Regarding the grossly offensive "Callahan" cartoon in your Jan. 12 issue [in which Alias' Jennifer Garner is taken to the emergency room after attempting to beat up a man in real life]: Apparently, he [cartoonist John Callahan] finds the prospect of a woman being beaten to a pulp amusing. Or more to the point, a fictional character who is an assertive woman who knows how to defend herself-is that what Callahan gets off on? Typical, the warped psyche of a conservative, finding the beating of a woman amusing.

Maybe he should draw a cartoon of a man confined to a wheelchair being beaten to a pulp. That way he can indulge in a little self-loathing, showing his hatred of all people who aren't exactly like him.

Michael Galliers
Northeast Broadway

Say No More

After reading Greg Glover's answer to the first interview question, "Is living in Portland what you expected it to be? Are there as many creatives, hipsters and junkies as you thought there would be?," I chose to read no further ["Say Anything," Jan. 12, 2005]. His lack of compassion was appalling. I would not consider him a "Southern gentleman," much less a gentleman of any sort. Portland does not need more opportunists like this "kingpin" whose insensitivity fails to grasp the truly devastating situation of addiction and homelessness in this wonderful city.

Nancy Buttler
Northwest Davis Street

What the #$*! Does WW Know?

There was a very significant reason why 60,000 people in Portland went to see the movie What the Bleep Do We Know? Most people got it, but obviously you didn't ["What the Bleep Is Ramtha?," WW, Dec. 22, 2004]. That really doesn't matter so much, but to trash the movie based on your apparent intolerance of BJ Knight's [sic] way of teaching is shallow and irresponsible.

Regarding Knight's teaching, there are at least 100 people very positive about that "church-alternative" to every one that has become bitter about it. The majority would express gratitude and genuine excitement about learning some profound Universal Truths that are provided through Knight. Many churches do the same. There will always be a few who don't like or accept the information. You conveniently focused on the few.

The simple teaching of Universal Truth (that you mock in the article) is that we do individually have the knowledge and infinite power over body and mind. The movie did a beautiful job of explaining the concept. This is ancient wisdom, and we are just re-learning how to activate the healing of the body and focus of intention through the mind. This wisdom is expressed through all the world's mystical traditions and ancient texts, including the Bible. (If any person or dogma or religion is telling you otherwise, you should consider why that is.)

To trash someone's way of learning-their right to choose the method of learning-is to display the same intolerance that is the root of religious conflicts all over the world. Same message of the Truth, with a different teacher/technique/ritual.

I would normally just toss the newspaper aside after reading something I know to be overly biased and misleading. In this case, I couldn't resist speaking up. Please take your knee-jerk, sarcastic, who-can-I-make-a-fool-of-today glasses off!

Isn't the real story about why the little Portland film has been so wildly successful?

Sheree Stewart
Southeast 43rd Avenue