Letters to the Editor

Letters posted here are associated with the following article:
Taking it to the streets
Rene Denfeld, author of a new book on the violent subculture of street families, talks about why these young nomads are every bit as dangerous as the Bloods and the Crips.
By Helaine Olen [2007-02-12]
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  • Denfeld is a LIAR

    Rene Denfeld is a LIAR! She has totally misrepresented many individuals in her book, left out information that was easily obtainable, it didn't lean toward her view of what was happening in Portland Oregon at the time. Ms. Denfeld has an ax to grind with Portland officials, as well as a loyalty to others in Portland, that borders on 'Criminal' in regard to this issue! Her book, and subsequent interviews to 'sell' her book are biased and not factual! She is all about selling her book, making her 'truths' factual by record, not by actual facts of the street family. I am reminded of the saying: 'To the Victor goes the history/narrative'. Throughout time, the winner has been able to tell the narrative of what happened. Denfeld has chosen to take on this role in regard to the tradegy in Portland. Denfeld is an activist, has certain narratives, as you will that she needs to make public. In this case, she needs to rewrite history in order to support her belief system.

    I have spoken with Denfeld, told her where she was inaccurate in her book and she basically told me 'Oh Well', it is in print, it will not change. But it must change, if we are to help the teens on the streets of Portland and every other major city in the U.S.! She claims that these youth did not come from abusive families, I beg to differ. I know for a FACT that many youth did in fact come from abusive families! How might that alter our perceptions of street youth and how we would handle them? I would question the motive of this author and what she was wanting to obtain in writing this book.

    Please know that I am very close to this case, know things that have never been in print, and that Denfeld is out for the

    'almighty buck' to support her, not for the truth of what actually went on in Portland. She doesn't care! She is more interested in 'pushing the envelope', getting money for her cause!

    I wish I could say more at present, but cannot. Also know that I am not going to be marketing anything in the near future! I am merely a concerned parent that knows the truth about the tradegy in Portland, how and why it happened, and it is NOT 'Denfeld's truth'!

    -- realtruth
    [Read realtruth's other letters]
    Thursday, May 31, 2007 03:48 PM

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