[August 22nd, 2007]

MOHAWKS AND DREADLOCKS

Silly Willamette Week : Your ignorance of culture is rivaled only by the naiveté on display in your sensational approach to local politics. There isn’t now, nor has there ever been, a conflict between “punk rock” and “hippie culture” [“Kvetchfest,” WW , Aug. 15, 2007].  

To wit: One of the Sex Pistols’ primary influences was the Nuggets compilation. This collection of psychedelic/garage rock recordings was compiled by Patti Smith guitarist Lenny Kaye, who dubbed the music the original “punk rock.” The Sex Pistols and the Clash led giant caravans around the U.K. on their tours—sharing housing, food, clothing, etc. Both Crass and Holland’s the Ex were/are commune residents and have been constant, tireless peace activists. Ray Manzarek produced the first X album, for chrissakes, while Jim Morrison’s “Lizard King” persona was the primary inspiration for James Ostenberg’s [pretty sure you mean Osterberg. —ignorant ed. ] onstage persona, Iggy Pop.

The ‘hippie’ ethos has continued to play an important role in punk ever since—through a devotion to anarchy and freedom, veganism, social-outreach programs like Food Not Bombs, etc. Many of the “gutter punk” kids who populate downtown lead nomadic lives, traveling around the country hitching rides and jumping trains, living off the charity and kindness of others when they stop—much like the characters of Easy Rider (sans motorcycles).  

This isn’t a new trend in Portland, either—I’ve known ‘”hippie punks” in Portland since moving here a decade ago. If you have a problem with the collection of eclectic personalities on display in NoPo, then maybe it’s best you keep to the familiar environs of downtown and Southeast, where the surroundings are more likely to conform to the little boxes you use to categorize people.  

Neither “hippie” nor “punk,”
Ryan Tobias
Southeast 29th Avenue

GOT SOME KVETCHING TO DO IN HAIKU

I see a snowflake
May turn into a blizzard
Cancel school again

• • •

How great, I deadpan
Greeted by blank stare; sarcasm
Can’t fly in Portland

Elona Landau
Via kvetch@wweek.com

See wweek.com/kvetchfest for more kvetches, and submit your own (in verse or prose) to kvetch@wweek.com.

CORRECTION: The names of the company and ship were incorrect in last week’s story “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.” The correct names are Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP and the JA Aladdin Dream II ship. WW regrets the errors.