Periodical Writing

Peter Laufer’s interviews, articles and op-ed pieces have appeared in a wide variety of publications, from the Washington Post and the San Francisco Chronicle to Mother Jones and Penthouse. A few examples:

“Replace Lane County’s racist, warmongering namesake | Guest Opinion” by Peter Laufer
The sordid racist history of Lane County – and Oregon – is epitomized by my county’s namesake: Joseph “Joe” Lane. A newcomer to the state a decade ago, I first learned about Lane’s ghastly career when I was researching my book, The Elusive State of Jefferson. The settler my county was named after came to Oregon with Southern roots and via Mexico. There he rose to the rank of Brigadier General, invading our southern neighbor as an enthusiastic warrior in President James Polk’s Manifest Destiny-fueled war of conquest, the war that stole half of Mexico and expanded U.S. territory across the Southwest to the Pacific. Read more…

“Reforming Immigration Policy Let the Workers Come” by Peter Laufer
Our immigrant governor stunned Californians last week by praising the work of the Minutemen, an armed citizens’ group patrolling the U.S.- Mexican border in Arizona. “They’ve done a terrific job,” Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared during an interview Thursday on a right-wing Los Angeles radio talk show. “They have cut down the crossing of illegal immigrants by a huge percentage.” Read more…

“Springtime in Prague” by Peter Laufer
Visitors to Prague just four years ago saw a city marked by beauty and calm; the striking preservation of ancient architecture, untouched by World War II; a window into the past, enhanced by the lack of western-style commerce. Read more..

“Giving Rush Good Phone” by Peter Laufer
How to get on radio talk shows–especially right-wing shows like Rush Limbaugh’s–and stay on long enough to say your piece. Read more…

“When Tourism is Not So Bad” by Peter Laufer
I grew up in Sausalito back when it was a Portuguese fishing village and an artists colony that drew curious tourists on the weekends. Downtown Sausalito looks ruined to me today: a Disneyland of souvenir shops, T-shirts and overpriced ice cream. Read more…