THANKS, METHADONE

I’m writing in regards to the recent spotlight on methadone (“Methadone Madness,” Sept. 27). When I was 26, I was using heroin on and off for three years. I had lost my job and my self-worth. My life was crumbling. And if not for methadone, I’m positive I would have died. I’m 31 now and have a beautiful four year-old daughter. My husband and I have been married six years. I’m going to school to become a preschool teacher. I finally have my life together.

I’ve been off heroin for five years and off methadone for two years. Yes, off methadone. Despite the theory that people can’t get off methadone. I never relapsed while taking my daily dose; it kept cravings away and was a tool that taught me how to live again so that I could be normal, again. No more copping drugs or hanging out with the wrong people. No more “druggie” lifestyle.

I have seen the ignorance that lurks in those who don’t understand methadone. Would they rather me have kept using heroin or quit? Drug addiction is a disease, don’t people understand that? What about the deaths from heroin, x, oxy? I mean, come on, people, wake up, DRUGS KILL.

It’s not just the methadone that’s killing these people. Kids are going to experiment. People are going to want to get high no matter how. Drugs are the problem. People want an escape. Life can be hard and tragic and people want to run away . . . what they don’t realize is that it only takes one time for you to escape forever. How sad to die in vain as just another statistic.

There’s not enough help out there. We need more people to listen and not turn a blind eye. The sooner people stop demonizing methadone and realize it’s all opiates that are the problem, we’ll be better off. Without methadone, I wouldn’t be here today. My daughter wouldn’t be either.

Methadone saved me and I’m grateful.

Selina Bloom

Westbrook

OUR VERSION

The following is a collaboration of eye-witness testimonies to what happened in Portland on September 26:

Thursday, September 26, demonstrators gathered in Congress Square to express their opposition to the ongoing war and current military escalation in Iraq (“Let’s not bury the message,” Oct. 4). Some had signs, some drums, and others banners to get their message of non-violence across to a very receptive public. Following a brief skit, some 300 protestors took to the streets and began marching around the City of Portland. By drumming, chanting, and distributing literature, the protestors represented a vocal opposition to United States military aggression and the White House’s war agenda.

When the march returned to the Congress Square area many of the protestors occupied the State and High Street intersection. Traffic was effectively blocked for the ten minutes it took for the police to re-route traffic. Some demonstrators sat down, some were dancing in the street, and others were simply observing from the sidewalk. As all of this was happening there was an ever increasing police presence and the crowd was becoming surrounded by lines of police.

Sensing the police build and not looking for a confrontation, the demonstrators marched down to Monument Square. Over a very distorted public-address system, the police told the demonstrators that they would be arrested if they did not get out of the street. Nearly all of the people immediately complied, leaving a few remaining individuals still in the street.

The first arrest occurred when a man on his way to the library to return some video tapes tried to cross Congress Street. He was immediately handcuffed by several officers. The second arrest happened moments later when a man holding a banner was handcuffed. Simultaneously, 2-5 officers claimed an unarmed individual had a weapon and took him to the ground. He resisted in no way and appeared to have had his head driven into the sidewalk. The three handcuffed men were brought to the bus the police had for all of the people they intended to arrest.

The crowd of people fearful for the safety of their stolen comrades after witnessing the initial excessive force walked to the police station. Nobody had any intention of getting arrested or provoking more police brutality, so people, except for when the sidewalk became too narrow, stayed out of the street. For whatever reason the police interpreted this show of solidarity among the protestors as a hostile act against the Portland Police Department. Everybody was peaceably demonstrating; one reoccurring theme of the demonstration was non-violent conflict resolution.

More people were arrested and some cooperated more than others. One woman was pulled off of her bicycle and another woman had her service-dog assaulted by the police. The jail bus was filling up. The police chief pointed out a tall man in the crowd (on the sidewalk) claiming that he was the leader. At this point the police charged in to the crowd and began beating the tall man down. He was being choked, his testicles squeezed, and had a foreign object stuck in his eye all the while being beaten and then sprayed point blank with mace. He wanted to get cuffed so the violence would stop. He held his hands in front of him and as the pictures show, the police handcuffed him with his hands in front of him. As all of this was happening another man was moving quickly, probably trying to get away from the violence and was tackled and beaten very badly by the police. The cops pulled his shirt over his head so the public wouldn’t see what they had done to his face. When they were done with him there was a puddle of blood on the sidewalk. More arrests. Many of the bystanders who were right there when the police attacked the crowd reported being shoved, elbowed, or pushed. The police action was reckless, incredibly violent, and completely unprovoked.

ýhe two men who bore the brunt of the police aggression were denied an ambulance/medical attention, and no water was provided to flush the mace out of the man’s eyes. Eventually, a person donated their own water bottle to the cause and Chief Chitwood took advantage of a public relations photo opportunity and posed for the cameras flushing the man’s eyes out.

In total, 14 people were arrested on various charges: failure to disperse, obstruction of a public way, obstruction of government administration , failure to submit, assault of an officer, and assault of a police chief. Interestingly enough, the assault charges were filed against those whom the police beat up the worst. This is common practice though, and is just a method the police use to try and justify their violent behavior.

Police brutality is nothing new and it happens every day. Usually it occurs when there aren’t any witnesses around and then who are the victims supposed to turn to? Call the police? Unfortunately for the Portland police department there were a lot of witnesses this time and a lot of cameras as well. One would think that with a track record as poor as the PPD’s, they wouldn’t go attacking people in the middle of a crowd, but apparently that is not the case. If the police are responsible for public safety, then why were their actions so dangerous on September 26?

Peter Engler

No town given

GOOD JOB 1

Thanks for your excellent coverage of the protest against invading Iraq. Your article very much mirrors my experience of the event and of the role of the police. I left before the stand-off at Congress and High, and was greatly disappointed to read the next day of some of my fellow protesters’ subsequent actions. I would certainly not say that the police where justified in all their actions, but it was clear to me, based on the PD’s earlier behavior, that some of the protesters had deliberately created and escalated a confrontation. I can only assume it stems from a childish, shortsighted view that the Portland PD are somehow the enemy here. And of course that only serves to obscure the real message and the real enemy.

Thanks again for setting the record straight.

Stacy Mitchell

Portland

 

GOOD JOB 2

Your article about HIV was very informative (“The HIV risk factor,” Oct. 4). Thank you for dedicating the space to such an important issue. Unfortunately, many media outlets have lost interest in HIV and have abandoned their responsibility to help keep the public informed. The Phoenix stands out as an exception to this disconcerting trend.

Your article, which focused on one person’s life as HIV positive, shows how much there is to consider for both positives and negatives, and that HIV prevention is more complex than ever. The import message that came through for me was how we all share a responsibility to be informed and to act accordingly.

Les Pappas

San Francisco, California

PRO GARRITY

I have known and worked with David Garrity on a number of issues and projects for over 12 years. I first met him when we served on the city’s Cable TV Committee, shortly after he moved to Portland. With a detailed knowledge of the technology and business, he was an invaluable member of the committee. I also worked with him for many years on issues related to the new Casco Bay Bridge and Harbor View Memorial Park. I also followed his efforts to forge a working relationship between the West End and Mercy Hospital when its expansion plans reemerged several years ago.

In these contexts, I would characterize David as an exuberant participant, not “abrasive with offensive overtones,” as suggested by Al Diamon (“Politics and Other Mistakes,” Sept. 27). When I first worked with him, David’s enthusiasm for making a contribution to the community could be a bit overwhelming at times, but I always knew that his motivations were pure and that he really wanted to help make a difference on important issues. And he has. Over the years, he has learned to listen well, to consider the perspective of others before weighing in with his own suggestions, and to focus on the issues in a problem-solving way. This has been part of his personal growth, which I have witnessed with interest and admiration.

I was disappointed to read Ben Meiklejohn’s dismissive comments about David, which I consider both unprofessional and inaccurate. I consider David Garrity an excellent candidate for State Representative. Indeed, to rephrase Ben’s nasty comment, I believe it’s the people of Portland who have “lucked out” that David is running as a Democrat for the District 31 seat.

Anne Pringle

Portland

PRO EDER

It was easy for voters in District 31 to see through last week’s [actually, in the letters column of Sept. 13, sorry about that —ed.] transparent attempt to position John Eder as a political neophyte. Do we want someone “long on ideals but short on experience?” the letter asked. Fortunately, we don’t have to settle. John Eder is a high-energy community leader, long on both ideals and experience.

Eder has been an activist for social justice, and a student of the law-making process, for more than a decade. A complete list of his political activities would be too long to compile here. So, here is just a taste of what John has been up to in recent years:

He is a founder of Portland Pesticide Watch (PPW). In its first campaign, PPW lobbied the city to reduce their program of toxic spraying on city sidewalks. This resulted in a 50 percent decrease in pesticide spraying citywide, including a complete cessation of toxic spraying in residential neighborhoods.

He is a co-founder of the Portland Tenants’ Union, bringing voice and representation to tenants who suffer discrimination and other trespasses against their rights.

He’s an active member of POWER, the Portland Organization to Win Economic Rights.

He helped craft a Portland safe winter sidewalks program, which reduced ice build up on our sidewalks, assisting children, the elderly, and emergency personnel.

He attends city council meetings and has testified on issues like the redevelopment of the waterfront, protecting the city’s green spaces, affordable housing, alternative transportation and bicycle lanes.

He has testified at legislative committee hearings in Augusta.

He has personally registered several hundred new voters.

John Eder has already worked hard for the people of Portland, and will continue to put his youthful energy to work for us when he reaches Augusta. He has the new ideas and the real solutions we need in the next legislature.

Eder is a leader. Remember that phrase come Election Day.

Susan Murch

Portland

 

These letters will be last to run in the Phoenix regarding House District 31. Any further interest can be expressed at the Phoenix-sponsored debate, happening October 24, between the two candidates. See page 15 for more details.

—ed.