LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

[February 23rd, 2005] Begging for Real News

To the Editor: It's you who I have issue with regarding Dave Fitzpatrick's article "Panhandlers, Inc." [WW, Feb. 16, 2005]. Mr. Fitzpatrick wrote an insipid, surface article that states little more than the obvious about "flagging." However, the choice of running the article, especially under its inflammatory (and according to the text of the article itself, misleading) headline, can only increase hostility and dry up generosity for flaggers and other panhandlers. The inclusion of statistics that flaggers make "10 to 35 dollars a day," "40 to 50 dollars a day" and "hundreds of dollars a day" is an implied condemnation.

If a corporate lawer makes hundreds of dollars a day defending a corrupt company, it's commonplace. But if a homeless person makes hundreds of dollars a day (while hurting no one) it's "newsworthy."

Run a real story.

Paul Silveria
Northeast Garfield Avenue

Sign of the Times

Just read with great interest your story on "flagging" by panhandlers. All I can say is:

Boo fucking hoo.

This summer, I think I'm going to dress up in nice clothes, smoke a nice fat cigar, and go stand on a corner with a sign that reads:

NOT HUNGRY

NOT HOMELESS

NOT A VIETNAM VET

DON'T NEED OR

WANT YOUR MONEY.

EVERYTHING A-OK!

Who knows? Maybe I'll make a few bucks making the drivers laugh, because if they're stupid enough to give those other flaggers money, then they're stupid enough to give it to me.

Jeffery Scharn
Tigard

Pomo Christianity

Thanks for taking time for the Donald Miller cover story ("Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," WW, Feb. 2. 2005). I was surprised to not hear a mention of one word, though: postmodernism. Books like Miller's are selling to young people at evangelical colleges who are looking for a broader vision of Christianity.

On campus, the question of whether their ideas are "heretical" or "honest" revolve around the notion of our society's transition from modernity to postmodernity. Christian theology (and politics!) is too often rooted in a modern conception of the world that leads to fundamentalist thinking. But writers like Miller understand that the message of Christ is bigger than modernity.

Mainstream conservative evangelicals feel threatened and see "Post-Modernity" as a force to be battled, believing that questioning of fundamentalism (a thoroughly modern concept) will lead to aimless belief. Authors like Miller are popular in Portland and other "blue states" (read: postmodern states) because of new, fresh thinking about something old and powerful (the story of Christianity).

Dave Dyk
Northeast Irving Street