I think the best "meta" post I've read about the situation was posted this morning by b!x: http://www.furiousnads.com/2007/jan/08/rules-of-the-blogosphere/

The article makes a key point:

The war [of words] began with a real-life killing.

It continues:

At the center of the constellation of harsh words was the slaying of 23-year-old Jermaine Nyron Davis just after 2 a.m. Monday near the corner of Southwest Fourth Avenue and Stark Street.

Jack Bog reportedly told Wilson from the O he didn't like being called a racist by "a bunch of white kids at the Merc," but Jermaine Davis wasn't exactly in a position to stick up for himself. Yes, there are barriers to entry on the blogosphere, but being dead is one of them.

I'm not a big Jack Bog fan, but on this issue he's in the right and the Portland Mercury is in the wrong. Bog showed us a picture of the dead man, and gave us an accurate description of the circumstances. I'm sorry the Portland Mercury finds the facts politically incorrect.

Being familiar with the other significant West Coast downtowns, I realize how special Portland's is. All of those other downtowns are desperately trying to emulate us and revive their downtowns. If we let ours go into a crime-ridden spiral, we will all be the worse for it. I hope Portland Mercury readers don't fall into the nihilism of celebrating criminal activity downtown as a sign of "authenticity."

Portland needs both wi-fi clouds AND safety from criminal activity in its downtown.

www.urbanplanningoverlord.blogspot.com

Matt -- I really don't get you. In your initial post, you accuse Jack of inciting racism. You go on to equate Jack's questions about whether it's a "gang. . .education. . .liquor control. . . or handgun thing" with the idea that he MEANS that it's a "black thing." Did the irony wash over you when you wrote that, that YOU were equating guns and liquor and gangs with blacks? And you completely failed to acknowledge the overriding point of the post, which is that solving these problems is more important than the crap (streetcars and wi-fi) that our City Council spends its time on.

Now, you are quoted in the Oregonian saying "it's important that Portland have a conversation about race." That's rich. If you think your post contributed to a "conversation" about racism, you're delusional. As Jon Stewart would say, "Please, stop what you're doing. You are hurting America."

It's impossible to have a conversation about anything with somebody who won't allow you to speak.

So as the author of a blog, you're now arguing that you don't have a voice?

I'm beginning to think this is intentional self-parody. If so, it's very funny. If not, it's just sad.

"Urban Planning Overlord" (great name, btw) writes:

"If we let ours go into a crime-ridden spiral, we will all be the worse for it."

This kind of constant fear mongering about what *could* happen is exactly what I think Matt is talking about. It seems like what you are asking for is the further homogenization of Portland into something that would make your caucasian sensibilites more comfortable.

Tum Tum: You make my point exactly. What you characterize as "caudasian sensibilities" are in fact what makes Portland a great downtown.

And all the excuse of hip hop club murders as offending "caucasian sensibilities" is nothing but Chomskyite nihilism - the celebration of chaos and disorder.

Which, if you hate our nation and our society, makes sense. For the rest of us, it doesn't.

www.urbanplanningoverlord.blogspot.com

why the hell are we continuing to talk about "hip-hop" clubs?? This murder had nothing to do with any of them--or any bar or restaurant, according to police.

Nice to see UPOL demonizing "Chomskyites" and "America-haters" with the best of any similar demagogues in the federal limelight...

Sigh. This is exactly why these discussion need to be had--black guy getting shot (by whom? Maybe a "caucasian" for all we know) equals "hip hop murder". This is going to be uncomfortable folks. Who gives a shit what Jon Stewart said; I am sure he wasn't talking about The Infamous Hip Hop Murders? Is he some conversational dictator?

wow. here i thought you came out looking great. i'm surprised & a little disappointed that people are siding with this yutz.

sorry, matt.

Carry on here:

http://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2007/01/dead_young_mans_parents_people_have_a_lot_of_hate_in_their_hearts_i_guess_when_you_dont_know_somebody_you_can_call_him_what_you_want.php

I don't do blogs and only read part of this guys blog on my friend Jermaine, but I find it sad. Jermaine was a good man and a great father what happened to him and his family really sucks. He was in the completely wrong place at the wrong time. Please just let him rest and quit trying to make him seem like some kind of evil person. No matter what he has done in his PAST he doesn't deseve this.