FACETIOUS FISH PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON MV WOMAN

A political parody of the ichthys, the Christian fish symbol, has put
Washington state Democrats in some hot water and cast a spotlight
upon a Mount Vernon activist who wants marijuana legalized.

Allison Bigelow did not create the facetious fish, but her company,
Reefer Magnets, owns the copyright and sells it on the Internet.

"I didn't make it," she said. "Now I'm the one in the hot seat."

The parody is a car magnet with a cross and the word "hypocrite"
inside the fish.

The magnet comes on a piece of poster board with phrases meant to
illustrate hypocrisy between Christian values and what some consider
twisted morality of some of society's Christian leaders, especially
those with a hand in politics.

The magnet was briefly for sale on the Washington state Democrats'
Web site before a talk radio show in Seattle asked about it last
week, and the Democrats removed it.

Some state Republicans called the parody anti-Christian, including
state Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Bellingham.

Although Democrats have taken the brunt of phone calls from reporters
interested in the controversy, Bigelow started getting press calls
Wednesday morning.

She sees the media attention as a chance to talk about the real aim
of Reefer Magnets and her efforts to educate and advocate for the
decriminalizing marijuana.

"In my opinion, we wouldn't be such a warring people if we used more
cannabis and used less alcohol," Bigelow said.

Bigelow has marched in anti-globalization and anti-war rallies in
Seattle. She has written letters to editors and voted for
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry in 2004 if only to vote against President Bush.

"I've done everything I can, but I still feel I have blood on my
hands," Bigelow said of the ongoing war in Iraq. Through her online
store, Bigelow sells magnets the size of business cards with a
pro-pot messages.

"We don't need to be in a war for oil because we have industrial
hemp," Bigelow said. "If you look into all the little things that
hemp can do, you'll understand. We wouldn't be killing people for oil."

This latest ichthys parody was created by a Seattle activist who
wanted not to be named. He said he feared for the safety of his cats
if the controversy grew out of control.

He said the magnets were meant to spur a discussion about hypocrisy
in politics, and he hopes the recent media attention helps.

The ichthys is such a familiar symbol, it has been parodied many
times, including the addition of feet to the fish with the word
"Darwin" inside.