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BAR Letters
395 Ninth St
94103-3831
}

Tony Fiore's Guest Opinion (BAR 11 Oct) I believe does represent¨
a vocal minority's opinion, hence this letter.

Not everyone wants to live in a world where everything is nice¨
and neat, trimmed lawns and painted houses, where a street is¨
just for cars, sidewalks just for walking, and walls are just¨
walls, like some idealized TV/1950's Ozzie \& Harriet world (but¨
with nicer people of course). Believe it or not, to some, a¨
street is merely an ugly thing covering 70\% of the city,¨
sidewalks are for hanging out, skateboarding, decorating, as well¨
as walking, and walls are surfaces for expression. 

The real issue here is one of aesthetics. Bear with me a moment.

Sorry, your version of the world is no better nor more valid than¨
mine. It's not that I think your world is bad, or wrong, per se;¨
what annoys me is your assumption that {\it everyone wants this}¨
or should live-this-way, and if they appear to not, they must be¨
jealous, crazy, or just plain mean. Get a clue.  The only word¨
I've ever found that expresses this 
assumption-that-my-views-are-Right is ``imperialism'', such a¨
dreadful word. (Suggestions anyone?)

Better to call your group what it is -- ``Help Save Us 
Property-Owners' Aesthetics''. Queer Nation (QN) is addressing¨
problems it sees, in ways it sees fit, like you are. So are other¨
people responding in ways they believe will help, like the Homo¨
Patrol street patrol -- no Guardian Angel macho nonsense, but¨
simply to prevent bashings.  If you cared about the people who¨
actually live here -- rather than your idealized ``Neighborhood''¨
-- you might do something like donate walkie-talkies or batteries¨
or a big box of whistles for them distribute while on patrol in¨
your precious Neighborhood. (Call 267-6118) You'd even get¨
brownie points for helping to end divisiveness.

I'm sure QN loves getting all the credit, but different groups do¨
the following: STRAIGHTS READ THIS, street patrol, BEHAVE OR BE¨
GONE, endless graffiti, and other one-shot non-events. Yes, the¨
world is far, far messier than you think. Others' actions do not¨
prevent you from doing your own thing. 

You should also take the hint that CUAV is supporting Queer¨
Nation's tactics. What you describe as ``alienating'' the police¨
is merely being self-sufficient -- don't you remember what {\it¨
happened} Oct 6th?! How about 11 years back at the Elephant Walk?¨
Why not ask CUAV how {\it they} came into existence? 

``I am now embarrassed to bring straight friends with me into our¨
neighborhood\dots'' -- are they only your friends if you live in¨
a ``nice'' place? With friends like that\dots

Trying to see things from your shoes -- could you not view what¨
``Queer Nation'' et al are doing as, at worst, your neighbors¨
doing what they can to respond to the homophobic environment, or¨
is your aesthetic such an overriding concern that you refuse to¨
change? 

PS: I am not a Queer Nation member.

{\bf Tom Jennings, 552-8156, 666 Illinois, San Francisco CA¨
94107}
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