NOT A MEETING

On July 17 at Portland High School, Tom Allen held what was billed as a "town meeting" to hear and discuss the war in Iraq (see "Weigh in on the War," July 15, by Sara Donnelly). Since that "meeting," Bill Nemitz of the Portland Press Herald, several letters to the editor of the Herald, and even a special commentary by Tom Allen in the Herald have spoken positively about this event. In a letter to the Herald on July 19, I attempted to share with the readers of the Portland Press Herald my version of how the "meeting" unfolded. Perhaps to spare a "favorite son" as much criticism as possible, the Herald refused to print my letter or even call to confirm that I wrote it, which is their normal practice. I share with the readers of the more open-minded Portland Phoenix another view of Tom Allen’s so-called "town meeting."

As a "town meeting" this was a farce. Any definition of the word "meeting" to include an element of dialogue and discussion was immediately thrown out the window. People attending the event hoping to hear meaningful discussion between the audience and Allen were instead served prepared "speeches" by speakers from the lunatic fringe. When Allen rose to speak after three consecutive "speeches," the "audience" began to shout: "filibuster! filibuster!" This was an antiwar, anti-Bush rally disguised and advertised as a "town meeting." What these banana-heads brought to the table was the same old attacking rhetoric heard since the beginning of the war, rhetoric void of any meaningful answers, solutions, or calls for bipartisan cooperation to find an end to the war.

On the Salvation Army building across from the entrance to the school auditorium was a sign that most of the "audience" must have missed: "The easiest thing to find is fault."

Walter B. Kienia, Portland

more theater

Can you explain to me what "Bramhall Square," by the self-described "egoist actor" Caitlin Shetterly, is doing in a paper that considers itself either humorous or insightful?

Or, if there’s no sensible answer to that question, what is she paying you to run that drivel?

The Phoenix, which I actually like, often, sometimes, er, well . . . whenever, could really benefit from a humorous and insightful column about the very active, creative, and highly professional legitimate theater scene here in Portland, a scene which often gets ignored by the preponderance of reportage about "music."

Good reviews are often non-existent, although Sara Donnelly is very good, but there’s a lot about "The Theatre Scene" other than reviews that might draw new readers to the rag.

Brava!

Alexander Wallace, Portland

go stillers

I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate all the low-lying references to Pittsburgh in "8 Days a Week." I am a former resident of that fair city (or not so fair, as the case may be). Occasionally, I get really thrown by one, like the Rusted Root comment several weeks ago. Brilliant. But generally it makes me giggle, so thanks for that.

Currently I am drooling thinking about Primanti Brothers. For all the freaking wraps and burritos you can get in this town, Mainers will never understand the hoagie. They think an Italian is comparable, but we know better.

Meredith Mendelson, Portland