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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2004)
9 *1 ou t FITNESS Just PTTTTTTH When rabidly anti-gay figures like Fred Phelps and Roy Moore come to town, should the queer community stage counterprotests, or is their presence not even worth acknowledging? W hich is better—confronting them or ignoring them? M C a e r r t D i f C a i e P d ' A me ri c an e a r s l o C ounc i l n l a O n l a h T r a a i n n e r E xercise GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE 5 0 3 • uring World War II many citizens in G er many ignored Hitler, and as the trains head ed to the death camps and passed through the lit tle towns, no one said anything. Silence isn’t always a solution, nor is an angry crowd. Staging a counterprotest in a “nonviolent way” is a way to say N O T IN MY T O W N . W hen the German people were asked later what was happening in their country, most were afraid to admit they knew. Hate must be confronted as well as under- sttxxl and dealt with in a positive way. i [tri e have so many better things to do with our tim e than waste it on these guys. Fred Phelps is a caricature o f hate, far too overblow n and ridiculous to be worth our protests. L et’s spend our tim e fighting the more subtle discrim ination present in unfair laws and simple ignorance; leave the ugly, religious hate off the airwaves and front pages. 17 1 6 W j LOCALLY OWNED A OPERATED M urtu: iD e tw e x e d ! ' FRESH LOCAL ORGANIC $ | PRODUCE I JVem iiaccitwii | 2 0 1 9 SE B elm o n t j | W IT H R E T A IL SPA C E } O rgan ics to You 1 (5 0 3 )2 3 6 -6 4 9 6 HOME. J ana M aiuri DELIVERY O f O R O .W IC GOODS 1 § w w w .o r g a n ic s t o y o u .o r g Eugene C arolyn P ower Portland • • • erhaps it’s because I lived through the Viet nam War, Stonewall and A C T UP— or per haps it’s just a hippie mentality that survives— but in cases such as these, I feel counterprotests are the only way. For vicious and dangerous people such as Fred Phelps, Roy Moore and Marion Hite to be honored as “Profiles in Courage" (JFK would be appalled!) and as “the finest expression of Ameri can citizenship" is simply and utterly wrong. Phone calls and e-mails are easily disregarded and dismissed; a show of opposition composed of both gay and straight seems to be the answer in this day of media events. It’s difficult for local media to ignore sizable gatherings of people. The religious and political right wing has had power for so long because it is a well-oiled machine; in this respect, it is an example to follow. We must put by the constant in-fighting and pre sent our views in an organized manner; then, and only then, will others begin to rally to our causes. P D onald F inch Portland • • • I believe the old political motto of “Suppose they gave a war— and nobody came?” would be the best answer. If we ignore such hatemongers as Fred and Roy, maybe no one will know they are here! And if there is no opposition to their presence, per haps the media would not be so likely to give their visit an iota of coverage. Just think of how many times these events go unnoticed because they don’t make the 11 o’clock news. Besides, aren’t Oregoni ans tcxi busy with our own unemployment rate, the upcoming presidential race, crime and gang vio lence, homelessness and gay marriage issues— just to name a few— to worry about a couple of out-of- state tourists with bad haircuts? onfront them. They have freedom of speech but must accept the consequences o f their words. We have nothing to be afraid of as long as we remain civil and to the point and offer people a stark contrast to just who are cruel and hateful and who are the mature adults standing up for their rights. Ignore these people, and they will not go away. Confront them peacefully and resolutely, and they are merely bullies who at some point must face the fact that they have chosen their battles unwisely. C M ichael M c C arthy Eugene y far, confronting them peacefully and intelligently is the best way to go. By tak ing the “high road” and saying th at the likes o f Fred Phelps and Roy M oore aren’t worth acknowledging, we are silently condoning their words and actions. W ith the impending decisions on the definition of marriage in this country, it is more im portant than ever that our voices are heard— both in praise and protest. B C say confront them because it’s my nature for me to make the people who don’t feel like were are normal uncomfortable. I TJ B a r t e l ' Beaverton t r r r m Dental • Vision Prescription • Chiropractic Family $19.95/Mo. Individual $11.95/Mo. IswOiRD® H® Mteto Vom IMltea Save up to 80% on D E N T A L S E R V IC E S it® V IS IO N onfronting outrageous displays of bigotry and anti-gay protests only feeds the fire. By countcrprotesting them, we validate them, we give credence to their views. By doing nothing, essentially ignoring their existence, we show them , and the rest o f the world, that we don’t fear them. Our community should refuse to give them the validation they crave and ignore them. • • • N ew herg 1523 SE Ankeny, Portland, OR 9 7 2 1 4 • 5 0 3-2 31 -S EL L ( 7 3 5 5 ) • • • C lackam as D evon R osa Bella Casa Realty Inc. PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS A R E COVERED Portland • • • I (503) 345-9252 Includes All Specialists • Braces for Adults & Children • Cosmetic Dentistry S tephanie S eaman S usan L ane believe we should definitely stage counter- protests. If you ignore a problem, does it ever go away? No. I think confronting them is a much more productive way to fight homophobia. T E R R I P O PE JO Y (503) 345-9253 • • • M ark S ustello Portland C E L IA LYON Buying or selling your Home is cm importcmt choice. 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