January 2008

by Brendan Funtek

I’ll always remember the feeling of numbness and nausea that coursed through my body the day I read Vickie Kilgore’s editorial (“At the port: What happened and what did not happen,” The Olympian, Nov. 15). The difference between readers and me is that I walked out of the Olympian newsroom after reading it, reluctant to come back to work that night.

Dissection and accountability

October 2007

[Long-time Olympia resident, Rick Fellows, was one of the primary founders of Media Island (816 Adams St.), a 21-year old activist center “dedicated to provide access to alternative media and first-hand sources of information regionally, nationally, and internationally.” The center is also “committed to collecting, processing, and distributing crucial information addressing the social justice, economic democracy, ecological sustainability and peace issues that we all collectively face.” Along with an active presence at the center, Fellows also annually participates in international aid . . .

July 2007

by Brendan Funtek

Out of all the grim remnants remaining from the Cold War era, the trade blockade and travel ban imposed on Cuba casts the longest shadow from the US. This shadow's stretch doesn't have to extend far since Cuba is a mere 90 miles from Florida, but it's been the most historically persistent. In fact, when broached on the subject, I've found people often aren't aware there's still an "embargo" and are somewhat aware of the travel ban but confused as to its origin. This makes discussion of Cuba complex.