Ask anyone on the street whether Bond or Bourne would be victorious in a fight and the first thing you’ll hear is, “Which Bond?” Who is really having an identity crisis? Jason Bourne may have amnesia, but let’s face it, James Bond has multiple personality disorder.

No one asks, “Which Bourne?” even though Richard Chamberlain did play the role in a 1988 TV movie. Matt Damon is Bourne. Period.

But who, 0 who, is the real James Bond?

Six men have embodied the Bond persona, starting with Sean Connery, the original sleek, hunky Scotsman. George Lazenby was dark and elegant but without star power. Roger Moore brought his tongue-in-cheekiness. Timothy Dalton was Bond for a couple of forgettable movies in the late 1980s, before morphing into slim, elegant, non-hunky Pierce Brosnan. And now there is Craig, Daniel Craig. Gorgeous, sexy and deadly.

So the Bourne vs. Bond question is really not fair. Fortunately, local residents have no trouble dealing with such post-post-modern dilemmas. They nimbly grappled with shifting identities and cultural icons of different eras.

‘Bourne vs. Bond n who would win?’

“That’s a tough question. Sean Connery had those occasional ‘Biff!’ and ‘Socko!’ moments. But still, if it was Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan, Bourne would kick his ass. Daniel Craig and Bourne — it would be a pretty good match.”

Meghan Hurff of Philomath

“The old Bond, around 1977, is good. The Cold War Bond. But Bourne is really good.”

Martin Vartanov, Translator and Russian language instructor at LBCC

“Sean Connery. That’s the only James Bond.”

Bill Clements

“Hands down. He’s got class.”

Kathy Clements of Lebanon.

“James Bond. He’s debonair. He knows who he is.”

Laura Peterson and Cindy Lampi of Corvallis.

“Jason Bourne. James Bond does have the gadgets, but Jason Bourne has himself, he doesn’t need anything else.”

Mikali Lampi and Carlene Chen of Corvallis.

Compiled by Gwyneth Gibby