Letters to the Editor

NOT COOL

Dear Editor: In your recent column “Numerology for Numbskulls,” you
encouraged people to come to Wade’s Bellevue Indoor Range [New Column!,
Nov 6]. That part is appreciated. The part where you encourage them to
turn guns on themselves with directions on shooting themselves in the
brain: Not. Cool. We know you were trying to be funny, but we take
firearm safety very seriously here at Wade’s. We really don’t
appreciate you suggesting people come to our business to hurt
themselves. Aren’t you supposed to be the good guys with all the peace,
love, no-war-ever rhetoric? Does encouraging suicide really fit with
that mindset?

From the context of the column, you had felt your safety was
threatened by unstable individuals, and one of your two solutions
involved a gun. However, like true liberals, you asked that someone
else pull the trigger for you. Before someone cuts your phone line and
takes your office hostage with a feather pillow, I invite you to train
with us and find out how to be safe and responsible with firearms. Of
course, you do run the risk of discovering that most gun owners are
just normal people, which might make us harder to vilify. Or even
worse, you might enjoy yourself.

Don Clifton, Wade’s
Bellevue Indoor Range

INSIGHTFUL, COGENT

jen Graves: I am a Lower Elwha Klallam artist whose work is in the
current SAM show of Coast Salish art you just reviewed [“The Original
Northwest Reserve,” Oct 30]. I’ve read the other local newspaper
reviews of the show and found yours by far the most insightful and
cogent to the intent of the show.

Understanding Coast Salish culture and art (and the Puget Salish
subculture) is difficult because the local tribal culture defies the
coastal stereotype most people hold. No totem poles, masks, or button
blankets. Also, understanding our art is challenging because it asks
you to recall a time when art was not a specialized activity and art
was not purely seen as a commodity. Too many art critics try to place
Coast Salish art in a modern context that has modern references and
philosophies. Joseph Campbell once wrote that there are two basic types
of art in the modern world. One is called traditional, where the artist
tries to do artwork in a style that could be centuries old so that
their work is part of a cultural continuum. The other art is Western
modern art where the artist seeks to be able to express himself or
herself in a totally unique way, not connected to anyone or anything.
Most of the Coast Salish artists in the SAM show are closer to the
culturally based traditional position, even those of us seen as
contemporary Native artists.

A small quibble: All the reviews tended to quote non-Indian experts
in the field, and it seems few if any Native artists were able to speak
for their culture or themselves. Hope you can do another column that
might remedy this. My position is, it’s our culture, but it’s their
show. Consider going to the culture.

Thanks for your insights and willingness to look beyond what is
expected of Native artists.

Roger Fernandes

SHITTY SONGS

Hey Jeff Kirby: I so totally agree with you about Chris
Cornell’s recent work [Up & Coming, Oct 30]. It’s just not anything
remotely like Soundgarden’s greatness. And I also don’t dignify his
recent tours, which have sold out all over the world playing
Soundgarden songs, which he somehow nefariously ended up with the
rights to. Soundgarden was a band, with all the energy and
collaborative talent of a collective group of individuals. CC has
gotten very rich playing its songs, blowing off the fact that artists
deserve credit and remuneration for their work. And I am disgusted with
CC for totally losing all his integrity, as well as showing his true
stripes, i.e., shitty songs, after that great constellation of people
parted ways. No mystery there about a Soundgarden reunion. Don’t hold
your breath!

KC

BEST NIGHT EVER

Dear dear dear dear Stranger: Thank you ever so much for the party
you threw last night [Nov 4]. I had the best night ever. I cried and
shrieked and hugged and kissed strangers and drank and drank and drank.
It was an incredible thing to feel that energy just throbbing around us
all. Thank you from the very bottom of my patriotic heart!

Ingo Pixel

DEPT. OF BELATED ATTRIBUTIONS: Due to our crazy election-night
production schedule for the November 6 issue, we were unable to put
cover photo credit in its rightful place on page 5. The photo was taken
by Adam L. Weintraub. We thank Mr. Weintraub from the bottoms of our
drunken, elated hearts.