One can never have enough time on their hands and just to illustrate why I'm more generous with it than that poster named What Is This World Coming To(I mean really, why bother?), here's a short excerpt on the current Afghan warfare well worth the read(you'll have to pay for Salon.com's "Premium" channel to read the rest of it unfortunately):

The sorrow of war
With every heartbreaking picture of innocent victims, more of the world turns against the U.S. bombing. But the American military has taken more care to minimize civilian casualties than any other armed force in the world.
By Damien Cave and Max Garrone

Oct. 31, 2001 | The AP photos that appeared in the New York Times on Monday were heartbreaking: Afghan men, including a father, weeping over the lifeless bodies of four small children, killed by errant American bombs. Coming on top of last week's reports that American planes had accidentally bombed a Red Cross facility in Kabul for the second time in as many weeks, the images forced the world to confront one of the most painful issues connected with any war -- and an extraordinarily sensitive one in this war -- civilian casualties.

To date, human rights groups have confirmed that American bombs dropped on Afghanistan have resulted in at least 48 civilian deaths. America's enemy, the Taliban, has claimed hundreds if not thousands have been killed -- figures the United States asserts are vastly exaggerated for propaganda purposes. But for much of the Islamic world, already deeply suspicious of America's motives and rectitude, any civilian casualties are evidence that the U.S. campaign is not against terrorism but against Islam itself. Key Islamic supporters of the campaign, like Pakistan, are nervous about how news of civilian casualties will resonate with their citizens and are calling for the air war to be quick and decisive.

In fact, thanks to American policy, planning and execution, the number of civilian casualties so far has been exceptionally low, experts say. In a larger sense, the U.S. has come closer than any other nation to warring within the confines of the Geneva Conventions. But these experts also say that the United States has done a poor job of communicating to the world just much importance it places on avoiding civilian deaths, has failed to explain in detail exactly what went wrong when they have occurred and has aroused unrealistic expectations by touting its super-precise weapons.

How appropriate to run Harley Sach's article on the Planned Parenthood protestors on Halloween. Those people are REALLY scary!

I think too many people on this site have too much time on their hands. They seem to have all the answers, but yet do nothing about it but write all this nonsense.

Little John, press secretary for Louie's Super Value, has denied any store sponsorship of extremist Baptists, linked by a vigilant media to the recent rash of toilet paper decorating of trees lining College Avenue. The main office of Lake Superior Land Company has denounced the attack on the trees, once watered by high-ranking officials affiliated with a subsidiary of Tech. Digital imaging by a contributor to Pasty.Cam has revealed a group of extremist Baptists, ostensibly frying eggs in an iron skillet over an open fire near the reputed training camp utilized by the Southern Baptist Leadership Alliance. "Toilet paper can be purchased almost anywhere," observed Little John, being interviewed by the fuzzy-animal machine in Louie's. "Have you checked with Pat's IGA?"

In a related story, John Doe, one of ten children of a local, unemployed ski-lift operator, and reputed don of the nefarious Four Wheeler Organization at the university, has gone on record accusing the local police department of terrorism. "They mark the tires of vehicles parked at local bars, then they lie in wait. County coffers are low, dontcha know." John is rarely seen without the traditional garb of baggy pants, backward baseball cap, and silk-screened tee shirt
An observant citizen called into WMPL Radio, during the afternoon edition of "Trade-E-O" to report that he had observed a small contingent of Presbyterians in Red Wing Jerseys, the numbers 17, 18, 20, and 70, figuring prominently among this right wing Midwestern group.

Possibly related to the war on terrorism, was the attack on a local Islamic prayer meeting. The members of the local group, #485, were surprised in their prayers by extremists in Porky Pig masks who opened the doors of their prayer center and threw mud at all inside, accompanied by the shrill cry, "Here's mud in yer eye, Akmed!" The mud was only removed after spraying with Shout, an overdose of Tide and a double rinse cycle in one of the gargantuan washers at the Wash Tub in Hancock, where a local partisan entertained the faithful by playing a myriad of rhythm and blues on a dhol. "We don't even know Akmed Mohammed. We're innocents, so why should this happen to us?" Rumor has it that authorities were aware of the danger, prior to the mud attack.

We did not have to wait long for the word "un-American" to slip out here, and now eternal damnation awaits those who question United States foreign policy. The overflow of disingenuous claims that so-and-so has the freedom of speech and the right to their opinion followed by broadsides against them for expressing themself are too much to bear. I cannot object strongly enough to the use of such unenlightening rhetoric meant to impugn the character of other posters and stifle debate on this forum. Such vulgar utterances are far removed from the spirit of struggling to move the dialogue forward toward greater understanding and do no credit to the issuer other than reflect the sense they are running out of ideas.

I also disagree with Sharp, Kindred, Medved, and Chomsky on their pacifist remedy for the current situation. They misread the intended message of September 11. The intended message was not "Get out of the West Bank" or "Get out of the Middle East." It was "Get out of this world." Protesting and rallying is a political "cry for help;" plowing a jetliner full of innocent civilians into a high rise building is not a "cry for help." Diplomacy is not an adequate response to quell such passion; bombs, bullets and heartbreak are.

The most humanitarian act we can perform for Afghan refugees is to kill and imprison members of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in as expeditious a fashion as possible so refugees can return to their homes, villages, fields and businesses and begin putting their lives back in order. I am thro' giving blood and donating money to Red Cross relief funds for victims' families and refugees. That way lies a geometric progression of sacrifice. The homeland rallying cry should be: "Buy Afghan War Bonds!" - not "Buy U.S. War Bonds!" I prefer my money go to the United Islamic and National Front for Salvation of Afghanistan (aka, the United Front or Northern Alliance) to help buy munitions and firearms for frontline troops on the ground where it matters the most. Some may object that the Northern Alliance are a bunch of opium smuggling butchers with a Dickensian human rights record, but these are relatively smaller matters which are amenable to peaceful and civilian correction.

SpeedTrap,
I think it is you who are un-American, and frankly, you scare me.

Those who truly undertand Scripture know the Lord blesses each person with wealth in proportion to his righteousness. And so He does with nations also. Just as any criticism or attack on the wealthy is a criticism or attack on the Lord Himself, the critics and attackers of the United States also criticize and attack the Lord Himself. "Reflect upon thy counsel, for thy words echo upon the mountains, and He heareth all."

Ray Sharp: Thumbs up for your stand on Clinton. But, you should have stopped at "neither do Americans" deserve hate for who they are and, forget the "buts". America did not deserve the hate it received on Sept. ll, for it is the greatest Nation in the world even if you Peacenicks do your best to undermine it. Freedom comes with a responsibility to the Nation that gives it to you. You young people forget that. We do not open church doors and kill worshippers. We do not jail, starve and oppress any person living in the United States and tell them what to think and who to worship. We have so much freedom here it even allows you un-Americans to have a voice and that is fine. But, please, not at this time. We should all be united. Politics is not perfect, but would you like to see a Ben Ladin rule the world or our present government in Washington? You are naive to think there will not be collateral damage and that is too bad. This was a deliberate attack, did they come to us and want to talk it over before they blew the WTC? Do you know the difference between good and evil, war and peace, right and wrong. There is a difference and that is what you should be focusing on. You have a lot to learn and you are un-American to not allow yourself to get on the side of justice and survival. What idiot will not defend himself?

Dear SpeedTrap,

Responding to your recent queries (and to many others who have said much the same things to/about me recently):

1. You ask (paraphrasing) why peace advocates blame the U.S. for the Sept. 11 attacks, and you equate attempts to understand the rage against America in some parts of the world with blacks trying to rationalize the KKK or Jews trying to please Hitler.

Coincidentally, Michael Medved made the exact same argument, with nearly the exact same words, on the radio an hour before you posted your message yesterday. Here's what's wrong with that argument:

I never said U.S. arrogance justified the Sept. 11 attacks. Willful, wholesale violence against civilians is never justified; it wasn't right at Wounded Keee, Sand Creek, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Dresden or My Lai either. No matter what some Islamic radicals think about the U.S., they were in no way right to do what they did. It was a gross crime against humanity. Having said that, what will we accomplish by bombing Kabul neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, senior citizen centers, Red Cross warehouses? What kind of suffering and hunger will this winter bring in Afghanistan.

An important difference -- Blacks or Jews do not collectively deserve hate just for who they are. Neither do Americans. But the American nation can earn a its hatred through its actions.

2. Why didn't I speak out against Clinton?

I did. I wrote a column in the Gazette calling for Clinton's resignation ONE WEEK after the Lewinski scandal broke, much to the dismay of many of my liberal friends. I also wrote columns against bombing Iraq, which I saw at best as a failed policy that, along with the embargo, was hurting the people of Iraq, not its leadership. At worst I saw it as an attempt to divert attention from scandal. Remember when Clinton had to postopne his subpoenaed testimony a day so he could bomb Iraq?

3. Am I anti-American?

By your definition, yes. I don't accept everything we do without thinking. You and I have different conceptions of what it means to be an American.

Speedtrap, The pieces you refer to in KeweenawNow look like opinion pieces to me. It seems like those writers are the only ones with guts enough to put their own names behind their opinions in public. (I sure don't.)

By Bin Laden Been There! Bin Laden Done That! on Tuesday, October 30, 2001 - 04:11 am:

When Ariel's a Bull in a Temple Mount China Shop and Yassir's a Weasel in a West Bank Granary, who do you trust?

I SAY HOO DOO!
I SAY HOO DOO YOU TRUST?

The nation has been asked to be on alert for kamikaze cow-tippers. Any suspicious strangers lurking in cow pastures should be watched closely. A local dairy farmer reported running off a band of radical Episcopalian youth, no doubt part of the growing problem of Midwestern right wing groups our savvy media has been keen to speculate about.
"One of dem cows falls on somebody's kid and I have lawyers knocking of my door!" worried Farmer Makkonen.

Elsewhere, extremist Catholic teenagers were caught sitting in their cars at the Village Park.
Authorities haven't ruled out setting up roadblocks on M-26 so that that errant behavior doesn't spread south of the bridge. Several of the youth were in possession of cartons of Grade A, large eggs, purchased, it was later determined, from Louie's Super Value in Lake Linden.
Agnes Sunblad, the cashier, was astonished that she had waited on potential terrorists.

On the local university campuses, vigils have been held to promote peace and love, and to denounce the growing hatred and intolerance shown many of the Christian faith. "We shouldn't hate all Episcopalians just because a few were caught with eggs," said Akmed Mohammed. "I know many peace-loving Episcopalians. All of them would be quick to denounce this type of behavior if they were only asked."

Elsewhere, at the Gazette office, an anonymous letter was received, without a return address. After steaming open the letter with an iron, a single message in block letters, printed in a slant to the right across the page were these words:
THE WINGS HAVE HASEK IN NET. THANK GOD FOR THAT, EH!

Keweenaw Now must be hard up for reporters when you have to enlist such drivel as come out of the mouths of Sharp and Kindred and the other Pacifists. These people are naive and un-American. Why do these bleeding hearts come out of their cacoons and attempt to downgrade America. This is not the time. We were attacked because Ben Ladin & Gang hate Americans--shall we cower in fear until the next attack, while you Peacenicks get your next speech together and continue to call it politically correct. America, according to you yahoos asked for it. All I know ist America feeds and props up the world. It has fought wars and sacrificed its young men for the freedom we enjoy today. Our borders are open, and freedom-loving people from all over the world come here for a better life. I bet all you peacenicks love your life here, I don't see you leaving! According to your philosophy all victims should ask, "Where did we go wrong/" Did the Black People ask the Ku Klux Klan "What can we do to make you like us?" Did Matthew Shepherd (gay man) who was beaten up by two homophobics ask "What can I do to please you?" Did Martin Luther King ask "What can the black people do to please you whites?" Remember, it was hate that killed them all--hate crimes. Hitler hated enough to kill 6,000,000 Jews.

Now I ask you people who think you know the answers to the many complicated world problems, where was your free speech when Clinton & Gang occupied the Whitehouse and smeared it? When he bombed an aspirin factory and bombed his way out of his problems. Are you speaking up for the abused child? Haven't heard you. You would rather kill the child in the womb through Planned Parenthood and call that civilized. You have a lot to learn, so why don't you start by trying to understand your motives by being so Un-American!!!

I heard on my scanner that our peaceful Midwest is erupting with violence. (<personal attack in poor taste deleted>) Authorities will be contacting MTU officials about the incident

This incident is only one in a long string of events believed to be related to the recent wave of violence perpetrated by Midwestern groups. In the Village of Laurium, a group of boys, (<ditto>), were seen roaming the streets at dusk. The Village police had their hands full that night as they followed discretely behind in their cruiser.
Officer Baroni claims the youth disbanded after a time; however, he was at a loss to explain the eggshells on the cruiser windshield. When he stopped at Kauppi's Convenience to clean the mess off, a chorus of voices was heard, a cappella, God is great, you betcha!

There have been numerous reports of the theft of lawn ornaments, ringing of doorbells and running, and in the characteristically dichotomous manner of the holy terrorist, both the soaping and egging of windows.

Authorities hope to nip this Midwestern violence in the budd before it spreads to other sections of the country.

Deer Mr. Buck:
Mucho thanks for your current budget info! As for the bridge to Manitou, have no fear, the wilderness isle has recently been purchased by an international consortium of Floridian Hemingway aficiandos who’ve pledged to use their newly acquired real estate at the top end of Highway 41 as an idyllic sanctuary and training ground for Anti-Castro Cuban refugees, providing courses in such modern entrepreneurial American essentials as Black Jack, One-Armed Bandit, Roulette Table and State Park Camping.
Needless to say the Keweenaw County Road Commission payola has been temporarily wallet-draining but we feel it’s been well worth it in the long run.
Hope to see you soon at our 38-SPECIAL CASINO in Baraga!

The FY2000 financial statements for Keweenaw County are now available online at the Keweenaw Liberty Library.

To pique interest in what some may think are dry numbers, here are but a few notables:

• Legal wrangles with Black Bear did not bust the budget as feared by some. The prosecutor's office came in just under her original budget figure.
• Sales revenue from plat books and maps increased from $1,305 in 1999 to $4,309 in 2000; while land transfer tax revenues declined from $17,962 in 1999 to $10,002 in 2000.
• Bond revenues from potential jail residents declined from $625 in 1999 to $416 in 2000; while revenues from prisoners for board and care rose from $8,010 in 1999 to $18,006 in 2000. (Is there such a thing as making the jail chow taste too good.)
• Delinquent real property tax revenues fell from $29,886 in 1999 to $28,185 in 2000; while commercial forest tax revenues jumped from $69,778 in 1999 to $77,867 in 2000.
• Marriage license revenues dropped from $255 in 1999 to $165 in 2000; while pistol permit revenues up ticked from $80 in 1999 to $112 in 2000. (Amor brevis, vita brevis.)
• The unreserved fund balance for the county road commission is over $1-million. (Guess they are going to put in that Key West style bridge out to Manitou Island any day now.)

Nick Adams:

I see and agree with your point of view.

There is no doubt in my mind that The Brits ( and you forgot our neighbors to the North ) and us are in this situation together till the very end.

The reason I brought up our neighbors to the North was that I saw a presentation on CNN where they did a special on the Canadian Navy send off for the 6 ships, military personnel and aircraft departing from their eastern naval base to join our people in the Gulf area. There was also mention of a Canadian Military presence in the Gulf which has been there since the Gulf War.

I for one appreciate what all our men and women in the forces are doing for us so that we can continue to live in freedom. I can assure you that if they would take an old guy like me, I would go over in a heart beat to help. They won't so I will stay here and do whatever I can here to support their efforts.

God Bless America and our true friends.

Nick Adams, Yes, we have to see this through now no matter what.

I don't know how other people feel,however, I had to turn off the TV watching the 6:30 News tonight.

Quite frankly, I am sick of listening to our news reporters asking the President of Pakistan to give us a report card on how we are doing with our military action in Afghanistan. I get annoyed with our reporters interigating our government officials, particularily our Defense
officials to get an idea on what we are planning to do next. Why don't we send a copy of the plans to the Taliban so they know when and where we are coming so they can defend against our attack.

The people that organized the attack on America sure as h--- didn't broadcast their intentions to the world. It may be time to take an example from these cowards and shut up instead of broadcasting everything over the news networks.

We sure as h--- don't need to ask some other countries ( that I don't trust for a second ) to issue a report card on our actions. We lost thousands of innocent lives because of this attrocity and we don't need to loose countless men and women serving in our military that are protecting our precious freedoms because of some of our media people.

I hope that I am not the only furious American.

Thanks for info, Red Jacket. I hadn't heard any news source mention that. It occurred to me that one would have to nearly suicidal to handle and mail the "high-tech" version of airborne anthrax sent to Daschle's office(unless perhaps one were already taking Cipro). I see that the original WTC death toll of approximately 5000 is now being revised by some down to around 3000, so one thing is clear--"reliable" information sourced and spread by the News Media seems to be running at an even higher premium these days.

Nick Adams, The anthrax letters dated 9-11-01 were postmarked several days later.

My Aunt Thrax is fairly upset at the looks she has been getting lately. She let out for the territory, something about setting up a tree-stand. Though some would call her refined, others believe she leans to the right. She's been around long enough that you'd think we would all know who she really is, instead of some kind of swat-mobile in a crib. Waa!

For whatever it's worth, here's my pet theory on the 3 known anthrax letters(one mailed to a tabloid newspaper in Florida not far from where at least one of the 9/11 hijackers lived; two mailed from Trenton, NJ--sent to NBC and Tom Daschle's office in the Hart building--both dated 9/11 and inscribed with various Death to you, Death to Israel and Die Now threats).
The two letters from Trenton could have easily been dropped in a mailbox by one of the hijackers on his way to the Newark airport. The letter in Florida could have also been sent by another hijacker(Atta?) prior to his departure from the state.
If this is the case, then these 3(or possibly more not yet opened or detected) letters may be the only batch that were actually sent. Though caution and thorough inspection is certainly warranted, it may well be the extent of it. Meanwhile the Network Media may have blown the "anthrax scare" itself beyond reasonable proportions and sold us "fear" rather than a reasonable perspective.

From Entertainment Tonight(the world’s 2nd most evil(alright, annoying) program--along with its similarly sleazy self-serving syndicated publicity shop-talk imitator ilk--on global satellite television after Hezbollah Booty Call), this apparently urgent press release:

Gandolph Houndstooth, who once played an earnest emergency rescue worker on Network TV in the 1970’s, will be hosting a Past(r)y Bake Sale/Copper Artifact Auction at the Bumbletown volunteer firehouse* this Saturday at 6 pm(near that remaining radar antennae thingamajig atop the hill).
All proceeds will go to pad(er, finance) his(er, their) celebrity Superior lakefront pad(s) retirement fund.

*stubborn local legend has it that these brave firefighter-folk once put out a highly dangerous crown-leaping brushfire in a wild strawberry field just south of the mouth of Black Creek back in that drought-stricken Year of Our Lord 1949 GOD BLESS 'EM AS WELL AS THEIR SURVIVING KIN TILL THE END OF TIME!

PS: Bravo to Late-Night NBC for broadcasting Post-Conan Second City reruns(so when will Oprah get a mischievous food-fight John Candy midwestern clue, eh?).
Stay tuned…

October 24, 2001
Record - Setting Blizzard Strikes N. Dakota, Minnesota
By REUTERS
Filed at 3:07 p.m. ET
GRAND FORKS, N.D., (Reuters) - The worst blizzard since 1926 turned autumn into winter in parts of North Dakota on Wednesday and blanketed northwestern Minnesota in snow, closing schools and highways across the region.

OK, so it's only an October record-setter(8.2"), but am I headed your way?

You will only "enjoy" it for two weeks, though, until the bottom-line take control at the Washtington Post.

Some of you might enjoy the opinion by E.J. Dionne Jr. in today's Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36487-2001Oct22.html

SpeedTrap,
For crying out loud. Why is giving benefits to same-sex partners against the American family? I happen to be a woman who is married to a man and it sure doesn't diminish or negate our relationship in any way.

What business is it of mine if same-sex couples get benefits? Why does it matter to you? The world is full of too •••• many busybodies, if you ask me.

If you want to worry about where your tax dollars are going, worry about the $43 million that Bush gave the Taliban. Sheesh!

Sorry Red Jacket, I certainly didn’t think I asserted that the U.S. is perfect. But let’s not ignore reality and criticize America’s action on terrorism without offering a better solution.

My comments you quoted are based upon the fact that capitalism works. A lot of people try to make it look bad by comparing it to the hollow ideals of a socialist utopia. It is not a fair comparison because these ideals do not exist, and its recent failures are proof enough that it probably never will.

Capitalism is real, with the warts and all. I would hold up Mexico as one of the latest examples of a nation that we helped out of poverty. Their consequent trade with us has already more than paid back any outdated jobs that may have ‘gone south’. As we spread free trade to South America we will see many fledgling economies wake up there as well. Japan, Korea, and now China, are other examples that the mighty American economy has had profound effects upon, and to the benefit I believe, of their citizens.

As people begin to become educated about free enterprise, and learn the power of individual choice, it empowers them. They eventually learn that following anarchists and fanatics just enslaves them in hatred. Wherever free trade starts, democracy soon follows. America will continue to be the leader in this area for a long time to come until she ruins herself from within as we continue to give away our individual freedoms.

For a good understanding of world history and how new cultures build from the ones before them I find Thomas Sowell a good read. I like Conquests and Cultures: An International History. This book also explains a great deal about the slave trade in a world context. For articles and columns of his go to http://www.tsowell.com/

Washington can sure change a guy. Bart Stupak is eroding!!! His tacky picture taken with Clinton after the impeachment to show solidarity was unnecessary, his questions about the war against terrorism is un-American (his roses haven't bloomed yet, and now he has voted to give federal employees that are in a gay-partner relationship all the benefits that the Family (man and woman) get. This is against the American family. Do you want your tax dollars spent on irresponsible behavior? Send him a letter and express your opinion.

Tom Bowles, People seem to be posting a lot of good links today. I wish you would post some links documenting your assertion that:

---

Quote:

We largely abolished human slavery, and are responsible for endless free governments being formed, or saved from harm. We have bettered the lives of zillions of our global neighbors by setting examples of democratic government, free markets, free trade, and charity.

---

OK, just one more link, I promise.

This was written by Peter Beinart and was published in the October 11 edition of The New Republic online. It's about "nation-building" and I think he presents a strong argument about our need to reevaluate our foreign policy.

http://www.thenewrepublic.com/102901/trb102901.html

I'm outta here. The next time I logon, all of my windows will be clean and the storm windows will be on!

Thanks for the thoughtful responses on both posting pages to my column "Of Lice and Men." I like a good argument, maybe more than some people do, because, let's face it, our humanity lies in our ability to think and articulate (and listen). Even my wife thinks I've gone way past good taste and that my smirking pseudo-intellectualism is inappropriate in the face of the attacks on America. Perhaps. For the record: I have never suggested that the U.S. "got what it deserved." That is precisely my point. Violence begets violence. Does the United States have a right to self-defense, and a duty to make the world a safer, more humane place? Of course. And the Taliban clearly have no legitimacy in a world of laws and universally held human rights. Still, it is possible to disagree with American policy and still love America. We all process the evil of the world in different ways. I am working on a fundraiser of a school sports booster club and had the idea to donate a percentage of the proceeds to the N.Y. WTC Relief Fund. I trust that our contribution will be accepted despite my views on U.S. bombing (not refused as was the Saudi $10 million). I also have recently spent considerable time in my job in public health assessing local emergency plans and policies in light of the current bioterrorism threat. So we all have our roles to play. As I said, thanks for your comments, even those that were less than appreciative of my point of view. Keep listening, and thinking, and communicating, and being (imperfectly) human. Peace be with you.

I agree with you, Pampered. As someone schooled in the biological sciences, it has always seemed self-evident to me that the world was designed to work by balancing power between women and men.
But people being people(as well as individualists), I suspect there will always be a tug of war over which particular ideas and arrangements work best.

Nick Adams,

Anthony Lewis's commentary is right on target. Hmmm....haven't the liberals been saying the same thing all along? See Robert Scheer's September 25, 2001 commentary "Falwell Should Have Listened to the Feminists"

http://www.robertscheer.com/1_natcolumn/01_columns/092501.htm

Our immediate humanitarian priority should be getting aid to the starving people in Afghanistan.

But the U.S. and the West need to make the connection that the key to aleviating poverty is through empowering women. As long as half of the population in developing countries are denied basic human rights, including reproductive rights, we can expect more of the same—impoverished, uneducated and enslaved women breeding the next generation of angry young men, ripe for recruitment into the terrorist networks.

Unfortunately, the U.S. just doesn’t get it and the very policies we promote today will come back to haunt us. One of Bush’s first acts as president was to reinstate Reagan’s Global Gag Rule, which prohibits overseas family planning providers that receive U.S. funds from even discussing abortion as an option—even if the procedure is legal in the country where the services are being provided. And even though U.S. funds have NEVER been used to perform abortions, many NGOs have foregone U.S. funding, resulting in less money to provide family planning services and fewer women receiving them. As an appeasement to the Religious Right, Bush has missed an opportunity to improve the quality of life, health, and status of women around the world.

And will the U.S. and the world’s countries challenge the Catholic Church, whose obscene policies regarding birth control and condom distribution in AIDS-stricken Africa contribute to a mass epidemic where AIDS has become the leading cause of death? Just how does Kenya’s government respond to the escalating disease and also placate the Vatican? African President Daniel arap Moi has suggested that all Kenyans abstain from sex for two years.

August 13, 2001 Washington Post article “AIDS Challenges Religious Leaders: Opposition to Condoms Is Criticized” by By Karen DeYoung

Newsflash from the Propaganda News Service(PNS):

Hundreds--# of civilian deaths caused by American bombing in Kabul according to Taliban spokesman.

Ten--# of civilian deaths caused by American bombing in Kabul according to an independent unnamed relief aid worker as reported by CNN's Christianne Amanpour whose name I'm reasonably certain I've just mispelled.

Hmmm? Whom should we believe? The Taliban Ministry of Truth or some anonymous relief aid everyman(or everywoman) with no particular axe to grind?

The assault on America certainly has brought out the worst in people.

We claim to pride ourselves on our freedom of speech, but heaven forbid, criticize the government and you're quickly advised to pack it up and hit the road.

I've read both Ray Sharp's and Merle Kindred's commentaries and some of the comments I agree with, some I don't.

Merle and Ray, keep on speaking your minds. It's obvious from your writings and insights that you're both intelligent and thoughtful people and you have something worthwhile to contribute to helping us all understand why this horror has befallen us.

I do know this: that there are millions of ordinary people living in those terrorist supporting states who want the same freedoms that I do. They want freedom from oppression (be it religious oppression or a tyrannous government) and the opportunity to live their lives in dignity.

It probably wouldn't hurt if we all just paused for a moment and said a prayer, made a wish, or at least were respectful enough to acknowledge that as we're reading this our young American troops and millions of innocent Afghan civilians are in harm's way and that there will be Afghan people dying tonight who are just as much victims as those Americans who perished on September 11.

I just read two guest columns in K-now and I can't beleive my eyes! Sure they have the right to free speech, but...

If both authors think the US is causing harm to the people of other countries, where would these countries be with out the Billions of dollars that we give them in aid?

The way I see it the US is in a no win situation... If we give the radicals what they want, then we let down our allies when their countries suffer from horrendous act as we.

If we stop sending the aid, then we hurt the people any way...and they will attack us until they get the aid back.

It sounds to me that these two people should pack up and go to another country and try to speak out against the ruling parties.

I don't care what the motives of the attackers were - they had no right attacking innocent people! They justify their actions by saying it was Allah (God) and they did it in the name of Islam. Well if a little research was done you will see that Islam is supposed to be a peaceful religon.... I have seen a letter written my a Muslum person that caused me to stop and think about my personal feelings toward that faith. Unfortuneately I don't recall the link to pass it on to everyone...

It also seems to me that these two authors are ignoring the fact that the perpetrators of the Sept. attacks could be considered bullies - use any means to get what they want. What is the best way to eliminate the bully? Stand up to them and give them a taste of what they did to you.. and the US is giving it back.

The Taliban wants us to send in massive amounts of men, why? Large groups are easier targets and they can claim invasion.. The special op folks work in small, mobile groups.. They are harder to find, and can move fast - I wish them well.

By the way - I worked with the special forces while in the Navy. I never met anyone more dedicated than these men...

Some seem to want to defend the deliberate targeting and shooting in the back of 6,000 people who were only on their way to work, as if America somehow ‘deserved’ it. They call our country’s subsequent self-defense as equally immoral. I am afraid of these pacifist voices more than I am of the terrorists. We did not start a war in the Middle East; the terrorists came here and started it. Now we will join with others in the region who understand that such atrocities have consequences.

First off, in my mind, anyone who kills thousands of innocent people whom meant no harm does not deserve to be listened to, no matter what their explanation may be. Their acts are indefensible –period. Besides that, I don’t think talking to a zealot like bin Laden would prove any more fruitful then if a group of Jews went and talked to Hitler.

And for those of you who think its so bad to be big, remember there has always been a superior power somewhere in the world, whether it was China, Europe, Great Britain, or lately America. And there were always groups outside the superpower of the day who vehemently hated the top dog for being so darned successful, and blamed their woes on the giant to cover their own failures.

America is not bad, although we have our faults. But I for one think that America has done far more good in the world than any other civilization in global history. We largely abolished human slavery, and are responsible for endless free governments being formed, or saved from harm. We have bettered the lives of zillions of our global neighbors by setting examples of democratic government, free markets, free trade, and charity.

Pacifists in the free nations of the world weakened Great Britain and the rest of Europe early last century to the point that the Nazi’s and Imperialistic Japan actually thought it would be possible to overtake them. Then as now, pacifism was a statement about one's ideals that paid little attention to actual consequences. The bloodshed they caused can not be forgotten. Let’s not repeat that history lesson now.

For those who think violent action is not the proper response in this case please review Mike Longs recent column entitled “Questions for the anti-war crowd”. http://www.jewishworldreview.com/michael/long.html Feel free to get back to us on your answers.

Nick Adams,

Thanks for the link to the excellent commentary. It takes courage to challenge those who are absolutely certain of the justness of their cause. And especially so if those being challenged are within one's own religion or ethnic group.

The courage of people like M. A. Muqtedar Khan and Merle Kindred who voice their beliefs in the face of certain opposition and ugly threats give meaning to the liberties we enjoy as Americans. Their courage honors those who have given everything to preserve our liberties in the past, as well as those who are preparing to do so now.

Here's a link to an excellent editorial written by a Muslim political science professor at Adrian College in Michigan that engages my earlier point on the propaganda used in many Muslim countries:

A Memo to American Muslims
It's time for us to search our souls. How can the message of Muhammad become a source of horror and fear? How can Islam inspire thousands of youth to dedicate their lives to killing others?
By M. A. Muqtedar Khan

Click here to read the rest of A Memo to American Muslims

Nick Adams,

Jeez, I hope the American entertainment industry hasn't offended the Taliban or any of the conservative Arab states. I bet they think Britney Spears and Madonna are really obscene. Probably Martha Stewart, too.

When it comes to entertainment, there's nothing more wholesome than a good public execution in the form of a beheading or stoning to instill the proper morals and values in the masses.

Pampered: Anyone who has paid attention to the Mass Culture that America has been beaming out to the rest of the world over the past 20 years or so knows that there is a lot of junk mixed in with the gems. If foreign people's perception of America is largely shaped by this material, then it isn't hard to imagine why many might have a low opinion of us.
I'm not going to itemize, but conservative writers like Bill Bennett have made good points on the toxic effects that some of our cultural products have had on the minds of those who only "know" us from afar(not to mention on ourselves).
We could do a lot better, but it's a free country and everyone has a right to create what they want so I have my doubts whether the quality level of our mass entertainment will improve much without some significant soul-searching on the part of those who are getting rich by selling material that is beneath them and us.

SpeedTrap,

Don't think that people who criticize the politicians/government are anti-American. I didn't vote for Bush or any Republicans because I don't believe in what they stand for with respect to women's rights, the environment, or on most other issues. The bombing of the WTC, regardless of how horrific it was, hasn't changed this administration's stance on any of those issues. Just because I'm an American doesn't mean I support all U.S. policies or that the good old boys speak for me.

I do, however, support our government's action on taking out Osama bin Laden and the Taliban. Hopefully, we won't end up supporting another regime just as oppressive. We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?

I only wish we could strap a few Jerry Falwells and Pat Robertsons onto the missles before we send them flying. Like the nut cases running Afghanistan, they too have played too many games without the helmet.

An editorial writer in the Gazette lost Bill Maher (who) and I lost my satellite ABC station and can't watch "Wheel of Fortune" thanks to Congress (Satellite Home Viewer's Act), who liked money better than my free speech! BOO HOO! On September ll, 2001, terrorists killed 6,000 people in a few minutes and these souls lost not only their free speech, but their lives and their children. Consequently, we will all live in fear forever and freedom will be necessarily restricted.

Maybe we should worry about a free people who didn't use their freedom responsibly and voted for the Party rather than their Country. They elected an immoral man who went on to degrade and betray our Country with his perversion and Chinese Fund Raisers: and who convinced a lot of people to close their eyes to everything that was good and decent. Shall we worry about the Liberal media, who slant the news to the Left, and demand retribution only for the Right?. Shall we worry about Hollywood who continue to corrupt with sex, violence and immorality and we continue to support them? Shall we worry about NAFTA which may be crippling our Nation to a service industry and taking away our sovereignty? Shall we blame the Home which is empty, or the Church that cares more about their status than the abused child? Or, the Government in being so touchy-feely, they forgot they had a Country to protect?

The Bush administration has no choice but to fight for freedom again and maybe this time we will embrace it more respectfully as we pass it on to a new generation. This is not the time to forsake our Country: for united we stand.

Now, if it's "can't we just get along and talk this out"?, I would advise the Peacenicks, Flower Children and Hanoi Jane's to gather their free speech and "flower power" and join OsamaBin Laden in his bunker.

Nick Adams,

I can't specifically recall much in the way of wisdom coming from the mouths of conservatives, at least with respect to social or cultural issues--what exactly is the "inane and decadent cultural fare" that you're referring to?

Give Life

There has been an aspect of arrogance to American foreign policy in the post WWII era, much of it based on ignorance of other cultures, that has contributed to anger against the U.S., and there's surely a fair amount to dislike about some of the inane and decadent cultural fare we've been transmitting around the globe over the years(our own conservatives have been telling us that for some time now), but by far the main source for the "hatred" of America has been State-sponsored propaganda. Remember, other than Israel and India, there are very few democracies(or free- presses) in that area of the world and the Powers-That-Be over there want to keep it that way. The overall message of human freedom that America transmits to the oppressed peoples of these territories unnerves those in control from Bagdad to Beijing and they maintain their own double-speak to counteract it. The Saudis, Syrians and Iraquis are especially skillful at playing this mind game on their own populations. I recommend reading Tom Friedman of the NY Times for a more detailed historical perspective on this ongoing matter.
I just can't let this unsubstantiated claim from the Merle Kindred piece at Keweenaw Now go by without challenge however:
"I also mourn the 150,000 plus Iraqi civilians killed by the U.S. since 1993..."
This is the kind of mis or dis-information that can undermine an otherwise even-handed editorial. No one but the Iraqi rulers are responsible for their current nightmare and until they are gone from the scene the civilian suffering will go on and on.

I'm afraid it's still politics as usual......

Last night I heard Colin Powell say that the new government of Afghanistan must be formed "as a broad-based coalition representing all of Afghanistan's ethnic communities" including "moderate" members of the Taliban. Isn't that a little like restructuring Germany with "moderate" Nazis?

I get a real bad taste in my mouth when I see the U.S. calling Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Syria, and the Sudan our allies. With friends like these, who needs enemies?

Regarding Merle Kindred's piece in KeweenawNow, I don't think it inconsistent to pursue terrorists militarily while simultaneously reexamining our own actions as a nation. The terrorists cannot be allowed to murder thousands of our citizens with impunity, no matter what their grievances are.

Nevertheless, it is shocking that our president professes to be "bewildered" by the depths of hatred felt toward our country. Like all countries, we've done both good and bad things throughout our history to advance what our leaders have determined to be our interests. Those who have benefitted from our actions tend to support us, and those who have been harmed by our actions do not.

Surely every educated person realizes that our country has not hestitated to use force, including torture and murder, to advance our economic interests. Within my memory, our country instigated the overthrow of a democracy in order to install a ruthless dictator willing to cooperate with our business interests. Not so many months ago, our current president told the rest of the world that our country would not agree to reduce our emmissions of harmful gases into the atmosphere because to do so might damage our economy.

Yes, the terrorists must be punished. But we cannot be so obtuse as to believe that those harmed by our actions as a country will be happy about it. Whenever we advance our own interests at the expense of others, we must be prepared to counter whatever retaliation we might face.

Latest Security News out of General Motors TPC
building in Pontiac:

Latest news reports advise that a cell of 4
terrorists have been operating at the General Motors
TPC Central building in Pontiac.
Pontiac Police advised earlier today that 3 of the 4
have been detained.
GM security stated that the terrorists Bin Sleepin,
Bin Drinkin and Bin Fightin have been arrested on
immigration issues.
The Police advise further that they can find no one
fitting the description of the fourth cell member,
Bin Workin, in the area. Police are confident that
anyone who looks like Bin Workin will be very easy
to spot in the building.

Go Braves!

Hey Osama:
Yo no Lama!
Yo not even a Pastrami Swami!
Take a cue from Camp Granada and let your young Islamic boys imagine, create and build their own healthy intelligent intifada!*
Trust Me: This Used to be My Playground
*Uprisings can really be cool when you play the patient humble creative peaceful fool

ps: via the skillful swing of your everyday utility-player, a "goat" to "hero" in one-at-bat, Arizona tips St. Louis in the most-exciting playoff game yet.
GO BASEBALL!

Hey Osama:
Yo Mama wears Old Navy(all Wavy) and drinks Snapple imported from da Big Apple!

No offense meant A's, but Go Yanks!

---

By Stage Door Johnny Go-Lightly on Saturday, October 13, 2001 - 02:34 am:

"We love our lovin'
But not like we love our freedom"

Help Me
Joni Mitchell

John and Glen. Now that is the American spirit. Everyone working together. Maybe this working together thing will catch on in the Keweenaw. Hats off to you. Good Job.

Tom Cat

By Keweenaw Now fan on Friday, October 12, 2001 - 06:38 am:

There is human nobility in sacrificing one's self-interest for a larger public good and all the folks responsible for mediating the long Gratiot River land-wrangle will be remembered with affection for generations to come because of their generous compromise.

Michele, Thanks for the great article in KeweenawNow about the Griffith-Tolksdorf agreement on Tuesday evening! The pictures are great, and it's remarkable to see an article with so many good quotes from the participants. It's great to have you back online!

Keweenaw Land Swap Proposal III

Phase I: Get Bart Stupak working on securing future forestland rights in Afghanistan in exchange for International Paper's remaining Keweenaw holdings. There is almost no forestland left in Afghanistan (Note: Military analysts uniformly describe bin Laden as hiding in caves, not the forest), so Bart will have to wire up some World Bank loans to pay for seedling plantings and crop seed to help transition Afghan farmers from growing (and smoking) poppies for the drug trade and get them into restoring the Afghan forest and becoming stable, drug-free loggers.

Phase II: Lonie, I hear Afghanistan is mountainous and has quite a winter... You'd be doing mankind a favor by teaching those people how to recreate during the winter rather than holing up all those long snowbound months in their al-yurt smoking opium and reading the quran.

My compliments to Mr. Griffith and Mr. Tolksdorf for arriving at, and shaking hands upon, an agreement to resolve their long-standing dispute last night. We will all benefit from putting this in the past.

Question for Sppedtrap, Lighthouse and Mason.

How much did Mr. Kohs pay you guys to say those things?

It would help to look at all of the promises made by Mr. Kohs. When will we see the results from all these promies?

Please note:

On the Keweenaw Issues home page, the following guideline has been added because of copyright issues and space constraints:

"Other online articles must be linked and not quoted. Postings containing fully quoted articles will be removed."

We have also added Keweenaw Now to the bottom line menu, and encourage you to visit that site for news of the area.

Red Jacket and I wonder.
Tolksdorf and IP will stop at nothing to get what they want. The underhanded addition of the easement at the last minute. We know how turncoat and bj will vote, there good company boys. The rest who knows how the wind will be blowing that night. Hate to say it but I told ya so earlier. Why not spend taxpayers money from a county who is sooooo brooookkeee rather than accept a gift and offend your friends or take a chance on offending the COMPANY.

It looks to me like Mr. Tolksdorf was so sure that he could confiscate private property in his drive to ruin the efforts of conservation-minded folks that he misled those who purchased land from him. This could be anything from an attempt to save face to an attempt to stave off a lawsuit from those he misled. As this saga unfolds, Mr. Tolksdorf looks more and more like someone who will stop at nothing to get his own way, no matter how much damage he does to the Keweenaw.

Woops! My previous post listed a link to page 3 of the story about the last minute attempt to add an easement into the deal for Keweenaw County to purchase the mouth of the Gratiot River for a county park.

Here's the correct link to page 1 of the story:

Easement, bridge may jeopardize grants for mouth of Gratiot purchase

I wonder what will happen tonight (Monday, October 8th) at the Keweenaw County Board Ways & Means meeting at 6 p.m. at the Courthouse in Eagle River? They're supposted to be discussing the purchase of the mouth of the Gratiot River.

I also wonder how the vote will go at the regular county board meeting tomorrow at the Courthouse (Tuesday, October 9th)?

John Griffith's Letter About the Mouth of the Gratiot River Purchase

I wonder what Glen Tolksdorf and IP/LSLC are trying to pull now?

Tolksdorf lost in the Supreme Court of Michigan, and now he seems to be trying (with IP/LSLC's help) to find another way to get highway access into property he bought for development, which he knew before he bought the land was not accessible via developed roads.

Easement, bridge may jeopardize grants for mouth of Gratiot purchase

Just in time to melt the snow.