Andrea Helm responds:
My opening statement that the referendum grew out of a growing controversy over PCC's boycott policy was based on my interpretation of the situation, including the fact that two petitions were submitted to the Board of Trustees requesting that Chateau Ste. Michelle wines be pulled from PCC's shelves.

Statements regarding the General Electric boycott were made by, and attributed to, a store employee with five years' worth of knowledge about store policy, inventory and history.

The statement attributed to Pehling - "that an organization effectively undermines a boycott by purchasing the target organization's products ..." - was made in the context of our conversation regarding PCC's boycott policy and impending non-binding referendum.

Pehling, in fact, did tell me he was "disturbed by the board's position that they have received 'no clear sense' from members." This statement, according to my recollection of the conversation, was made in connection to the Board of Trustees' action "to suspend all activities of the subcommittee on boycotts."

Pehling told me that he had been approached by a PCC Board of Trustees member to join the boycott panel discussions because he, Pehling, had expressed an interest in the issue. He did communicate to the author that he did not know the specifics of the Chateau Ste. Michelle boycott.

The article was written after reading several issues of the PCC Sound Consumer newsletter, the store's boycott policy, articles of incorporation, volunteer brochure and bylaws, and interviewing co-op members, a boycott panel member (Pehling), a long-time co-op employee, and board administrator Kathy Blackman.

I would agree that perhaps the word "commix" is pretentious. But if that pretension can in any way distinguish the small amount of quality work from the overwhelming amount of schlock, then so be it. "Comics" are widely considered to be either super-heroes, newspaper strips or greeting cards. Why not use language to redefine our perceptions? Our world is constructed of language.

The essay I was asked to write was for "Diverse Views," a regular feature in Seattle Arts in which artists talk about their work. Which is precisely what I did. Perhaps if "Spike" were more familiar with Seattle Arts, then my essay would not have been labeled as "shameless promotion." Or if it is, then is every other sculptor, painter and so-called "fine artist" as guilty of the same? It seems the assumption is that since I have something to sell (a comic book) that my intentions are not as pure as my high-art counterparts.

Personal attacks and summary judgments should be eliminated from your articles. As a writer, I know how good it feels to slam someone I disagree with. But as a reader I am put off by a writer who expects me to simply adopt their grudges. Use facts and argument to make the point. Your words will carry more weight.

Try to include some articles offering solutions, radical solutions if called for, to problems. It's important to expose the injustices occurring all around us, as you do. But to offer a new vision makes you a complete voice. This is pro-active journalism at its best. People will be given food for thought, not just a forum for commiseration.

I hope you'll continue with your approach as an alternative newsmagazine. The Free Press has some real potential and real talent behind it. It takes a while for any publication to find its voice, and I look forward to seeing you mature and achieve influence.