WW welcomes letters to the editor via mail, e-mail or fax. Letters must be signed by the author and include the author's street address and phone number for verification. Preference will be given to letters of 250 words or less. Editor's note: Last week's cartoon by John Callahan caused quite a stir. The panel was captioned "The pope turns out to be a Patti Smith fan" and featured a sketch of Pope John Paul II addressing a crowd, singing, "I'm a rock 'n roll nigger." The cartoon referred to the pope's recent embrace of some pop music stars, such as Bob Dylan and Sting. Callahan says he was imagining what would happen if this papal trend went to its extreme and the pope turned to punk rock. He says he chose the lyrics, which come from one of Smith's best-known songs, in part because she uses the phrase "rock 'n roll nigger" to capture her role as an industry outsider. "As a cartoonist," he says, "I relate to that. I, too, am an outsider." Callahan says it wasn't his intention to offend anyone, but clearly he has. WW has heard from several readers (and some employees) saying the use of the n-word was inappropriate. On Monday's Lars Larson Show on KXL (750 AM), however, several listeners defended the cartoon and suggested that Callahan, using language far tamer than many black comedians and rappers, was being unfairly singled out. What do you think? We'll devote some space to your comments next week. WE EAT WHAT WE ARE One must laugh at human shallowness. Healthy attention to what you eat is wise, but engaging in fear-mongering, sound-bite headlines is reckless ["Freak Foods," April 12, 2000]. So much fear of what might happen pales in light of our extraordinary, self-induced, proven toxic behavior. We: 1. Are fat and getting fatter. 2. Inhale cigarette smoke (tobacco, pot, etc.), even SUV exhaust. 3. Swallow legal and illegal drugs, steroids, and antibiotics for viral infections. 4. Ingest dozens of natural pesticides in food made by plants. 5. Engage in countless unhealthy, even deadly sexual practices. 6. Fry in sun or light booth, promoting skin cancer (tanning). 7. Stuff body cavities with bags of silicone. 8. Spread deadly fungicides, herbicides and pesticides to kill an aphid or dandelion. 9. Already eat foods which have been genetically altered, not only by scientists but by farmers. You would never recognize nor eat the original corn. 10. Practice artificial insemination and other genetic "experiments." 11. Consume mega quantities of natural, herbal treatments, with little understanding of long term effects. 12. Inject BoTox, the most potent neurotoxin known, to minimize wrinkles caused by tanning and above abuses. But it's okay, it's natural. Despite these dangerous assaults on our bodies, humans continue to reproduce very (too) successfully while extending their life expectancy every generation by leaps and bounds. The lack of science education again explains the emotional overreaction toward further breeding of foods. Be careful of hypocrisy and meaningless words like "natural," and take action against proven risks we are responsible for personally. Jerry Taylor Southwest 33rd Place WHAT MONSANTO'S FEEDING US Regarding genetically engineered foods ["Freak Foods," April 12, 2000], the study published in Nature may have been poorly executed, but it doesn't change the fact that Monarch larvae died after consuming milkweed that had been dusted with genetically altered corn pollen. What I find highly problematic is that such a test only took place after the technology was already being used. Monsanto can dismiss gene drift as merely a case of "farmers planting carelessly," but the fact remains that nothing is infallible when in human hands--otherwise the Trojan Nuclear Plant would probably still be running. If genetically altered pollen drift is possible--and it is--it will happen. The fact that this technology is being thrown out there without any adequate research as to its ultimate effect upon greater ecosystems is appalling. When two diametrically opposed sides are both spewing rhetoric, it's hard to sift through it all and find truth. It's easier, though, to gauge where certain entities are coming from. Why didn't Monsanto thoroughly test Bt corn for ecological risks before having it planted? Why does Monsanto try to circumvent freedom of information by vigorously lobbying against having genetically altered food labeled in our supermarkets? Why is Monsanto working to introduce "Terminator" genes to the most robust strains of seeds so the seeds can't reproduce, thus ensuring that farmers who wish to remain competitive must purchase new batches of seeds from Monsanto each year? Because Monsanto wants to "feed the world"? Horseshit. Monsanto, like any number of corporations engaged in dubious activities, wants to reap as much profit as possible, consequences be damned. Jim Cooper Southeast 17th Avenue POWELL'S LEBENSRAUM How sad it is that Portland is populated by so many spineless rabbits. People who would not only run away from their own problems, but would encourage others to do the same. Fortunately, the Powell's workers have different stripes, and so instead of running away from their jobs they have decided to fix them. Some people think that workers should not have a say in the running of a business, but why not? They are investing their lives in the business, and they are doing the work that keeps the business' doors open. They do the buying, the shelving, the customer service (I've always received good service at Powell's), the computer work, the selling and I'm sure a lot of other things that wouldn't be thought of by those of us that don't work there. Meanwhile, Michael Powell is sitting and looking out the window, thinking of ways to turn the store into another Borders or Barnes and Noble. We should feel indebted to the employees for taking steps to keep that from happening, and doing what they feel is necessary to save this Portland institution. Other people think that Mr. Powell should be kept safely hidden away behind a shield of liberalism and philanthropy. Well, Starbucks and Borders both got started by so-called liberals and we can all see what they have become. I love Powell's, I have from the first time I set foot in the store. I love going into the store in November and saying, "It's for kids." I love knowing that when I go in, there is always going to be something that I'll have to buy. But that will come to an end if Michael Powell doesn't change his ways. Michael Bennett Southeast 39th Avenue ALL IN THE FAMILY Michael Powell the evil capitalist [Letters, WW, March 22-April 26, 2000]? Doesn't sound like my experience. In 1981 I rented an apartment from Walter and Evelyn Powell, Michael's parents, and lived there for six years; the last of those years I managed the building I lived in. During that period of time both of Michael's parents died, and he inherited their collection of rental properties. Since he didn't want to be a landlord, Michael put all the rentals up for sale. The realtor informed me that Michael wanted to give his tenants the first opportunity to buy his properties, and apparently he bent over backwards to do so on at least one of them. I wound up buying one of his properties, and I know he could have gotten perhaps $25,000 more than I bought it for, had it been sold on the open market. Instead, he chose to sell it off the open market I would not say that "communicative" is an adjective I would use in my dealings with the Powell family: Walter Powell, a very trusting soul, hired me as building manager in a brief telephone conversation, and I don't even think he would have recognized me had I passed him on the street. We only met once casually, for about ten seconds, and never exchanged names. Apparently he didn't tell anyone about my status as manager: His bookkeeper who acted as my primary contact once accused me of being the "self-appointed manager" of my building! Perhaps Michael is like his dad, trusting but not very communicative. While this is problematic and frustrating, it does not make him the evil capitalist. Powell's employees should judge their benefits by the industry standard. I have worked in industries that gave less than desirable wages and benefits, and when I found the compensation or conditions wanting, I moved on to other employment. Will Romanelli Southwest Condor Avenue - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Willamette Week | originally published April 26, 2000