LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Rev. Sun Myung Moon doesn't sound any creepier or any more dangerous than the Pope ["Holy Mackerel!," WW, June 14, 2006]. If WW's intention was to hobble Portland's sushi industry, they should've done an article on the incredibly high mercury content of sashimi-grade fish.

Sushi is a guilty pleasure, not a health food. It's absolutely terrible for you. Pregnant women can't even look at it without risking the life of their unborn baby. According to the National Resources Defense Council, it's not safe for the rest of us to eat more than a few times a month. See www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/sushi.asp.

Anyway, take heart. At the rate we overfish and pollute the oceans, True World Foods and the sushi bars it supplies will be out of business soon enough.

Zachary A. Michaelis
Astoria

FULL MOON FEVER

I was very interested in your article "Holy Mackerel!" on the Unification Church's influence over the sushi supply in Portland. I think you have only touched the tip of the iceberg.

Around eight years ago, I did my own research on the Unification Church after I had been made a job offer by a high-tech company in Vancouver, Wash. If I recall correctly, they made some type of special computer monitors (touch-screen, perhaps). They were located in a small office park down near the Columbia River.

After 12 hours of interviews over three days, and having met with many employees, it was only then revealed to me that this company was owned by the Unification Church and that their president (who was Korean and barely spoke English) and 40 percent of the employees were church members, and "did I have a problem with that?" (I did.)

My brief Internet research showed, at that time, the Unification Church owned many large, global businesses, primarily in the insurance and banking industries throughout Asia. I was shocked at the size (billions of dollars) and influence of these businesses. From your article, it seems that their line of business has obviously diversified in the past eight years from financial services to other types of business.

It would be interesting to see if you can dig further into what other businesses may be in the Portand area that are owned by the Unification Church. As Portlanders, we always want to know who our hard-earned money is supporting.

Michelle Cole
Southwest Northvale Way

SOMETHING FISHY IN LITTLE BEIRUT

Had to take pause at the article on the Moonies' control of the sushi market and more about the blasé attitude of the buyers of such who felt they weren't at all concerned about the seller. It's not surprising in a liberal town such as Portland that prides itself on its anti-religion fervor and being the corporate headquarters for cults such as Scientology and the ex-Rajneeshees.

Instead of asking, "Does it matter that a 'cult' owns the sushi market" in Portland, the writer should have asked, "Would you still purchase the sushi if we said Halliburton was the chief seller of the product?" I am sure the customers would have run from the fish faster than Randy Leonard to another public pension.

Portlanders don't care what a person does—i.e., Neil Goldschmidt raping a child—as long he is not a conservative doing it.

Gary Astorino
Northeast 84th Avenue

BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL

Every day I read articles in The Oregonian about scandals, court cases and stupid leaders. Our culture consumes the dirt on even the slightest stain on one's character, drawing clear lines between the villains and saints. Perhaps we look at our own faulty decisions and find comfort, knowing "at least I never did that." We are relieved when the bad guys have been declared bad, the good guys left to reproduce and create a better world.

Thank you for offering a breath of fresh air in your recent cover story ["Unforgiven," WW, May 24, 2006]. Thank you for bringing to light that, in the words of a mentor of mine, the "lines between victim and offender are becoming increasingly blurred." Thank you for not being afraid to approach the unapproachable, speak on the unspeakable, and encourage love for the unlovable. Who, after all, is truly deserving of unadulterated love? (Culture would say "only the self"—and this mindset is what leads to sex offenses such as this one.) I certainly sympathize with the victim of Jon Maack's horrific act—yet, as a fellow sinner, I understand that Maack is no less human than myself. I am only a few decisions away from his very fate.

Maack is no monster; just a boy in need of help, to be communicated with through love, grace and, most importantly, hope.

Samuel Albertson
Northeast Halsey Street

LEPERS AMONG US

I wonder how many of those whose comments [in Mailbox and online] stated their disgust/anger/shock at Jon Maack's presence in their midst or at the WW for having the cojones to print this article have experienced sexual abuse or been close to someone that has? I have been both victim and close friend to a victim, and I'd like to say SHAME ON YOU for being such insensitive assholes.

It's more than valid to say that we should be aware of the ways in which our laws, beliefs and actions affect those stigmatized by society, it's responsible. While Jon failed to understand his actions' consequences and repercussions (in terms of his victim's well-being, especially), he does not cease to be a human being like you or me because of his failing. The fact that many of us would rather excommunicate, imprison or kill this kid for his troubled past illustrates just how out of touch most of us are with our own flawed nature.

I have moved beyond the anger some of you champion in the name of his victim. To sit in court or on the school bus or in a public place and see the shame and sadness on the face of an offender is to understand the enormity of human suffering. Yes, this girl faced sexual exploitation; many people face exploitation every day. Jon is paying dearly for his mistake, but no matter what he does, no matter how pure his intentions, he'll never be able to regain a place in our society.

Your subscription to a system of social justice that only increases human suffering is a testament to your own cowardice and your inability to reach out to another human being and share in their life's tragedy. Are you afraid it's catching? I find it's people like you who similarly treat victims of abuse like lepers and want to drown out your own fear by raising an uproar about the act itself rather than coming to terms with the continuing presence of both victim and perpetrator in our communities.

Kristen Cross
Southeast Woodstock Boulevard

UNFORGIVABLE

"Unforgivable" would have been a better title for your article. Let's not forget what Jon Maack was charged with: Rape, sodomy and sexual abuse. Let's not forget that although he pleaded guilty to lesser crimes, and his rich dad bailed him out, Jon Maack most likely raped, sodomized and sexually abused a young girl. Let's not forget how sodomy probably hurt this 9-year-old girl. And let's not forget how young and undeveloped 9-year-old girls are. Let's not forget that people who are sexually aroused by children are pedophiles. Let's not forget that people who rape, sodomize and sexually abuse children are criminals.

What Dan Cook from Counterpoint doesn't say about "success statistics"? Sometimes sex-offenders lie. Sometimes sex-offenders manipulate. Sometimes sex-offenders re-offend and never get caught.

Jon Maack has been forgiven. Jon Maack has forgiven himself. His dad has forgiven him. He has been forgiven by an editor who published a one-sided argument. He has been forgiven by treatment counselors who get $80,000 from taxpayers and rich dads to treat sex-offenders. Jon Maack has been forgiven by a judge and prosecutor who circumvented mandatory sentencing guidelines. The only person who should feel unforgiven is the little girl who had to face Jon Maack on the street shortly after mustering the courage to turn him in.

Let's not forget that what Jon Maack did is unforgivable. Let's not forget that he injured a little girl and imprisoned a piece of her soul for life.

Barritt Firth
Vancouver, Wash.

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