asked the manager to please not discrimi nate and to give us a trio section (three men, two women and a man, etc.). He was more than glad to take our money but would not accommodate us. We asked for one of two things: our own roped-off section or a refund. They don’t give refunds; however, he gave us a pass for— you got it— a couple. To me, this is discrimination. I would like for all of the families in the poly world to give Jef ferson a run for its money. They can’t discrimi nate against all of us. After all, what is a g<xxJ movie without a little fun? Can you help us? Or at least bring this to everyone’s attention? I P atricia W indom Corvallis • Bicycle & I CUC J I I Hala Gores, P.C. Attorney at Law Accidents Free Consultation ! No Fee Unless i You Recover • Insurance Claims 503 / 295-1940 12th Floor 621 SW Morrison Portland P O R T L A N D AREA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION Integrity , Experience O Results 5
