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Flinching and Cowering

RE: Albert Kaufman's letter in the 8/18/99 ETS, about the Blue Angels.

I agree with Mr. Kaufman sentiments, and share his empathy. The Blue Angels' loud and offensive display glorifies warfare and mocks its victims (not to mention annoys us on the ground).

I don't doubt the sincerity of Kaufman's letter, but I wish he hadn't been so patronizing. I find it hard to believe he watched "young Vietnamese, Cambodian and Central American families flinch and cower," like pets on July Fourth. No doubt the jets brought back painful memories for them, but he describes a scenario that could air on a sitcom. His points stand up just fine without having to resort to racist, condescending hyperbole.

Of course, not having specifically observed any reactions by the groups in question during that weekend (at least none I remember), I might be wrong. If so, my apologies to Mr. Kaufman for doubting him.

--Dave Miller, Seattle

Bullshit

Stephen Garner, via e-mail

G.P. replies: Now that an ex-employee of the state claims to suddenly remember Abu-Jamal "confessing" to him many years ago, and Abu-Jamal denies it, aren't you embarrassed that your lame-ass allies in the mainstream media (like ABC) are tripping all over themselves to fry a possibly innocent man? Don't you want to know who actually killed Daniel Faulkner? Don't you want the accused, whoever that is, to have a fair trial as guaranteed under the Constitution? If not, don't you feel like a real asshole? I hope so.

Another liberation movement

I'm enjoying my subscription to ETS! and loved the starting quote of the June 25th issue. I have been maintaining for the longest time that Clinton is like Hitler and that Hilary is no feminist/humanist icon.

I would like to make a suggestion: After reading your noble mission statement, I realized that one giant group of oppressed people was not mentioned--people with disabilities. With the rise of Social Darwinist politics, we are becoming even more marginalized than before because we are losing many fundamental parts of medical coverage, because the workplace is becoming increasingly competitive and cutthroat, and because of the rising Hitlerian fascination with fitness and health as a paradigm for moral rectitude (this doesn't only apply to gay persons with AIDS). And the Supreme Court's gutting of the Americans With Disabilites Act this week has made us yet more vulnerable to oppression. Indeed, more and more, W.E.B. DuBois' brilliant analysis of the economic and social oppression of black people fits the situation of most people with disabilities. I hope you will include us in your mission statement in future.

Very sincerely,

Ms. Billie M. Spaight, via e-mail

G.P. replies: first, that's not our mission statement, simply a quick satiric riff on who we are. Our mission statement is as follows: "Missions were used by the 18th century Spanish to colonize Mexican California. Their presence was instrumental in the genocide of Native Californians. We oppose them."

The experiences of people with disabilities are unique. The ignorance and hostility much of society holds for them is demonstrated amply not only by the Supreme Court's recent decision, but the distinct lack of outcry by pundits and mainstream media that greeted it. But it's not slavery, it's not Reconstruction, and it's not Dubois. Some perspective, please.

Hey, Kids! Let's Create Value!

I am a regular customer at Tully's stores in San Francisco. (Tully's, as you may know, also has stores in Washington State, Idaho, and the Far East -- also under the name "Brown & Cole"). Every working day starts with a cup of Tully's French roast. Though I have a wide variety of choices both at work and near my home (including Pasqua, Starbucks, and several local shops), I have consistently chosen Tully's for the superior flavor of the coffee.

Yesterday on my way back to work from lunch, I stopped in at the Tully's store on Irving Street for a quick cup. While adding some non-fat milk to my coffee, I noticed a sign on the wall displaying a mission statement and the Tully's "Values". The first value was "To create value for our shareholders" (or some similar wording).

This hit me like a fist to my stomach.

I am well aware that, in today's corporate world, emphasis is on profit above all. But to so blatantly advertise it in the store, with the concomitant implications of ignoring the effects of such a "value" system, is to me profoundly offensive and painful. The placement of profits above any and all other values implies that Tully's is willing to mistreat their employees, disregard their customers, and exploit those who farm their coffees, if doing so will "create value for the shareholders".

And they place this statement with pride in their stores!

I, certainly, will no longer be able to make my purchases at Tully's. While I will miss the excellent coffee, some things in life are far more important than my own self-interest. I do sincerely wish that Tully's felt the same way.

Regards,

Juliette Cutler Page, San Francisco

We'll Work On It

In some of your articles on local politics you should include websites/e-mail addresses for those people in power who are destroying our streams, razing our forests, and draining our resources. I think it would help tremendously if we could flood the bastards with e-mails.

Rory Barnes, via e-mail