Mailbox

[August 15th, 2007]

DIVIDED WE PALL

In your Aug. 8 edition Beth Slovic’s column (“Uno If By Land, Dos If By Sea,” WW , Aug. 8, 2007) made gratuitous attempt after gratuitous attempt to portray the Constitution Party of Oregon negatively. References to World Net Daily, the John Birch Society and an old very much unofficial Poll tipped this reader off to the hand Slovic was playing. Guilt by association is useful when intrinsic guilt is absent.

The truth is that those who rule this country today like to divide and pit against each other the citizens who smell a rat. Today those labeled “Left” and those labeled “Right” really have much in common. We are both very concerned about tyranny, corporate power, war-boosting profiteers, diminishing individual liberties. The Constitution Party of Oregon was out front in opposition to the Iraq invasion and is still doing all we can to rally the public against this war. We decry corporate ownership of our government. We are trying mightily to separate Christians from their misconception that the GOP is God’s political party. If we are pro-Life we are unapologetic about it and challenge anyone to justify an innocent person’s death.

We might be able to solve a few problems if we avoided the urge to take unnecessary pot shots at each other when there is in fact common ground that could be exploited toward the good.

Bob Ekstrom
Former Chairman
Constitution Party of Oregon

WE WILL NOT BE MOVED

I am a member of the Red and Black Cafe and I am writing to clarify some information that appeared in the article “Red, Black and Blues” [Aug. 1, 2007]. We are not closing as of Sept. 1. Our lease ends on Sept. 30, and to allow moving our equipment into a storage space or our new building (hopefully!) we have set our last day as the 26th.

The Red and Black is not closing down. Realistic opportunities are revealing themselves as more of the community shows its support. We are looking into a few promising spaces, and are raising money to help cover a down payment and costs of moving. We are looking at closing for a matter of weeks or at most months, but by no means indefinitely. Making sure that the gap between Sept. 26 and the opening of our new location is as short as possible is going to be greatly influenced by the continued support of our community. Please help by patronizing the cafe, coming to our many benefits and purchasing new location gift cards. Information can be found at redandblackcafe.com.

We are currently seeking supporter loans, which allow individuals to give us private loans to show their support while receiving a low interest. We were opened with supporter loans, and will be relying on new ones to overcome this new obstacle. To contact us about this loan program, please email booking@redandblackcafe.com, and thanks for all of your continued help and friendship!

Carly Blakinger
The Red and Black
Southeast Division Street

THANKS FOR THE NOD, BUT…

As it would be for any arts organization, recognition among the pages of WW’ s “Best” issue [July 25, 2007] was gratifying for Portland-based vocal ensemble Cappella Romana. The clever rubric “Best Greek Chorus,” however, conveys only one of a range of traditions and periods these intrepid artists explore. Cappella Romana’s 2007/08 season at home, for example, includes the program “Arctic Light,” featuring rarely heard Orthodox music of Finland, led by British conductor Ivan Moody. Contemporary composer Robert Kyr’s work on harmony with the earth, A Time for Life , will premiere with invocations of Native American peoples and texts from Services for the Environment from Mount Athos. Virtuosic Cypriot music of the 15th and 16th centuries from both Latin and Greek cultures make up the final program of the season. Artistic director and founder Alexander Lingas, born of Greek father and Canadian mother, grew up in Portland and began his education here. His international reputation as scholar and artist earns accolades, recordings and prestigious engagements for the ensemble throughout the world. See www.cappellaromana.org.

Melanie West Nickel
Cappella Romana Board of Directors