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. CHRISTIANS ARE PEOPLE, TOO I take exception to Patty Wentz's mean spirited anti-Christian cheap shot in WW, dated December 16, 1998. In her story entitled "Bright Lights, Big City," she apparently felt it necessary to sound off against Portland's electronic billboards by first mocking Peacock Lane's "garish, but at least they're temporary" Christmas lights display. Now, I realize it's hard at times to come up with witty, urbane, hip analogies on a deadline, but this one really missed the mark. In this era of heightened sensitivity to everyone and everything, let's not be selective on who warrants special treatment. Believe it or not, Christians have feelings too, and we know how to read between the lines. If Ms. Wentz is really that offended by the lights, I suggest she look the other way. I also suggest her editor, Mark Zusman, do his job a little better. Oh, one more thing, Merry Christmas! Wency Rivera Southeast Lincoln Street MANNIX PANIC Your Rogue of the Week for Kevin Mannix and his buddy Bill Witt is well-deserved [[Rogue of the Week, WW, Dec. 22, 1998]. Mannix and Witt propose a non-sequitur solution to an invented problem: Their rhetoric is for "family values," but their action is just the opposite. They propose legislation that would deny benefits for homosexual couples to which they are legally and constitutionally entitled. This would contribute to society's instability. There are enough forces in society arrayed against homosexuals; the state constitution should not be one of them. Mannix and Witt also put forth the shameful proposition that a person's rights should be subject to a popular vote. This would create a statewide crazy quilt of a person's civil rights. Some places and employers would allow benefits and others would disallow benefits to homosexuals. This is not equal protection under the law. A person's rights shouldn't stop at a county line or a city limit. A lesbian or gay man living in, say, Canby and working in Portland might not be protected by fair housing laws, but might be protected from discrimination on the job. Nutty ideas like these have been proposed in the past, and the Oregon electorate has rightly rejected them. Mannix and Witt should back off this foolish and dangerous track. Voters will remember whether Mannix and Witt represent everyone in their districts, and if they don't, make sure that after the next election they represent no one. Patrick O. Fiegenbaum East Burnside Street LEGISLATING BELIEF I disagree with Kevin Mannix's position regarding the extension of spousal benefits to gay couples, but I strongly disagree with your statement that "Mannix crossed the line separating church and state" [Rogue of the Week, WW, Dec. 22, 1998]. Since when has it been unconstitutional for citizens, even public officials, to be motivated by religious beliefs? And where in the Constitution does it state that religious principle cannot undergird public policy? Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson and (believe it or not) even Tony Blair were all driven to public service by their religious convictions. The fact that Kevin Mannix's convictions may have driven him from left to right, politically, rather than from right to left, says nothing about the legitimacy of his actions as a public official. As a former Republican who "converted" to the Democratic Party at about the same time (and for the same reasons) that I became serious about my faith, I applaud Kevin Mannix's efforts to put his ideals into practice. I write this despite my deep disagreement with Mr. Mannix's position on the issue discussed in your Rogue of the Week column. In my opinion, Willamette Week has earned the title "Rogue of the Week"! Chris Vice Dhahran, Saudi Arabia - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Willamette Week | originally published December 29, 1998