by Aidan Maconachy
At the close of a performance in Shanghai, Bjork performed the tune "Declare Independence". At the end of the song she began shouting "Tibet! Tibet!", an add-on that wasn't a hit with the Chinese Culture Ministry. A spokesperson said that they would take steps to ensure that Bjork doesn't repeat her one-woman demo.
"If Bjork continued to behave like that in the future, we may consider never allowing her to perform in China."
The Ministry released a statement saying Bjork had "broken Chinese law and hurt Chinese feelings".
"Declare Independence" is a song that Bjork has customized before in order to lend support to other countries' bids for independence, for example Greenland and the Faroe islands.
The Chinese were obviously asleep at the wheel because Bjork's support for Tibet isn't exactly a secret. She performed at several fundraising concerts in the US in the 1990's in support of Tibetan independence.
Most Chinese view Tibet as a part of China and can get resentful when outsiders attempt to interfere. When news of Bjork's protest got out on the Chinese internet, she didn't have many supporters, even among her fans. One said she found the performer's behavior "Disrespectful" and "very selfish."
Discussion boards were full of criticism also - "Why do western stars give care about Tibet. Isn't Tibet ours?! Mind your own business!"
The UK based Free Tibet Movement was thrilled by Bjork's remarks. They made a point of contrasting the singer's stand with that of British PM Gordon Brown who decided not to raise the subject of Tibet during a recent visit to Beijing.
About the Author
Freelance artist and writer based in Ontario
Senin, 24 Maret 2008
Omar Khadr framed: doctored evidence revealed
by Aidan Maconachy
Toronto native Omar Khadr was 15 years old when he was arrested at an Al Qaida camp in Afghanistan. He was just a kid - a child soldier under the control of a father-with-a-cause.
Khadr is now 21 and an inmate at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay. The US government claims he threw a grenade during a fire fight that killed a soldier.
It now turns out that the official documents that describe the alleged grenade incident, had been doctored to suit what Khadr's lawyer calls "the reality that was most convenient to the United States government at that time.†In other words Khadr was framed.
This came to light when the documents changed hands as a result of the discovery process. In the original report dated July 20th,2002, a commander had written that the person who threw the grenade had died. A couple of months later a line was altered. The report then indicated that the grenade thrower had survived.
The judge in the case sided with the defense team and granted Khadr's lawyers access to information that the prosecution had previously refused to hand over.
Harper's lack of action in this case is hardly a surprise. If his henchmen had their way they would probably be happy to throw away the key rather than risk rubbing the Americans the wrong way. The government's non-action has been a disgrace. Canada has refused to seek extradition or repatriation despite appeals from Amnesty International.
Omar Khadr appears to be in good health. His trial is set to begin in May.
About the Author
Freelance artist and writer based in Ontario
Toronto native Omar Khadr was 15 years old when he was arrested at an Al Qaida camp in Afghanistan. He was just a kid - a child soldier under the control of a father-with-a-cause.
Khadr is now 21 and an inmate at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay. The US government claims he threw a grenade during a fire fight that killed a soldier.
It now turns out that the official documents that describe the alleged grenade incident, had been doctored to suit what Khadr's lawyer calls "the reality that was most convenient to the United States government at that time.†In other words Khadr was framed.
This came to light when the documents changed hands as a result of the discovery process. In the original report dated July 20th,2002, a commander had written that the person who threw the grenade had died. A couple of months later a line was altered. The report then indicated that the grenade thrower had survived.
The judge in the case sided with the defense team and granted Khadr's lawyers access to information that the prosecution had previously refused to hand over.
Harper's lack of action in this case is hardly a surprise. If his henchmen had their way they would probably be happy to throw away the key rather than risk rubbing the Americans the wrong way. The government's non-action has been a disgrace. Canada has refused to seek extradition or repatriation despite appeals from Amnesty International.
Omar Khadr appears to be in good health. His trial is set to begin in May.
About the Author
Freelance artist and writer based in Ontario
Geraldine Ferraro gets it wrong on Obama
by Aidan Maconachy
Former vice-presidential candidate and member of the Clinton finance committee, Geraldine Ferraro, puts down Barack Obama's success in the Democratic race to the fact that he is a black man:
"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color), he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept."
Truth is, Obama didn't exactly have an easy ride. A Kenyan father and a white American mother may make him African-American, but it also made him an outsider in the eyes of some black Americans. He received part of his education in Asia, not the good ole USA. His name might even be considered a liability when applying for a job in some parts of the country.
The success Obama has enjoyed is due to his ability to rise above the type of pettiness that makes racial characteristics a determining factor. The fact that Geraldine Ferraro played the race card in attempting to explain away his success, says more about her than it does about Obama.
Ms Ferraro appears stung by the criticism. She has been behaving in what can only be described as a childish tit-for-tat fashion, complaining that the Obama people are picking on her because she's white.
"Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let's address reality and the problems we're facing in this world, you're accused of being racist, so you have to shut up," Ferraro said. "Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?"
How is making an issue out of Obama's skin color addressing "reality and the problems we're facing in this world?" Maybe I'm missing something here, but I think Geraldine Ferraro is having difficulty admitting that she screwed up. We all do from time to time. It just looks worse when instead off backing off, you dig in deeper.
About the Author
Freelance artist and writer based in Ontario
Former vice-presidential candidate and member of the Clinton finance committee, Geraldine Ferraro, puts down Barack Obama's success in the Democratic race to the fact that he is a black man:
"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color), he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept."
Truth is, Obama didn't exactly have an easy ride. A Kenyan father and a white American mother may make him African-American, but it also made him an outsider in the eyes of some black Americans. He received part of his education in Asia, not the good ole USA. His name might even be considered a liability when applying for a job in some parts of the country.
The success Obama has enjoyed is due to his ability to rise above the type of pettiness that makes racial characteristics a determining factor. The fact that Geraldine Ferraro played the race card in attempting to explain away his success, says more about her than it does about Obama.
Ms Ferraro appears stung by the criticism. She has been behaving in what can only be described as a childish tit-for-tat fashion, complaining that the Obama people are picking on her because she's white.
"Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let's address reality and the problems we're facing in this world, you're accused of being racist, so you have to shut up," Ferraro said. "Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?"
How is making an issue out of Obama's skin color addressing "reality and the problems we're facing in this world?" Maybe I'm missing something here, but I think Geraldine Ferraro is having difficulty admitting that she screwed up. We all do from time to time. It just looks worse when instead off backing off, you dig in deeper.
About the Author
Freelance artist and writer based in Ontario
Dow Marmur and Meir Hirsch: two tragedies, two Jewish opinions
by Aidan Maconachy
It was interesting to note how the media covered the Israeli attack on Gaza, as compared to how it covered the tragic shooting of eight young students at the yeshiva in Jerusalem.
The Israeli incursion into Gaza involved ground troops, bulldozers, tanks, helicopters and F-16's. Over 120 Palestinians were killed, including women and children. How many times have we seen this before? You begin to wonder if the faceless Palestinians who are killed and injured are simply human collateral damage that the world has grown accustomed to sweeping aside in the name of support for the state of Israel. Do we even know the name of one victim? Gazans are dispensable. No names, no faces, no family history - just more unfortunate Arabs caught in the crossfire.
By contrast when a lone gunman entered the Jerusalem seminary and killed eight students, the media cast it as "the moment the peace process died," with politicians right and left full of condemnation and regret. British PM, Gordon Brown, even said it was an act that "strikes at the heart of peace". So what of the Gaza attack? It didn't?
Two Jewish voices provide starkly different analysis of the tragedies in Gaza and Jerusalem.
One of the most outspoken statements in condemnation of the Gaza operation came from the Jews of Neturei Karta. In a letter to the UN general-secretary Ban Ki-Moon, Rabbi Meir Hirsch, spoke for those Orthodox Jews who believe that Zionism is a betrayal of the Jewish faith and its people:
"For sixty years the authorities of what is mischaracterized as the "Jewish State" have been undertaking a vicious campaign of oppression and ethnic cleansing against millions of Palestinians who currently still live in historic Palestine and who are refugees from Palestine in other countries. And they have been committing all these crimes in the name of the ancient and holy Jewish religion!"
Full text of the letter here.
Dow Marmur, rabbi emiritus at Toronto's Holy Blossom Temple, has a column in the Toronto Star on the yeshiva killings. He offers no significant comment about the Gaza operation and the loss of civilian lives - an event that very likely provoked the gunman to enter the yeshiva in Jerusalem. Instead Marmur focuses exclusively on the yeshiva tragedy as though it somehow exists in isolation, unconnected from other events.
Marmur then goes on to take the part of the moderate, referring to Arabs of East Jerusalem who are in possession of identity cards, passports and driving licenses with Israeli plates, as though this means anything at all in real terms. Any close examination of the conditions experienced by Arabs in East Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel makes it clear that they are victims of systemic discrimination.
Marmur thinks that calls to build fences/walls around Arab neighborhoods in reaction to the yeshiva killings is a bad idea. He says this proposal isn't "moral". However his lack of comment on the real immorality (the gorilla in the room), makes his "moral" high mindedness about fences seem disingenuous. Illegal settlements, criminal "incursions" by the Israeli military, massive and widespread discrimination is the quicksand at the root of Israel's intractable and it seems, never ending problems - fences are merely a cosmetic consideration.
While the yeshiva killing was a tragedy, it wasn't a random act but rather an act linked to decades of injustice and oppression. The recent mayhem in Gaza is part of an ongoing pattern that becomes obvious when you look back over the past few decades. A welcome report by Amnesty International addresses some of the injustices that rabbi Marmur failed to address.
About the Author
Freelance artist and writer based in Ontario
It was interesting to note how the media covered the Israeli attack on Gaza, as compared to how it covered the tragic shooting of eight young students at the yeshiva in Jerusalem.
The Israeli incursion into Gaza involved ground troops, bulldozers, tanks, helicopters and F-16's. Over 120 Palestinians were killed, including women and children. How many times have we seen this before? You begin to wonder if the faceless Palestinians who are killed and injured are simply human collateral damage that the world has grown accustomed to sweeping aside in the name of support for the state of Israel. Do we even know the name of one victim? Gazans are dispensable. No names, no faces, no family history - just more unfortunate Arabs caught in the crossfire.
By contrast when a lone gunman entered the Jerusalem seminary and killed eight students, the media cast it as "the moment the peace process died," with politicians right and left full of condemnation and regret. British PM, Gordon Brown, even said it was an act that "strikes at the heart of peace". So what of the Gaza attack? It didn't?
Two Jewish voices provide starkly different analysis of the tragedies in Gaza and Jerusalem.
One of the most outspoken statements in condemnation of the Gaza operation came from the Jews of Neturei Karta. In a letter to the UN general-secretary Ban Ki-Moon, Rabbi Meir Hirsch, spoke for those Orthodox Jews who believe that Zionism is a betrayal of the Jewish faith and its people:
"For sixty years the authorities of what is mischaracterized as the "Jewish State" have been undertaking a vicious campaign of oppression and ethnic cleansing against millions of Palestinians who currently still live in historic Palestine and who are refugees from Palestine in other countries. And they have been committing all these crimes in the name of the ancient and holy Jewish religion!"
Full text of the letter here.
Dow Marmur, rabbi emiritus at Toronto's Holy Blossom Temple, has a column in the Toronto Star on the yeshiva killings. He offers no significant comment about the Gaza operation and the loss of civilian lives - an event that very likely provoked the gunman to enter the yeshiva in Jerusalem. Instead Marmur focuses exclusively on the yeshiva tragedy as though it somehow exists in isolation, unconnected from other events.
Marmur then goes on to take the part of the moderate, referring to Arabs of East Jerusalem who are in possession of identity cards, passports and driving licenses with Israeli plates, as though this means anything at all in real terms. Any close examination of the conditions experienced by Arabs in East Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel makes it clear that they are victims of systemic discrimination.
Marmur thinks that calls to build fences/walls around Arab neighborhoods in reaction to the yeshiva killings is a bad idea. He says this proposal isn't "moral". However his lack of comment on the real immorality (the gorilla in the room), makes his "moral" high mindedness about fences seem disingenuous. Illegal settlements, criminal "incursions" by the Israeli military, massive and widespread discrimination is the quicksand at the root of Israel's intractable and it seems, never ending problems - fences are merely a cosmetic consideration.
While the yeshiva killing was a tragedy, it wasn't a random act but rather an act linked to decades of injustice and oppression. The recent mayhem in Gaza is part of an ongoing pattern that becomes obvious when you look back over the past few decades. A welcome report by Amnesty International addresses some of the injustices that rabbi Marmur failed to address.
About the Author
Freelance artist and writer based in Ontario
Muslims in Europe: everyone's favorite scapegoat
by Aidan Maconachy
The problem in Europe is not "Islamofascism" - a term Christopher Hitchens continues to use without any embarrassment. The problem is fascism. The problem in Europe is not radical hordes of Muslims threatening to take over - the problem is xenophobia, racism, marginalization and unemployment faced by Muslim men and women who far from living in expectations of "Eurabia", are more realistically living in expectation of the penal colony, a very large one with no fences in which they exist as an underclass.
A small percentage of Muslim youth is radicalized along the lines of the British tabloid stereotype. A larger number of Muslim youth is sufficiently marginalized and angry to resort to delinquent behavior, including rioting. However the vast majority of European Muslims consist of families struggling to get by in societies that stigmatize them, however subtly, and relegate them to the fringes.
When I say that fascism, not "Islamofascism", is on the rise I'm not engaging in hyperbole. This is a political reality in modern Europe. Fascists can be found in local councils and parliaments. The percentage of their vote share has been steadily increasing. In Norway for example 22%, in Switzerland 29%. They have played a role in government in both Italy and Austria.
Jean-Marie Le Pen, who pulled in a third of the French vote not so long ago calls the gas chambers "a detail of history". These reactionary elements have long been waiting in the wings hoping for much needed oxygen to bring them back to life. The oxygen fix began to happen after 9/11, with the terror scare and the polarization caused by the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Right-wing extremists along with the scribes and advocates who are helping to facilitate their rise, are back in business.
Discrimination against Muslims is particularly bad in France where being named Ali or Mohammad could render you permanently unemployable. The Union's European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC), released a report not so long ago. It pointed out that the chance of people with a Maghrebi name getting a job interview is five times less than people with a purely French name.
The discrimination faced by Muslims in France, especially when it comes to employment opportunities is so extreme, many of the young take work in the UK where skills and qualifications for the most part trump ethnic and or religious considerations. Right wing commentators in N. America often say European Muslims should do more to "integrate" with the host societies. How the hell do you integrate with a society that refuses to interview you for a job and views you as a potential problem or a walking time bomb? Answer - you don't even try. You get more marginalized, more angry and more defiant.
In France it isn't just a question of Muslim immigrants as a block, but of a post-colonial mentality that still clings to old perceptions. The secular organization Les Indigenes de la Republic makes a direct connection between the way France treated "natives" in its colonial lands, and the way Muslim immigrants are treated in France. The situation in France is extremely complex. What appears on the surface to be a "Muslim issue" more often relates to Algerian, Tunisian or Moroccan concerns.
In N.Ireland, the Catholic minority was ghettoized in a similar fashion. Citizens with Catholic names were often discriminated against when they went for jobs. Protestant hardliners demonized Catholics along religious lines using terms such as "papists" and "pope lovers", whereas in actual fact a percentage of Sinn Fein members back in the day tended to be more inspired by Marxist or socialist thinking than religious considerations.
We all know what happened over the decades in N.Ireland. So really it is remarkable that given the discrimination European Muslims have and are experiencing, they haven't moved in the direction of more militant action, not on behalf of jihad but in a demand for a fair shake. Frankly the forbearance and patience of European Muslims in the face of the underdog status that has been hung on them, speaks more to the civilized nature of their culture than to their alleged fanaticism.
According to a Pew Research Center survey, the principal concerns of Muslims in France, Germany and Spain are unemployment and Islamic extremism. Let me repeat ... "Islamic extremism".
About the Author
Freelance artist and writer based in Ontario
The problem in Europe is not "Islamofascism" - a term Christopher Hitchens continues to use without any embarrassment. The problem is fascism. The problem in Europe is not radical hordes of Muslims threatening to take over - the problem is xenophobia, racism, marginalization and unemployment faced by Muslim men and women who far from living in expectations of "Eurabia", are more realistically living in expectation of the penal colony, a very large one with no fences in which they exist as an underclass.
A small percentage of Muslim youth is radicalized along the lines of the British tabloid stereotype. A larger number of Muslim youth is sufficiently marginalized and angry to resort to delinquent behavior, including rioting. However the vast majority of European Muslims consist of families struggling to get by in societies that stigmatize them, however subtly, and relegate them to the fringes.
When I say that fascism, not "Islamofascism", is on the rise I'm not engaging in hyperbole. This is a political reality in modern Europe. Fascists can be found in local councils and parliaments. The percentage of their vote share has been steadily increasing. In Norway for example 22%, in Switzerland 29%. They have played a role in government in both Italy and Austria.
Jean-Marie Le Pen, who pulled in a third of the French vote not so long ago calls the gas chambers "a detail of history". These reactionary elements have long been waiting in the wings hoping for much needed oxygen to bring them back to life. The oxygen fix began to happen after 9/11, with the terror scare and the polarization caused by the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Right-wing extremists along with the scribes and advocates who are helping to facilitate their rise, are back in business.
Discrimination against Muslims is particularly bad in France where being named Ali or Mohammad could render you permanently unemployable. The Union's European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC), released a report not so long ago. It pointed out that the chance of people with a Maghrebi name getting a job interview is five times less than people with a purely French name.
The discrimination faced by Muslims in France, especially when it comes to employment opportunities is so extreme, many of the young take work in the UK where skills and qualifications for the most part trump ethnic and or religious considerations. Right wing commentators in N. America often say European Muslims should do more to "integrate" with the host societies. How the hell do you integrate with a society that refuses to interview you for a job and views you as a potential problem or a walking time bomb? Answer - you don't even try. You get more marginalized, more angry and more defiant.
In France it isn't just a question of Muslim immigrants as a block, but of a post-colonial mentality that still clings to old perceptions. The secular organization Les Indigenes de la Republic makes a direct connection between the way France treated "natives" in its colonial lands, and the way Muslim immigrants are treated in France. The situation in France is extremely complex. What appears on the surface to be a "Muslim issue" more often relates to Algerian, Tunisian or Moroccan concerns.
In N.Ireland, the Catholic minority was ghettoized in a similar fashion. Citizens with Catholic names were often discriminated against when they went for jobs. Protestant hardliners demonized Catholics along religious lines using terms such as "papists" and "pope lovers", whereas in actual fact a percentage of Sinn Fein members back in the day tended to be more inspired by Marxist or socialist thinking than religious considerations.
We all know what happened over the decades in N.Ireland. So really it is remarkable that given the discrimination European Muslims have and are experiencing, they haven't moved in the direction of more militant action, not on behalf of jihad but in a demand for a fair shake. Frankly the forbearance and patience of European Muslims in the face of the underdog status that has been hung on them, speaks more to the civilized nature of their culture than to their alleged fanaticism.
According to a Pew Research Center survey, the principal concerns of Muslims in France, Germany and Spain are unemployment and Islamic extremism. Let me repeat ... "Islamic extremism".
About the Author
Freelance artist and writer based in Ontario
Al Qaeda's Threat to the Election, and McCain's Views on Iraq
by Cesar Aguado
With the elections approaching quickly, there is increasing fear among many in the U.S. government that al Qaeda may attempt to carry out attacks against Americans in an effort to sway election results. McCain, among others, fears that violent insurgents in Iraq may try to step up attacks on American troops and force more casualties that could, in turn, sway how the American public votes.
While McCain may be a supporter of the buildup of troops in Iraq, he has criticized the way in which the war has been handled. He also disagrees with any plans to withdraw troops from Iraq anytime soon. He points out how recent attacks in Iraq are the direct result of al Qaeda's influence, and that they still pose a significant danger in the region.
As one of the strongholds of much of the world's energy sources, there is no doubt that control in Iraq will have a significant impact on energy and oil prices here at home. Those, in turn, will influence the American economy and the success of many businesses. Rising energy costs combined with our failing economy could be potentially fatal, especially to the small business owner who may not have unlimited resources to draw upon.
McCain's Strategy for Iraq
As part of his presidential campaign, McCain feels it is crucial to bolster the numbers of troops in Iraq so there are sufficient personnel to carry out their mission. With increased troops, insurgent strongholds could be cleared and then held peacefully, allowing Iraqi citizens to rebuild and create the infrastructure and economy necessary for continued success.
He also feels that violence needs to be stopped between Sunni and Shia factions, and the Iraqi army and police forces need accelerated training and equipment in order for them to be able to carry out their peacekeeping missions independently. McCain said the goal is to give the Iraqi people the tools they need to govern themselves, which would then enable us to bring our troops home. He emphasizes, though, that we cannot retreat until their government is both stable and self sufficient.
McCain criticizes the government's policy of rotating top American officials through Iraq. He believes those with the best knowledge and experience should be left in place, assuring continuity and building upon our successes over there, rather than sending new leaders who need to overcome a significant learning curve.
Finally, McCain calls for increased international pressure on countries such as Iran and Syria, who have been funding and arming the most violent factions of insurgents in Iraq, and who have been directly responsible for the deaths of many American soldiers.
McCain agrees that the road to success is going to be a long one, and that the American people need to be better educated about the realities of the war and the expectations of our troops and our citizens in order for us to achieve success. Iraq is crucial to ongoing peace in the Middle East, which in turn affects big business and independent businesses alike. It is a training ground for terrorists, many of whom are undergoing specific training to carry out attacks on the United States. In order for America to be secure, McCain believes we must see our mission in Iraq through to a successful conclusion.
About the Author
Dedicated to helping small business owners and entrepreneurs enjoy revenue success, while preparing for potential changes in the political environment, read our case studies on how you can earn more revenues for your business.
With the elections approaching quickly, there is increasing fear among many in the U.S. government that al Qaeda may attempt to carry out attacks against Americans in an effort to sway election results. McCain, among others, fears that violent insurgents in Iraq may try to step up attacks on American troops and force more casualties that could, in turn, sway how the American public votes.
While McCain may be a supporter of the buildup of troops in Iraq, he has criticized the way in which the war has been handled. He also disagrees with any plans to withdraw troops from Iraq anytime soon. He points out how recent attacks in Iraq are the direct result of al Qaeda's influence, and that they still pose a significant danger in the region.
As one of the strongholds of much of the world's energy sources, there is no doubt that control in Iraq will have a significant impact on energy and oil prices here at home. Those, in turn, will influence the American economy and the success of many businesses. Rising energy costs combined with our failing economy could be potentially fatal, especially to the small business owner who may not have unlimited resources to draw upon.
McCain's Strategy for Iraq
As part of his presidential campaign, McCain feels it is crucial to bolster the numbers of troops in Iraq so there are sufficient personnel to carry out their mission. With increased troops, insurgent strongholds could be cleared and then held peacefully, allowing Iraqi citizens to rebuild and create the infrastructure and economy necessary for continued success.
He also feels that violence needs to be stopped between Sunni and Shia factions, and the Iraqi army and police forces need accelerated training and equipment in order for them to be able to carry out their peacekeeping missions independently. McCain said the goal is to give the Iraqi people the tools they need to govern themselves, which would then enable us to bring our troops home. He emphasizes, though, that we cannot retreat until their government is both stable and self sufficient.
McCain criticizes the government's policy of rotating top American officials through Iraq. He believes those with the best knowledge and experience should be left in place, assuring continuity and building upon our successes over there, rather than sending new leaders who need to overcome a significant learning curve.
Finally, McCain calls for increased international pressure on countries such as Iran and Syria, who have been funding and arming the most violent factions of insurgents in Iraq, and who have been directly responsible for the deaths of many American soldiers.
McCain agrees that the road to success is going to be a long one, and that the American people need to be better educated about the realities of the war and the expectations of our troops and our citizens in order for us to achieve success. Iraq is crucial to ongoing peace in the Middle East, which in turn affects big business and independent businesses alike. It is a training ground for terrorists, many of whom are undergoing specific training to carry out attacks on the United States. In order for America to be secure, McCain believes we must see our mission in Iraq through to a successful conclusion.
About the Author
Dedicated to helping small business owners and entrepreneurs enjoy revenue success, while preparing for potential changes in the political environment, read our case studies on how you can earn more revenues for your business.
Another One Bites the Dust!
by J Davis
In one of the more stunning instances of hypocrisy to come out of the political world, it was revealed that anti online gambling crusader Eliot Spitzer was deeply involved with a very upscale prostitution ring. It has been estimated that Spitzer spent in the neighborhood of $80,000 for 'services' rendered. Ironically Spitzer made a name for himself fighting organized crime and prostitution rings similar to the one he was involved with.
As New York's Attorney General he made a national name for himself cleaning up Wall Street, consumer advocacy, environmental protection, and white collar crime. He had a reputation for aggressive prosecutions. In 2002 he bullied several banks involved with online gaming with prosecution. Citibank, one of the largest issuers of credit cards in the US was forced to stop processing transactions related to online gaming.
Spitzer was elected governor of New York in 2006 and stated in his inaugural address "Every policy, every action and every decision we make in this administration will further two overarching objectives: We must transform our government so that it is as ethical and wise as all of New York, and we must rebuild our economy so that it is ready to compete on the global stage in the next century." Spitzer promised clean government but what the taxpayers of New York got was something quite different.
It all fell apart for Spitzer last week when the New York Times published articles detailing his patronage of the 'Emperors Club VIP' an upscale escort service based in New Jersey. It was revealed that Spitzer spent $1,000 an hour for the services of a call girl.
Spitzer's bank was the chief agent leading to his demise. The good governor tried to conceal transactions totaling more than $10,000 by splitting up the transfers The money was destined for the Emperors Club VIP but the bank reported the suspicious transfers to that beloved agency the IRS which immediately launched an investigation. Spitzer tried to have his name taken off the money transfers but the bank, to their credit, refused. The IRS initially thought Spitzer might be a victim of fraud or extortion and the case was handed to the FBI who discovered the link to the prostitution ring.
Spitzer announced his resignation effective March, 17, 2008 giving the new governor time to make an orderly transition. A statement issued by Spitzer said, "Over the course of my public life, I have insisted, I believe correctly, that people, regardless of their position or power, take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself," said Spitzer. "For this reason, I am resigning from the Office of Governor."
Recently the US public has seen several politicians, many who have proposed legislation regulating private consensual behaviors, fall from grace. Many opponents of online gaming have been caught up in various scandals and ethics violations. Senator Bill Frist, a fervent supporter of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement act chose not to run for re election in 2006 because of ethics violations involving insider trading and Medicare and Medicaid fraud. John Kyl, another supporter of UIGEA took campaign money from the horse racing industry.
All these politicians had something in common, they all presented themselves to the public as ethical virtuous men, and all had serious conflicts between their public actions and their behavior as private citizens. Sometimes you just want to ask; where have all the good guys gone?
About the Author
J Davis resides in Philadelphia and is a consultant for the online bingo site http://www.bingohouse.com. His articles may also be found at http://www.bingolingo.com and at http://www.internetbingoblog.com
In one of the more stunning instances of hypocrisy to come out of the political world, it was revealed that anti online gambling crusader Eliot Spitzer was deeply involved with a very upscale prostitution ring. It has been estimated that Spitzer spent in the neighborhood of $80,000 for 'services' rendered. Ironically Spitzer made a name for himself fighting organized crime and prostitution rings similar to the one he was involved with.
As New York's Attorney General he made a national name for himself cleaning up Wall Street, consumer advocacy, environmental protection, and white collar crime. He had a reputation for aggressive prosecutions. In 2002 he bullied several banks involved with online gaming with prosecution. Citibank, one of the largest issuers of credit cards in the US was forced to stop processing transactions related to online gaming.
Spitzer was elected governor of New York in 2006 and stated in his inaugural address "Every policy, every action and every decision we make in this administration will further two overarching objectives: We must transform our government so that it is as ethical and wise as all of New York, and we must rebuild our economy so that it is ready to compete on the global stage in the next century." Spitzer promised clean government but what the taxpayers of New York got was something quite different.
It all fell apart for Spitzer last week when the New York Times published articles detailing his patronage of the 'Emperors Club VIP' an upscale escort service based in New Jersey. It was revealed that Spitzer spent $1,000 an hour for the services of a call girl.
Spitzer's bank was the chief agent leading to his demise. The good governor tried to conceal transactions totaling more than $10,000 by splitting up the transfers The money was destined for the Emperors Club VIP but the bank reported the suspicious transfers to that beloved agency the IRS which immediately launched an investigation. Spitzer tried to have his name taken off the money transfers but the bank, to their credit, refused. The IRS initially thought Spitzer might be a victim of fraud or extortion and the case was handed to the FBI who discovered the link to the prostitution ring.
Spitzer announced his resignation effective March, 17, 2008 giving the new governor time to make an orderly transition. A statement issued by Spitzer said, "Over the course of my public life, I have insisted, I believe correctly, that people, regardless of their position or power, take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself," said Spitzer. "For this reason, I am resigning from the Office of Governor."
Recently the US public has seen several politicians, many who have proposed legislation regulating private consensual behaviors, fall from grace. Many opponents of online gaming have been caught up in various scandals and ethics violations. Senator Bill Frist, a fervent supporter of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement act chose not to run for re election in 2006 because of ethics violations involving insider trading and Medicare and Medicaid fraud. John Kyl, another supporter of UIGEA took campaign money from the horse racing industry.
All these politicians had something in common, they all presented themselves to the public as ethical virtuous men, and all had serious conflicts between their public actions and their behavior as private citizens. Sometimes you just want to ask; where have all the good guys gone?
About the Author
J Davis resides in Philadelphia and is a consultant for the online bingo site http://www.bingohouse.com. His articles may also be found at http://www.bingolingo.com and at http://www.internetbingoblog.com
What About the Jews?
by NotYourDaddy
Moses led the Jews out of slavery in Egypt and, after forty years in the desert, brought them to the Promised Land. In the sixth century B.C., the Babylonians overran their land, demolished their Temple, sold many Israelites into slavery, and drove the rest into exile. After the Baylonians were defeated by the Persians, many Jews returned and rebuilt the Temple. But, in the first century A.D., the Romans destroyed the entire city of Jerusalem and, once again, drove out all the Jews who weren't sold into slavery. After being forced from their homeland for the second time, the Jewish people dispersed throughout the Middle East and what later became known as Europe.
Distrust of outsiders was common then and, wherever the exiled Israelites went, they were ostracized by the local population. European Jews were not permitted to own land, or to work in any agriculture-related field, or to hold any job that required membership in a trade guild. Well into the 19th century, they were forced by law to live in ghettos, and throughout the 19th century, they were victims of pogroms. In the 20th century, they were rounded up and sent to death camps by the Nazis, with the goal of ultimately exterminating the entire Jewish race.
But the Ashkenazi Jews were neither destroyed nor defeated. The ordeals they endured strengthened their resolve to not only survive, but to overcome and rise above their circumstances. They reacted to persecution and oppression by developing a culture of determined self-reliance and dedication to personal achievement, along with helping and encouraging each other. When Jewish children were prohibited from attending public schools, the Jews formed their own schools in the ghettos and tutored their children themselves. Being barred from trades and agriculture, the few professions open to them required skills in math and business, so education was a high priority.
After six million Jews were slaughtered in the Holocaust, many of the survivors left Europe never to return. The land that is now Israel was an arid desert then, undeveloped, and thought by many to be undevelopable. After the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, that entire area was divided up by the United Nations to establish the current Arab states. The area called the Palestinian Territory was set up as a British Mandate, as it was not a part of any nation, and had no government of its own. Because this area was sparsely populated, and because of the historical connection, it was determined to be the most viable place to establish a homeland for the displaced Jews. The founders of the new Israeli nation offered automatic citizenship to any who were living there who desired to stay, and cautioned that those who left would not be permitted to return and claim citizenship later. Many Arabs did stay and became full Israeli citizens, but many fled out of fear and ignorance, believing the propaganda spread by the neighboring Arab states.
The surrounding Arab states vehemently objected to having a Jewish state in their midst. They swore that "Israel will be wiped off the map" and "every Jew will be driven into the sea." They immediately set about attacking Israel, bombarding it from every border, forcing the Israelis to defend their existence from the very start, even as they struggled to build a new nation. But the Jews had learned a hard lesson in Europe, and they understood what it meant to either fight or die. This time, they were prepared to fight back. They were already accustomed to hardship, and brought with them a culture of diligent perseverance. They relentlessly pursued their dream of establishing a land of freedom and Democracy in the middle of the unforgiving desert. Though continually beset with wars and terrorism, against seemingly insurmountable odds, they managed to build a new nation, with modern cities and a thriving agricultural and high tech-economy, where previously there was nothing but poverty and sand. But still, they're surrounded by enemies on all sides, who seek the destruction of their nation, and they live in constant vigilance against terrorist attacks.
Not all the Jews who fled Europe went to Israel. A great many came to the United States. Though many had lost everything in the Holocaust, and came here with little or no possessions, they brought with them their culture of survival and self-sufficiency, their strong work ethic and belief in education as the road to progress. Those values served them well in this land of freedom and opportunity. Like every other immigrant group, they started out huddling together in ghettos. But the Jews had had enough of ghettos in Europe, and were quick to realize the value of assimilation. They had no sense of entitlement to anything from anybody, but were grateful for the opportunity to earn an honest living in whatever way they could, and to educate their children, and reap the rewards of their own efforts. They fit right in with the American ideal, eager to leverage every opportunity. They made sure their children got the best educations they could, and with each successive generation, they worked their way higher up the socio-economic ladder.
But still there are people who, out of envy or ignorance, resent the Jews for the very successes they fought so hard to achieve, and find excuses to dismiss their accomplishments or accuse them of having "unfair advantages." Such is human nature.
About the Author
NotYourDaddy is a conservative libertarian who believes in free will and the free market. NYD thinks the role of the government is to protect the rights and liberties of its citizens. Stop there.
NYD's attitude toward ever-expanding government can best be summed up by snarling "Get your hand out of my pocket and leave me alone!"
Visit NotYourDaddy's blog at Government is Not Your Daddy.
Moses led the Jews out of slavery in Egypt and, after forty years in the desert, brought them to the Promised Land. In the sixth century B.C., the Babylonians overran their land, demolished their Temple, sold many Israelites into slavery, and drove the rest into exile. After the Baylonians were defeated by the Persians, many Jews returned and rebuilt the Temple. But, in the first century A.D., the Romans destroyed the entire city of Jerusalem and, once again, drove out all the Jews who weren't sold into slavery. After being forced from their homeland for the second time, the Jewish people dispersed throughout the Middle East and what later became known as Europe.
Distrust of outsiders was common then and, wherever the exiled Israelites went, they were ostracized by the local population. European Jews were not permitted to own land, or to work in any agriculture-related field, or to hold any job that required membership in a trade guild. Well into the 19th century, they were forced by law to live in ghettos, and throughout the 19th century, they were victims of pogroms. In the 20th century, they were rounded up and sent to death camps by the Nazis, with the goal of ultimately exterminating the entire Jewish race.
But the Ashkenazi Jews were neither destroyed nor defeated. The ordeals they endured strengthened their resolve to not only survive, but to overcome and rise above their circumstances. They reacted to persecution and oppression by developing a culture of determined self-reliance and dedication to personal achievement, along with helping and encouraging each other. When Jewish children were prohibited from attending public schools, the Jews formed their own schools in the ghettos and tutored their children themselves. Being barred from trades and agriculture, the few professions open to them required skills in math and business, so education was a high priority.
After six million Jews were slaughtered in the Holocaust, many of the survivors left Europe never to return. The land that is now Israel was an arid desert then, undeveloped, and thought by many to be undevelopable. After the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, that entire area was divided up by the United Nations to establish the current Arab states. The area called the Palestinian Territory was set up as a British Mandate, as it was not a part of any nation, and had no government of its own. Because this area was sparsely populated, and because of the historical connection, it was determined to be the most viable place to establish a homeland for the displaced Jews. The founders of the new Israeli nation offered automatic citizenship to any who were living there who desired to stay, and cautioned that those who left would not be permitted to return and claim citizenship later. Many Arabs did stay and became full Israeli citizens, but many fled out of fear and ignorance, believing the propaganda spread by the neighboring Arab states.
The surrounding Arab states vehemently objected to having a Jewish state in their midst. They swore that "Israel will be wiped off the map" and "every Jew will be driven into the sea." They immediately set about attacking Israel, bombarding it from every border, forcing the Israelis to defend their existence from the very start, even as they struggled to build a new nation. But the Jews had learned a hard lesson in Europe, and they understood what it meant to either fight or die. This time, they were prepared to fight back. They were already accustomed to hardship, and brought with them a culture of diligent perseverance. They relentlessly pursued their dream of establishing a land of freedom and Democracy in the middle of the unforgiving desert. Though continually beset with wars and terrorism, against seemingly insurmountable odds, they managed to build a new nation, with modern cities and a thriving agricultural and high tech-economy, where previously there was nothing but poverty and sand. But still, they're surrounded by enemies on all sides, who seek the destruction of their nation, and they live in constant vigilance against terrorist attacks.
Not all the Jews who fled Europe went to Israel. A great many came to the United States. Though many had lost everything in the Holocaust, and came here with little or no possessions, they brought with them their culture of survival and self-sufficiency, their strong work ethic and belief in education as the road to progress. Those values served them well in this land of freedom and opportunity. Like every other immigrant group, they started out huddling together in ghettos. But the Jews had had enough of ghettos in Europe, and were quick to realize the value of assimilation. They had no sense of entitlement to anything from anybody, but were grateful for the opportunity to earn an honest living in whatever way they could, and to educate their children, and reap the rewards of their own efforts. They fit right in with the American ideal, eager to leverage every opportunity. They made sure their children got the best educations they could, and with each successive generation, they worked their way higher up the socio-economic ladder.
But still there are people who, out of envy or ignorance, resent the Jews for the very successes they fought so hard to achieve, and find excuses to dismiss their accomplishments or accuse them of having "unfair advantages." Such is human nature.
About the Author
NotYourDaddy is a conservative libertarian who believes in free will and the free market. NYD thinks the role of the government is to protect the rights and liberties of its citizens. Stop there.
NYD's attitude toward ever-expanding government can best be summed up by snarling "Get your hand out of my pocket and leave me alone!"
Visit NotYourDaddy's blog at Government is Not Your Daddy.
Key Energy Technologies for Booming World Economies
by Klaus H Hemsath
Modern economies are unthinkable without plentiful and affordable energy supplies. The double threat of global warming and climate change makes it mandatory to look for new, non-polluting energy sources. When searching for future energy supplies we must be very much aware of the critical role that energy plays in modern economies. It is imperative that we keep in mind the immense investments and the priceless inventories that were made by previous generations when building existing energy supply infrastructures.
Electricity has become the predominant energy form used by industry, commerce, and consumers alike. Transportation is a close second with industry, commerce, and individuals virtually incapable to maintain economic activity without immediate access to affordable liquid fuels for cars, trucks, ships, trains, and airplanes.
Continuing use of fossil fuels will result in unacceptable levels of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. We have learned that this accumulation is responsible for global warming and that it is the root cause of climate change and its many incarnations. The world does not have a choice any longer. We must completely halt carbon dioxide emissions before the year 2050 or the world will have to deal with escalating and uncontrollable climate changes.
The costs of dealing with climate change can potentially overpower world economies, can inflict extreme suffering on most of the world's peoples, and can eventually lead to a worldwide economic collapse. Such a collapse will be the precursor of the disappearance of our civilizations.
Changing over from polluting fossil fuels to clean, new energy sources will be expensive. Trying to replace well performing industry segments would not only be foolish; it could be suicidal. We cannot dare to slow the world's economies. Economies must be highly productive when we attempt to halt all fossil fuel combustion and begin instead to use only clean, renewable energy sources. The changeover will create much additional economic activity, which can result in an overall positive effect on world economies during the next two generations.
In our efforts to change to new energy sources we must try to modify rather than replace existing energy consuming, energy converting, and energy distributing systems. We are well advised to continue the use of existing electricity generating plants, electricity transmission grids, petroleum refining plants, gasoline and diesel fuel distribution systems, inventories of cars, trucks, ships, trains, railways, airplanes, and airports. We must continue to use our manufacturing plants to produce these valuable and life supporting devices and the service systems with their trained personnel to keep them running.
Replacing even a part of this infrastructure would last generations and would cost trillions upon trillions of dollars. Replacement costs will be out of reach for even the most wealthy, most industrialized, and most technologically advanced countries. We must find solutions that keep much of the existing energy infrastructures in place. We must develop new technologies, which will not overburden our economies and which will not risk economic slowdowns, recessions, or total economical collapse.
The puzzle we have to solve is very complex. There will be more than one solution. To put our task into sharp focus let us state the problem this way: How can we best preserve as much of our infrastructure as possible, stop burning fossil fuels, and replace fossil fuels by only consuming renewable and alternative energies? Most importantly, how can we stimulate and maintain economic growth concurrently?
One such practical and actionable solution is based on the complete cessation of all fossil fuel burning. There is absolutely no way that we can prevent carbon dioxide accumulation in the atmosphere by sequestering carbon dioxide for more than a few decades. Therefore, we will have to convert all our energy sources entirely to the exclusive use of solar energy, wind energy, marine energy, geothermal energy, and nuclear energy.
Fortunately, there is enough solar energy to last us forever. Nuclear fission energy will last for centuries. Geothermal energy resources are huge but will be expensive to exploit in most locations.
Continuing shortsightedness and greed are still keeping us on the march into certain disaster. This is tragic and unacceptable. We must force our governments to accept change. New technologies are available that can give us the means and the tools to not only avoid disaster but make this world a better place to live in. All we have to do is to act with foresight. Most importantly, we must subordinate the interests of the few to the wellbeing of the many. What must we do?
We must continue to use the existing inventory of energy consuming machinery and appliances. We must preserve our marvelous transportation systems that deliver unerringly the goods, foods, and all necessities for us to live and for everybody to pursue business and pleasure. We must keep the electric transmission nets and grids that cover the world. We must keep the distribution systems that deliver motor fuels to neighborhoods and to the farthest corners of the world. We must keep the power plants, our manufacturing plants, and the refineries that convert crude energy into motor fuels. We must save our buildings and our homes.
We must concentrate our intellectual efforts and our financial resources on the development of a selected, few technologies. It appears entirely feasible to develop and demonstrate these few key technologies in less than two decades. Above all, we must act very, very soon or we will leave to future generations a very hot and barren world.
About the Author
Dr. Hemsath recently published the book CLIMATE CHANGE - GOLD RUSH OR DISASTER? For 50 years he has worked as scientist, process engineer, Director of R&D, Corporate Vice President of R&D, Company President, Chief Executive Officer, and Inventor. He holds more than 60 US Patents. Visit his site at http://www.thermalexpert.com He is now working on a second book, THE SOLUTION TO GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
Modern economies are unthinkable without plentiful and affordable energy supplies. The double threat of global warming and climate change makes it mandatory to look for new, non-polluting energy sources. When searching for future energy supplies we must be very much aware of the critical role that energy plays in modern economies. It is imperative that we keep in mind the immense investments and the priceless inventories that were made by previous generations when building existing energy supply infrastructures.
Electricity has become the predominant energy form used by industry, commerce, and consumers alike. Transportation is a close second with industry, commerce, and individuals virtually incapable to maintain economic activity without immediate access to affordable liquid fuels for cars, trucks, ships, trains, and airplanes.
Continuing use of fossil fuels will result in unacceptable levels of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. We have learned that this accumulation is responsible for global warming and that it is the root cause of climate change and its many incarnations. The world does not have a choice any longer. We must completely halt carbon dioxide emissions before the year 2050 or the world will have to deal with escalating and uncontrollable climate changes.
The costs of dealing with climate change can potentially overpower world economies, can inflict extreme suffering on most of the world's peoples, and can eventually lead to a worldwide economic collapse. Such a collapse will be the precursor of the disappearance of our civilizations.
Changing over from polluting fossil fuels to clean, new energy sources will be expensive. Trying to replace well performing industry segments would not only be foolish; it could be suicidal. We cannot dare to slow the world's economies. Economies must be highly productive when we attempt to halt all fossil fuel combustion and begin instead to use only clean, renewable energy sources. The changeover will create much additional economic activity, which can result in an overall positive effect on world economies during the next two generations.
In our efforts to change to new energy sources we must try to modify rather than replace existing energy consuming, energy converting, and energy distributing systems. We are well advised to continue the use of existing electricity generating plants, electricity transmission grids, petroleum refining plants, gasoline and diesel fuel distribution systems, inventories of cars, trucks, ships, trains, railways, airplanes, and airports. We must continue to use our manufacturing plants to produce these valuable and life supporting devices and the service systems with their trained personnel to keep them running.
Replacing even a part of this infrastructure would last generations and would cost trillions upon trillions of dollars. Replacement costs will be out of reach for even the most wealthy, most industrialized, and most technologically advanced countries. We must find solutions that keep much of the existing energy infrastructures in place. We must develop new technologies, which will not overburden our economies and which will not risk economic slowdowns, recessions, or total economical collapse.
The puzzle we have to solve is very complex. There will be more than one solution. To put our task into sharp focus let us state the problem this way: How can we best preserve as much of our infrastructure as possible, stop burning fossil fuels, and replace fossil fuels by only consuming renewable and alternative energies? Most importantly, how can we stimulate and maintain economic growth concurrently?
One such practical and actionable solution is based on the complete cessation of all fossil fuel burning. There is absolutely no way that we can prevent carbon dioxide accumulation in the atmosphere by sequestering carbon dioxide for more than a few decades. Therefore, we will have to convert all our energy sources entirely to the exclusive use of solar energy, wind energy, marine energy, geothermal energy, and nuclear energy.
Fortunately, there is enough solar energy to last us forever. Nuclear fission energy will last for centuries. Geothermal energy resources are huge but will be expensive to exploit in most locations.
Continuing shortsightedness and greed are still keeping us on the march into certain disaster. This is tragic and unacceptable. We must force our governments to accept change. New technologies are available that can give us the means and the tools to not only avoid disaster but make this world a better place to live in. All we have to do is to act with foresight. Most importantly, we must subordinate the interests of the few to the wellbeing of the many. What must we do?
We must continue to use the existing inventory of energy consuming machinery and appliances. We must preserve our marvelous transportation systems that deliver unerringly the goods, foods, and all necessities for us to live and for everybody to pursue business and pleasure. We must keep the electric transmission nets and grids that cover the world. We must keep the distribution systems that deliver motor fuels to neighborhoods and to the farthest corners of the world. We must keep the power plants, our manufacturing plants, and the refineries that convert crude energy into motor fuels. We must save our buildings and our homes.
We must concentrate our intellectual efforts and our financial resources on the development of a selected, few technologies. It appears entirely feasible to develop and demonstrate these few key technologies in less than two decades. Above all, we must act very, very soon or we will leave to future generations a very hot and barren world.
About the Author
Dr. Hemsath recently published the book CLIMATE CHANGE - GOLD RUSH OR DISASTER? For 50 years he has worked as scientist, process engineer, Director of R&D, Corporate Vice President of R&D, Company President, Chief Executive Officer, and Inventor. He holds more than 60 US Patents. Visit his site at http://www.thermalexpert.com He is now working on a second book, THE SOLUTION TO GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
The Bitch: Help the NHS - Squeeze a Mum!
by Michael Knell
Well Darlings,
It might only be a quickie this week. I am busy. I have found a lucrative online opening to help all those mothers about to give birth who are at risk of turning up at their local NHS maternity unit only to be told to: "please try again later as the unit is currently full". The method I'm teaching involves the use of a dummy - find your own if Gordon is unavailable! - to put a scissor-lock around (like a wrestler would with his legs), and some dumbbells with a good solid iron bar to bite on. All together now, gals: S-Q-U-E-E-E-E-E-Z-E-!
Figures obtained in a freedom of information request reveal that from the 70% of hospital trusts providing the necessary data, over 40% (that's nearly half!) said they reached capacity and had to refuse admission to mothers needing their services at least once last year. One, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (one of the biggest in the country), has apparently refused 28 times. Whoa up, now! There could be a rush on those dumbbells!
As any father who has been forced to melt chocolate over sardines and cheese-on-toast at three in the morning will know, a pregnant woman's sense of taste and smell drops off considerably. And perhaps that is fortunate, because it seems one never knows what might be encountered in a hospital these days.
Take the nineteen-year-old Hertfordshire teenager, Andrew Cowper, who arrived in the operating theatre to have an operation on his knee, only to be confronted by the most putrid stench. Enquiring the cause of it, the surgeon told him it could be a dead rat. What? In a hospital? No! After asking the surgeon whether or not he would undergo the operation in such circumstances - and being told: no! - the lad decided against having the treatment carried out at that time. Queen Elizabeth II hospital rescheduled the operation. The smell? Sure enough, it was a dead rat.
Now, unless that surgeon had some previous employment enlightening him as to exactly what a dead rat smells like, or was unfortunate enough to have experienced a similar circumstance at home, both highly unlikely scenarios, I'm guessing dead rats must be pretty darn common in that hospital! Hmm . . . Perhaps they have been put on those fortnightly refuse collections in this area.
Never mind! What's a rat infestation amongst friends when you can waste millions of pounds on persecuting the cigarette smokers? Packets of ten disappear from the shelves later this year, and there is talk all tobacco products may have to be hidden from sight in our shops. Under the counter sales will take on a whole new meaning. Such an action, folks, is only one short step away from banning cigarettes from being seen anywhere at all. When those huddling up around the pub doorways in all weathers to enjoy a cigarette are banned from doing even that, then those 57 pubs and clubs now closing every month because of this ridiculous ban will seem like peanuts.
There are already fears the Laurel Pub Chain, which owns some of Blackpool's best-known pubs, may have to call in the administrators because of poor trading conditions brought on by the smoking ban. 60 of its licensed premises out of the 65 it had on the market are to close immediately. Another 30 have already closed. More and more people, refusing to be treated like lepers, are changing their social habits and now prefer to drink at home - in front of the children too! This is progress? It cannot be healthy to subject our children to the ribaldry that comes with alcohol consumption, let alone all the smoke when groups of friends get together for social evenings in such confined spaces. This law is in danger of killing more people than it ever hoped to save!
It is a sad fact that things continue to decline in the UK - especially, it seems, in the NHS. In Swindon one woman has removed her husband from the Great Western Hospital. The word: "rescued" is used in the newspaper. The man had already suffered a previous stroke, and yet the hospital ignored the danger of another from his rising blood pressure, maintaining they knew best. Then when the regular medication he needed to combat the epileptic fits he was prone to was three hours late, and still not forthcoming because: "the nurses could not find his medication chart because it was locked in an office - so he could not be treated", the man's wife had enough.
Feedback to this story suggests this is not the first time someone has had to be "rescued" from the clutches of this hospital. There are some terrible tales unfurling. But search any local newspaper online today, and you are likely to see similar stories everywhere.
So many of the NHS failings appear directly attributable to meeting the waiting room targets. The cost of meeting these targets is paid for by sacrificing treatment - you might be seen quicker, but should you require treatment (or even a bit of care - like feeding) you may have to wait record times to receive it! There are not the resources available to adequately maintain both.
The way in which the NHS, under the pretence of providing "preventive medicine", has misguidedly deviated into becoming an instigator of punitive laws - ban anything and everything if it might possibly stop people bothering them with an illness - has been an utter disaster. Costing us a fortune, money that would be better spent on treating the sick, it simply does not work.
Was not prohibition in the States proof enough that banning something does not work? Most recreational drugs are banned in the UK, yet they are still used by millions of people every single day - and maybe surprisingly to some: the majority of these people are everyday decent folk holding down good jobs. Like the alcoholics, the druggie drop-outs we see on our streets are only an extreme minority, and not representative of the majority of users. We need to accept a few truths, even if we don't like them.
It is time for the NHS to return to doing what we pay it to do - provide adequate treatment for the sick - and stop wasting our money! Give us back the freedom to live our lives as we would wish. When the NHS stops wasting money trying to control us and everything we do, then there will be sufficient money in its coffers to treat us, and a chance of it returning to being, as it once was, the envy of the world.
One mother is sufficient for each of us - we do not need the State or the NHS trying to take her place!
"The Bitch!" 20/03/08.
About the Author
"The Bitch!", a weekly UK News Review column, is hosted by the author and columnist Michael Knell. These articles appear on the Blackpool Gay Directory website, but are not usually specifically gay in content. More information on the author: http://www.michaelknell.com and on the directory: http://www.astabgay.com.
Well Darlings,
It might only be a quickie this week. I am busy. I have found a lucrative online opening to help all those mothers about to give birth who are at risk of turning up at their local NHS maternity unit only to be told to: "please try again later as the unit is currently full". The method I'm teaching involves the use of a dummy - find your own if Gordon is unavailable! - to put a scissor-lock around (like a wrestler would with his legs), and some dumbbells with a good solid iron bar to bite on. All together now, gals: S-Q-U-E-E-E-E-E-Z-E-!
Figures obtained in a freedom of information request reveal that from the 70% of hospital trusts providing the necessary data, over 40% (that's nearly half!) said they reached capacity and had to refuse admission to mothers needing their services at least once last year. One, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (one of the biggest in the country), has apparently refused 28 times. Whoa up, now! There could be a rush on those dumbbells!
As any father who has been forced to melt chocolate over sardines and cheese-on-toast at three in the morning will know, a pregnant woman's sense of taste and smell drops off considerably. And perhaps that is fortunate, because it seems one never knows what might be encountered in a hospital these days.
Take the nineteen-year-old Hertfordshire teenager, Andrew Cowper, who arrived in the operating theatre to have an operation on his knee, only to be confronted by the most putrid stench. Enquiring the cause of it, the surgeon told him it could be a dead rat. What? In a hospital? No! After asking the surgeon whether or not he would undergo the operation in such circumstances - and being told: no! - the lad decided against having the treatment carried out at that time. Queen Elizabeth II hospital rescheduled the operation. The smell? Sure enough, it was a dead rat.
Now, unless that surgeon had some previous employment enlightening him as to exactly what a dead rat smells like, or was unfortunate enough to have experienced a similar circumstance at home, both highly unlikely scenarios, I'm guessing dead rats must be pretty darn common in that hospital! Hmm . . . Perhaps they have been put on those fortnightly refuse collections in this area.
Never mind! What's a rat infestation amongst friends when you can waste millions of pounds on persecuting the cigarette smokers? Packets of ten disappear from the shelves later this year, and there is talk all tobacco products may have to be hidden from sight in our shops. Under the counter sales will take on a whole new meaning. Such an action, folks, is only one short step away from banning cigarettes from being seen anywhere at all. When those huddling up around the pub doorways in all weathers to enjoy a cigarette are banned from doing even that, then those 57 pubs and clubs now closing every month because of this ridiculous ban will seem like peanuts.
There are already fears the Laurel Pub Chain, which owns some of Blackpool's best-known pubs, may have to call in the administrators because of poor trading conditions brought on by the smoking ban. 60 of its licensed premises out of the 65 it had on the market are to close immediately. Another 30 have already closed. More and more people, refusing to be treated like lepers, are changing their social habits and now prefer to drink at home - in front of the children too! This is progress? It cannot be healthy to subject our children to the ribaldry that comes with alcohol consumption, let alone all the smoke when groups of friends get together for social evenings in such confined spaces. This law is in danger of killing more people than it ever hoped to save!
It is a sad fact that things continue to decline in the UK - especially, it seems, in the NHS. In Swindon one woman has removed her husband from the Great Western Hospital. The word: "rescued" is used in the newspaper. The man had already suffered a previous stroke, and yet the hospital ignored the danger of another from his rising blood pressure, maintaining they knew best. Then when the regular medication he needed to combat the epileptic fits he was prone to was three hours late, and still not forthcoming because: "the nurses could not find his medication chart because it was locked in an office - so he could not be treated", the man's wife had enough.
Feedback to this story suggests this is not the first time someone has had to be "rescued" from the clutches of this hospital. There are some terrible tales unfurling. But search any local newspaper online today, and you are likely to see similar stories everywhere.
So many of the NHS failings appear directly attributable to meeting the waiting room targets. The cost of meeting these targets is paid for by sacrificing treatment - you might be seen quicker, but should you require treatment (or even a bit of care - like feeding) you may have to wait record times to receive it! There are not the resources available to adequately maintain both.
The way in which the NHS, under the pretence of providing "preventive medicine", has misguidedly deviated into becoming an instigator of punitive laws - ban anything and everything if it might possibly stop people bothering them with an illness - has been an utter disaster. Costing us a fortune, money that would be better spent on treating the sick, it simply does not work.
Was not prohibition in the States proof enough that banning something does not work? Most recreational drugs are banned in the UK, yet they are still used by millions of people every single day - and maybe surprisingly to some: the majority of these people are everyday decent folk holding down good jobs. Like the alcoholics, the druggie drop-outs we see on our streets are only an extreme minority, and not representative of the majority of users. We need to accept a few truths, even if we don't like them.
It is time for the NHS to return to doing what we pay it to do - provide adequate treatment for the sick - and stop wasting our money! Give us back the freedom to live our lives as we would wish. When the NHS stops wasting money trying to control us and everything we do, then there will be sufficient money in its coffers to treat us, and a chance of it returning to being, as it once was, the envy of the world.
One mother is sufficient for each of us - we do not need the State or the NHS trying to take her place!
"The Bitch!" 20/03/08.
About the Author
"The Bitch!", a weekly UK News Review column, is hosted by the author and columnist Michael Knell. These articles appear on the Blackpool Gay Directory website, but are not usually specifically gay in content. More information on the author: http://www.michaelknell.com and on the directory: http://www.astabgay.com.
Jefferson Davis - Bridegroom to Widower in 89 days
by Howard Edward Haller, Ph.D.
The public is well aware that Jefferson F. Davis was President of the Confederate States of America. This article is one of a series of articles from a forthcoming book Jefferson Davis-a Memoir and the article series From a Kentucky Log Cabin to the Capitol which will share the rest of the story of who Jefferson Davis was, what he stood for, and includes his wide range of accomplishments. This extensive series of well-documented and informative articles will explore a number of the facts of Jefferson Davis life not just as a military or political leader, but as a man, husband and father. Jefferson Davis was truly a renaissance man with deep values and was a compassionate man. This article will focus on the first love of his life, Sarah Knox Taylor Davis, and their life journey together and marriage cut short by tragedy.
After their marriage in Kentucky, the couple then proceeded down to Hurricane,Jeffs brother successful cotton plantation in Southern Mississippi. As the oldest son Joseph Emory Davis handled his father Samuels estate after Samuel died; Jeff was only sixteen. Joseph Davis was instrumental in helping youngest brother Jeff to acquire the 1800 acres of what was uncleared swamp land, in an area know as Brierfield. The name Brierfield was an appropriate description of the land. Actually the land that Jefferson Davis now owned would have been more accurately been called Swampy Brier Field. Brierfield,was near his fathers former home in Woodville, Mississippi. Then Joseph sold, on credit, to Jeff the slaves that Jeff would need to do the extremely hard work of clearing the Mississippi bottomland. Clearing the swamp land consisted of removing and burning the almost virtual wall of wild cane and thick briers, as well as digging ditches.
Jeff and his new bride, Sarah, and Jeffs faithful servant, James Pemberton, worked together in the fields clearing the extensive briers and brambles from the swampland. It was common in the summer in this part of Mississippi for swamps to give off steam which provided a perfect environment for mosquitoes and the fever to thrive. Working in the fields under these conditions was very hard on both Jeff and Sarah.
In that part of the South, this portion of the summer is called the chill and fever season.Jeff was still somewhat weak from the illness he suffered while in military service in the bitterly cold Northwest Territories. When she was young, Sarah had had a previous battle with malaria, which killed two of her sisters. After weeks of clearing the field in these unpleasant and even dangerous conditions, the newly weds, Jeff and Sarah, were both not feeling well, and in fact were very sick. Jeff had contracted malaria, becoming so ill and he literally fell off his horse and had to be carried back to the house. The following day Sarah was so ill she could not work.
After the couple would not respond to his treatment, the local doctor recommended that the couple needed to go to a better climate and better living conditions. So Jeff, Sarah, and James Pemberton, Jeffs personal servant, left Brierfield by boat to go to Bayou Sara. The young married couple seriously needed to recuperate from their illnesses and fatigue from their labors in clearing the swamp (what would later become Brierfield). Jeffs older sister, Mrs. Luther Smith, made her home available as a more suitable environment in which the newlyweds could recover. She lived in nearby Locust Grove, which is near the small town of St. Francisville in Louisiana about 40 or so miles south west from Brierfield in Mississippi.
Promptly after the couple arrived at his sisters home, Jeff began to show all the classic signs of having contracted malaria. Jeff was moved to another room from Sarah, as he had become quite delirious with a very high fever. The following day Sarah also became to show symptoms of having the deadly malaria.
Jeff was quite delirious and he was initially not expected to live. And while Jeff was still very ill, Sarah made a serious turn for the worst. The family did not plan to tell Jefferson that she was dying. The doctor forbad Jefferson from leaving his bed fearing he would learn of his brides eminent death. However, on September 15, 1835 after hearing Sarah Knox singing in an unusually way the song Fairy Bells, Jefferson, who was still very ill quite fever ridden got up out of bed and went to Sarahs room. Knox, as Jefferson fondly referred to Sarah, was so far gone she did not even recognize Jeff and he knew at that point that she was dying. Overcome with emotion, he was able to do nothing for her except to hold Sarah in his arms until she died.
After Sarah died at age 21, Jefferson was inconsolable and completely brokenhearted. He had to be helped back to his room and then helped into bed. Young Jefferson had lost the true love of his life. Jeffs seriously critical condition was complicated by his intense grief over the loss of Knox after less than three months of marriage, and this was in addition to his personal torment over his insistence in marrying Sarah in spite of her fathers objections. The entire family and his Doctor were seriously concerned that Jefferson would now also die from malaria. Even though he was critically ill, Jefferson Davis was resolute that his wife Knoxs funeral service be held in his sickroom so he could be present for the services. Sarah Knox Taylor was buried in the southwest corner of the Smiths family cemetery. The family and his doctor were guarded about Jeffs condition as his life literal hung in the balance for several days after Knoxs funeral. Thanks to the tender loving care from Jeffs oldest sister, Mrs. Luther Smith, he was able to recover over the next month.
Jefferson Davis did recover, but he was still very weak, so James Pemberton, his personal servant, had to carry Jeff back to his home, about 40 miles to Mississippi from his Sisters home just over the state border in Louisiana. It was the same servant James Pemberton that had previously carried Jefferson from the bed to the window as if he was a small child, when he was seriously ill with pneumonia while stationed was in the Army in the Northwest Territories. Colonel Zach Taylors worst nightmare became a vivid and painful reality! Malaria did finally take his daughter Sarahs life. In spite of the great loss of Knox to both Jeff and her father, this would not be last chapter in the relationship between Jefferson Davis and Zachary Taylor.
It was truly tragic for Jeff and Sarah to be so in love, having been engaged for two years, having waited for the reticent Colonel Taylor to finally agree to their marriage and then to lose her in less than 90 days. It is not surprising that a grief struck Jeff was in morning and mostly secluded from the world for the better part of the next eight years, from 1835 to 1843.
Historical Note: The successful effort to restore Jefferson Davis United States citizenship was led by United States Senators Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield, and Hatch on the US Senate Judiciary Committee to Jefferson Davis citizenship (the authors Great Great Grandfather). Jefferson F. Davis was a West Point graduate, a US Military career officer, and was a Mississippi Militia Colonel (later Major General). He served in the US Congress (as Congressman and Senator), and as the US Secretary of War for President Franklin Pierce; this was in addition to having been President of the Confederate States of America. Dr. Haller actively lobbied on both sides of the aisle of the US Congress, along with the significant efforts by Senators Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield, and Hatch, to successfully restore Jefferson Davis citizenship. Haller worked with President Jimmy Carter and his senior White House staff, including the White House Chief of Staff. President Carter signed the unanimously passed US Senate Joint Resolution 16, on October 17, 1978.
About the Author
Dr. Howard Edward Haller is a respected academic scholar, University Professor, University Trustee, past University Board President, award winning author & professional speaker. Dr. Haller is an accomplished senior business executive. Dr. Howard Edward Haller is the Great Great Grandson of Jefferson Davis. Dr. Haller actively lobbied Congress, along efforts by Senators Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield & Hatch, to restore Jefferson Davis citizenship.
The public is well aware that Jefferson F. Davis was President of the Confederate States of America. This article is one of a series of articles from a forthcoming book Jefferson Davis-a Memoir and the article series From a Kentucky Log Cabin to the Capitol which will share the rest of the story of who Jefferson Davis was, what he stood for, and includes his wide range of accomplishments. This extensive series of well-documented and informative articles will explore a number of the facts of Jefferson Davis life not just as a military or political leader, but as a man, husband and father. Jefferson Davis was truly a renaissance man with deep values and was a compassionate man. This article will focus on the first love of his life, Sarah Knox Taylor Davis, and their life journey together and marriage cut short by tragedy.
After their marriage in Kentucky, the couple then proceeded down to Hurricane,Jeffs brother successful cotton plantation in Southern Mississippi. As the oldest son Joseph Emory Davis handled his father Samuels estate after Samuel died; Jeff was only sixteen. Joseph Davis was instrumental in helping youngest brother Jeff to acquire the 1800 acres of what was uncleared swamp land, in an area know as Brierfield. The name Brierfield was an appropriate description of the land. Actually the land that Jefferson Davis now owned would have been more accurately been called Swampy Brier Field. Brierfield,was near his fathers former home in Woodville, Mississippi. Then Joseph sold, on credit, to Jeff the slaves that Jeff would need to do the extremely hard work of clearing the Mississippi bottomland. Clearing the swamp land consisted of removing and burning the almost virtual wall of wild cane and thick briers, as well as digging ditches.
Jeff and his new bride, Sarah, and Jeffs faithful servant, James Pemberton, worked together in the fields clearing the extensive briers and brambles from the swampland. It was common in the summer in this part of Mississippi for swamps to give off steam which provided a perfect environment for mosquitoes and the fever to thrive. Working in the fields under these conditions was very hard on both Jeff and Sarah.
In that part of the South, this portion of the summer is called the chill and fever season.Jeff was still somewhat weak from the illness he suffered while in military service in the bitterly cold Northwest Territories. When she was young, Sarah had had a previous battle with malaria, which killed two of her sisters. After weeks of clearing the field in these unpleasant and even dangerous conditions, the newly weds, Jeff and Sarah, were both not feeling well, and in fact were very sick. Jeff had contracted malaria, becoming so ill and he literally fell off his horse and had to be carried back to the house. The following day Sarah was so ill she could not work.
After the couple would not respond to his treatment, the local doctor recommended that the couple needed to go to a better climate and better living conditions. So Jeff, Sarah, and James Pemberton, Jeffs personal servant, left Brierfield by boat to go to Bayou Sara. The young married couple seriously needed to recuperate from their illnesses and fatigue from their labors in clearing the swamp (what would later become Brierfield). Jeffs older sister, Mrs. Luther Smith, made her home available as a more suitable environment in which the newlyweds could recover. She lived in nearby Locust Grove, which is near the small town of St. Francisville in Louisiana about 40 or so miles south west from Brierfield in Mississippi.
Promptly after the couple arrived at his sisters home, Jeff began to show all the classic signs of having contracted malaria. Jeff was moved to another room from Sarah, as he had become quite delirious with a very high fever. The following day Sarah also became to show symptoms of having the deadly malaria.
Jeff was quite delirious and he was initially not expected to live. And while Jeff was still very ill, Sarah made a serious turn for the worst. The family did not plan to tell Jefferson that she was dying. The doctor forbad Jefferson from leaving his bed fearing he would learn of his brides eminent death. However, on September 15, 1835 after hearing Sarah Knox singing in an unusually way the song Fairy Bells, Jefferson, who was still very ill quite fever ridden got up out of bed and went to Sarahs room. Knox, as Jefferson fondly referred to Sarah, was so far gone she did not even recognize Jeff and he knew at that point that she was dying. Overcome with emotion, he was able to do nothing for her except to hold Sarah in his arms until she died.
After Sarah died at age 21, Jefferson was inconsolable and completely brokenhearted. He had to be helped back to his room and then helped into bed. Young Jefferson had lost the true love of his life. Jeffs seriously critical condition was complicated by his intense grief over the loss of Knox after less than three months of marriage, and this was in addition to his personal torment over his insistence in marrying Sarah in spite of her fathers objections. The entire family and his Doctor were seriously concerned that Jefferson would now also die from malaria. Even though he was critically ill, Jefferson Davis was resolute that his wife Knoxs funeral service be held in his sickroom so he could be present for the services. Sarah Knox Taylor was buried in the southwest corner of the Smiths family cemetery. The family and his doctor were guarded about Jeffs condition as his life literal hung in the balance for several days after Knoxs funeral. Thanks to the tender loving care from Jeffs oldest sister, Mrs. Luther Smith, he was able to recover over the next month.
Jefferson Davis did recover, but he was still very weak, so James Pemberton, his personal servant, had to carry Jeff back to his home, about 40 miles to Mississippi from his Sisters home just over the state border in Louisiana. It was the same servant James Pemberton that had previously carried Jefferson from the bed to the window as if he was a small child, when he was seriously ill with pneumonia while stationed was in the Army in the Northwest Territories. Colonel Zach Taylors worst nightmare became a vivid and painful reality! Malaria did finally take his daughter Sarahs life. In spite of the great loss of Knox to both Jeff and her father, this would not be last chapter in the relationship between Jefferson Davis and Zachary Taylor.
It was truly tragic for Jeff and Sarah to be so in love, having been engaged for two years, having waited for the reticent Colonel Taylor to finally agree to their marriage and then to lose her in less than 90 days. It is not surprising that a grief struck Jeff was in morning and mostly secluded from the world for the better part of the next eight years, from 1835 to 1843.
Historical Note: The successful effort to restore Jefferson Davis United States citizenship was led by United States Senators Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield, and Hatch on the US Senate Judiciary Committee to Jefferson Davis citizenship (the authors Great Great Grandfather). Jefferson F. Davis was a West Point graduate, a US Military career officer, and was a Mississippi Militia Colonel (later Major General). He served in the US Congress (as Congressman and Senator), and as the US Secretary of War for President Franklin Pierce; this was in addition to having been President of the Confederate States of America. Dr. Haller actively lobbied on both sides of the aisle of the US Congress, along with the significant efforts by Senators Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield, and Hatch, to successfully restore Jefferson Davis citizenship. Haller worked with President Jimmy Carter and his senior White House staff, including the White House Chief of Staff. President Carter signed the unanimously passed US Senate Joint Resolution 16, on October 17, 1978.
About the Author
Dr. Howard Edward Haller is a respected academic scholar, University Professor, University Trustee, past University Board President, award winning author & professional speaker. Dr. Haller is an accomplished senior business executive. Dr. Howard Edward Haller is the Great Great Grandson of Jefferson Davis. Dr. Haller actively lobbied Congress, along efforts by Senators Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield & Hatch, to restore Jefferson Davis citizenship.
Jefferson F Davis- US Army Lt. & then Col. Zachary Taylor- Their Early Realtionship
by Howard Edward Haller, Ph.D.
This article shares an insight into who Jefferson Davis really was and specifically his relationship with Colonel Zachary Taylor, who would play an important part of Jefferson Davis’s life for several decades.
This article share information about his growth as an adult, his leadership style and life as a young US Army Officer in the frontier. This part of the Jefferson Davis story all took place after he graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1828 at age 20, with much of the focus on their early relationship after Jefferson Davis became a US Army Officer. The further adventures of young Lieutenant Jefferson Davis will be shared in this article. However, this article will be tightly focus will be on the initial and unique nature of the relationship with his new Commanding Officer, Colonel Zachary Taylor.
The rest of the full Jefferson F. Davis story will be shared in later articles. Lieutenant Jefferson Davis was also industrious young man who after he resigned from the US Army carved out a plantation from a brier covered swamp land, served as a Mississippi Militia Colonel (later a Major General), then served in US Congress (both as a multiple term Senator and a Congressman), as an outstanding US Secretary of War for President Franklin Pierce, in addition to having been President of the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis was a truly Renaissance man with deep values as a humble, reverent, caring and compassionate man.
After Jefferson Davis graduating from West Point he was awarded a US Army Commission as a Second Lieutenant. Jeff was first assigned to the to the US Army 6th Regiment of Infantry at only 20 years of age. Second Lieutenant Davis was subsequently assigned to the US Armies 1st Regiment of Infantry. He was sent to Fort Crawford (in what is know Wisconsin) which was then only a slightly inhabited portion of the United States Northwest Territories. Jeff found the Northwest Territories a much colder climate than Mississippi or Kentucky, where he grew up. Lt. Davis only at Fort Crawford for a short while before he was then sent to Fort Winnebago, which was also in the Northwest Territories.
Lt. Jefferson Davis found that a material part of his required functions in the US Army First Regiment of Infantry to perform a number of risky tasks on his patrol in the sparsely inhabited Northwest Territories. Lt. Davis found that many of his US Army military duties were both boring and mundane. Second Lieutenant Jefferson Davis job discovered that for his first three years in the US Army was to assist in the effort by the Army in protecting US Citizens from attacks from both the local Indians and the British.
While in the US Army, Jeff caught pneumonia and became very ill while he was stationed in the freezing cold, the dampness, and snowy frontier of Wisconsin. Jefferson Davis soon recovered from his bad case of pneumonia, just in time to meet the US Army 1st Regiment of Infantry, new regimental commander, a fellow southerner, Colonel Zachary Taylor.
I discussed at some length in another article Jefferson Davis’s involvement in the Black Hawk Wars and his relationship with the defeated Indian Chief Black Hawk. This article will focus on events after the Black Hawk Ward and cover Jefferson Davis’s relationship with his Commanding Officer, Colonel Taylor.
Lt. Jefferson Davis was still stationed in the US Army in the Northwest Territories, after the end of the Black Hawk Wars. It was then that Lieutenant Jeff Davis fell in love with the daughter of the Regimental Commander, then US Army Colonel Zachary Taylor. Jeff and the Colonel’s daughter, Sarah Knox Taylor, officially announced that they wanted to get married.
Colonel Taylor was reticent to approve their union. His major objection to their marriage was he did not want his daughter to become a wife of a military officer. He did not want her and their children to have to constantly from rural military post to another military post.
There was small incident several years earlier in which Jeff annoyed Colonel Taylor by Jeff’s insignificant offense to Taylor in which was not yet forgiven and held against Davis by Taylor. The incident arose when young Lt. Davis asked Colonel Taylor and another member [Major Thomas Smith] of a court-marshal, if Lieutenant Davis could be allowed to fulfill his duties as an officer on the Court with requiring him to wear his formal dress uniform. The Colonel was strongly against this idea and he voted No, but Major Smith who disliked Taylor voted Yes, and then Davis voted Yes. The Colonel held this impropriety against Jeff at the time of his and Sarah’s announced engagement. Jeff was still in his early twenties at the time of the offense. Jefferson Davis later reflected about the upsetting incident, or offense, about informal military dress with Colonel Taylor, when Jeff was a young slightly rebellious US Army Lieutenant, that he said -I was right as to the principle, but impolite in the manner of asserting it. (Strode, 1964, p. 80)
Jeff and Sarah were very much in love, so while they anxiously for her Dad (his Commanding Officer) blessing so in order not to upset Colonel Taylor they had be careful and sometimes clandestine to be able to have a rendezvous. Fortunately Sarah’s little brother, Richard, assisted the couple to be able to see each other without the Colonel knowing about their secret date. An interesting foot note about this helpful younger brother of Sarah Taylor is that he would grow up to become General Richard Taylor, of the Confederate States of America, under President Jefferson Davis.
Jefferson and Sarah, after waiting for two years for the Colonel blessing, they all worked it out. Not withstanding the misinformation in the writing of others that they had to elope, they did not.
The simple truth is Colonel Zachary Taylor did finally give his blessing that they could wed. Colonel Taylor agreed them marrying, but his conditions included Jeff resigning from the US Army and that marriage would not take place at an Army Fort. Colonel Taylor did agree to marriage provide the wedding take place at Zacharys sisters home with several other Taylor family members present.
The Colonel also had to be secondary apprehension about Sarah moving to Mississippi with Jeff after he had resigned from the US Army. Colonel Taylor had already lost two of Sarah sister’s to malaria in Louisiana and he also almost lost both his wife and Sarah to their previous malaria infections. This was minor underlying matter which Colonel Taylor did not stress, but was clearly on his mind, having lost two daughter to malaria in the South.
As requested, Jefferson and Sarah, with Colonel Taylors specific blessing, they were married in Lexington, Kentucky with at the home of Mrs. Gibson Taylor the oldest sister of Colonel Taylor with several other Taylor family member present on June 17, 1835. New bride, Sarah Taylor Davis wrote a note to her mother in which she also specifically thanked her father for the money that he [Colonel Zachary Taylor] had sent for her wedding to former US Army Officer Jefferson Davis. (MvElroy, 1937, I, pp. 33-34).
Jefferson Davis later in life gave this written account of the events surrounding his marriage to Sarah Taylor, as quoted by his second wife, Varina Howell Davis, in her biography of her husband: In 1835 I resigned from the army, and Miss Taylor being then in Kentucky with her aunt--the oldest sister of General Taylor-- I went thither and we were married in the house of her aunt, in the presence of General Taylors two sisters, of his oldest brother, his son-in-law, and many others of the Taylor family. (Davis, 1890, Vol. I, p. 162)
Historical Note: This one of series of well-documented and informative articles will explore an number of the facets of Jefferson Davis's life as a West Point graduate, a US Military career officer, his relationship with Colonel (later General) Zachary Taylor as his Commanding Officer when Jeff was a young US Army Lieutenant, was well as his relationship with Colonel Taylor his future father-in-law, and a number of years later when Jeff Davis was Colonel reporting to his Commander (at their mutual request) in the Mexican War, General Zachary Taylor.
Jefferson Davis was also an industrious young man who carved out a plantation from a brier covered swamp land, was a Mississippi Militia Colonel (later Militia Major General), served in US Congress (both as a multiple term Senator and Congressman), as the outstanding US Secretary of War for President Franklin Pierce, in addition to having been the First and Only President of the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis was a truly renaissance man with deep values as a caring and compassionate man. Jefferson Davis had passionate opinions of the importance of States Rights strict interpretation of the US Constitution in which the Founding Fathers of United States clearly limited the power of the Federal Government. Jefferson Davis was named by his parents after the leading drafter of the US Constitution, Thomas Jefferson,
The 1978 successful effort to restore Jefferson Davis United States citizenship was led by United States Senator's Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield and Hatch on the US Senate Judiciary Committee to Jefferson Davis's citizenship (the author's Great Great Grandfather).
Jefferson F. Davis was a West Point graduate at the age of 20, a US Military career officer, created a successful plantation from swamp land, was a Mississippi Militia Colonel (later Militia Major General), served in the US Congress (as Congressman and twice as Senator), as the US Secretary of War for President Franklin Pierce, all this in addition to having been President of the Confederate States of America.
Dr. Howard Edward Haller actively lobbied on both sides of the aisle of the US Congress, along with the significant efforts by Senators Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield and Hatch, to successfully finally restore Jefferson Davis citizenship. Dr. Haller worked with President Jimmy Carter and his senior White House staff, including Carter’s White House Chief of Staff. President Carter signed the unanimously passed US Senate Joint Resolution 16, on October 17, 1978.
About the Author
Dr. Howard Edward Haller is a respected academic scholar, University Professor, University Trustee, past University Board President, award winning author & professional speaker. Dr. Haller is an accomplished senior business executive. Dr. Howard Edward Haller is the Great Great Grandson of Jefferson Davis. Dr. Haller actively lobbied Congress, along efforts by Senators Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield & Hatch, to restore Jefferson Davis citizenship.
This article shares an insight into who Jefferson Davis really was and specifically his relationship with Colonel Zachary Taylor, who would play an important part of Jefferson Davis’s life for several decades.
This article share information about his growth as an adult, his leadership style and life as a young US Army Officer in the frontier. This part of the Jefferson Davis story all took place after he graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1828 at age 20, with much of the focus on their early relationship after Jefferson Davis became a US Army Officer. The further adventures of young Lieutenant Jefferson Davis will be shared in this article. However, this article will be tightly focus will be on the initial and unique nature of the relationship with his new Commanding Officer, Colonel Zachary Taylor.
The rest of the full Jefferson F. Davis story will be shared in later articles. Lieutenant Jefferson Davis was also industrious young man who after he resigned from the US Army carved out a plantation from a brier covered swamp land, served as a Mississippi Militia Colonel (later a Major General), then served in US Congress (both as a multiple term Senator and a Congressman), as an outstanding US Secretary of War for President Franklin Pierce, in addition to having been President of the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis was a truly Renaissance man with deep values as a humble, reverent, caring and compassionate man.
After Jefferson Davis graduating from West Point he was awarded a US Army Commission as a Second Lieutenant. Jeff was first assigned to the to the US Army 6th Regiment of Infantry at only 20 years of age. Second Lieutenant Davis was subsequently assigned to the US Armies 1st Regiment of Infantry. He was sent to Fort Crawford (in what is know Wisconsin) which was then only a slightly inhabited portion of the United States Northwest Territories. Jeff found the Northwest Territories a much colder climate than Mississippi or Kentucky, where he grew up. Lt. Davis only at Fort Crawford for a short while before he was then sent to Fort Winnebago, which was also in the Northwest Territories.
Lt. Jefferson Davis found that a material part of his required functions in the US Army First Regiment of Infantry to perform a number of risky tasks on his patrol in the sparsely inhabited Northwest Territories. Lt. Davis found that many of his US Army military duties were both boring and mundane. Second Lieutenant Jefferson Davis job discovered that for his first three years in the US Army was to assist in the effort by the Army in protecting US Citizens from attacks from both the local Indians and the British.
While in the US Army, Jeff caught pneumonia and became very ill while he was stationed in the freezing cold, the dampness, and snowy frontier of Wisconsin. Jefferson Davis soon recovered from his bad case of pneumonia, just in time to meet the US Army 1st Regiment of Infantry, new regimental commander, a fellow southerner, Colonel Zachary Taylor.
I discussed at some length in another article Jefferson Davis’s involvement in the Black Hawk Wars and his relationship with the defeated Indian Chief Black Hawk. This article will focus on events after the Black Hawk Ward and cover Jefferson Davis’s relationship with his Commanding Officer, Colonel Taylor.
Lt. Jefferson Davis was still stationed in the US Army in the Northwest Territories, after the end of the Black Hawk Wars. It was then that Lieutenant Jeff Davis fell in love with the daughter of the Regimental Commander, then US Army Colonel Zachary Taylor. Jeff and the Colonel’s daughter, Sarah Knox Taylor, officially announced that they wanted to get married.
Colonel Taylor was reticent to approve their union. His major objection to their marriage was he did not want his daughter to become a wife of a military officer. He did not want her and their children to have to constantly from rural military post to another military post.
There was small incident several years earlier in which Jeff annoyed Colonel Taylor by Jeff’s insignificant offense to Taylor in which was not yet forgiven and held against Davis by Taylor. The incident arose when young Lt. Davis asked Colonel Taylor and another member [Major Thomas Smith] of a court-marshal, if Lieutenant Davis could be allowed to fulfill his duties as an officer on the Court with requiring him to wear his formal dress uniform. The Colonel was strongly against this idea and he voted No, but Major Smith who disliked Taylor voted Yes, and then Davis voted Yes. The Colonel held this impropriety against Jeff at the time of his and Sarah’s announced engagement. Jeff was still in his early twenties at the time of the offense. Jefferson Davis later reflected about the upsetting incident, or offense, about informal military dress with Colonel Taylor, when Jeff was a young slightly rebellious US Army Lieutenant, that he said -I was right as to the principle, but impolite in the manner of asserting it. (Strode, 1964, p. 80)
Jeff and Sarah were very much in love, so while they anxiously for her Dad (his Commanding Officer) blessing so in order not to upset Colonel Taylor they had be careful and sometimes clandestine to be able to have a rendezvous. Fortunately Sarah’s little brother, Richard, assisted the couple to be able to see each other without the Colonel knowing about their secret date. An interesting foot note about this helpful younger brother of Sarah Taylor is that he would grow up to become General Richard Taylor, of the Confederate States of America, under President Jefferson Davis.
Jefferson and Sarah, after waiting for two years for the Colonel blessing, they all worked it out. Not withstanding the misinformation in the writing of others that they had to elope, they did not.
The simple truth is Colonel Zachary Taylor did finally give his blessing that they could wed. Colonel Taylor agreed them marrying, but his conditions included Jeff resigning from the US Army and that marriage would not take place at an Army Fort. Colonel Taylor did agree to marriage provide the wedding take place at Zacharys sisters home with several other Taylor family members present.
The Colonel also had to be secondary apprehension about Sarah moving to Mississippi with Jeff after he had resigned from the US Army. Colonel Taylor had already lost two of Sarah sister’s to malaria in Louisiana and he also almost lost both his wife and Sarah to their previous malaria infections. This was minor underlying matter which Colonel Taylor did not stress, but was clearly on his mind, having lost two daughter to malaria in the South.
As requested, Jefferson and Sarah, with Colonel Taylors specific blessing, they were married in Lexington, Kentucky with at the home of Mrs. Gibson Taylor the oldest sister of Colonel Taylor with several other Taylor family member present on June 17, 1835. New bride, Sarah Taylor Davis wrote a note to her mother in which she also specifically thanked her father for the money that he [Colonel Zachary Taylor] had sent for her wedding to former US Army Officer Jefferson Davis. (MvElroy, 1937, I, pp. 33-34).
Jefferson Davis later in life gave this written account of the events surrounding his marriage to Sarah Taylor, as quoted by his second wife, Varina Howell Davis, in her biography of her husband: In 1835 I resigned from the army, and Miss Taylor being then in Kentucky with her aunt--the oldest sister of General Taylor-- I went thither and we were married in the house of her aunt, in the presence of General Taylors two sisters, of his oldest brother, his son-in-law, and many others of the Taylor family. (Davis, 1890, Vol. I, p. 162)
Historical Note: This one of series of well-documented and informative articles will explore an number of the facets of Jefferson Davis's life as a West Point graduate, a US Military career officer, his relationship with Colonel (later General) Zachary Taylor as his Commanding Officer when Jeff was a young US Army Lieutenant, was well as his relationship with Colonel Taylor his future father-in-law, and a number of years later when Jeff Davis was Colonel reporting to his Commander (at their mutual request) in the Mexican War, General Zachary Taylor.
Jefferson Davis was also an industrious young man who carved out a plantation from a brier covered swamp land, was a Mississippi Militia Colonel (later Militia Major General), served in US Congress (both as a multiple term Senator and Congressman), as the outstanding US Secretary of War for President Franklin Pierce, in addition to having been the First and Only President of the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis was a truly renaissance man with deep values as a caring and compassionate man. Jefferson Davis had passionate opinions of the importance of States Rights strict interpretation of the US Constitution in which the Founding Fathers of United States clearly limited the power of the Federal Government. Jefferson Davis was named by his parents after the leading drafter of the US Constitution, Thomas Jefferson,
The 1978 successful effort to restore Jefferson Davis United States citizenship was led by United States Senator's Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield and Hatch on the US Senate Judiciary Committee to Jefferson Davis's citizenship (the author's Great Great Grandfather).
Jefferson F. Davis was a West Point graduate at the age of 20, a US Military career officer, created a successful plantation from swamp land, was a Mississippi Militia Colonel (later Militia Major General), served in the US Congress (as Congressman and twice as Senator), as the US Secretary of War for President Franklin Pierce, all this in addition to having been President of the Confederate States of America.
Dr. Howard Edward Haller actively lobbied on both sides of the aisle of the US Congress, along with the significant efforts by Senators Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield and Hatch, to successfully finally restore Jefferson Davis citizenship. Dr. Haller worked with President Jimmy Carter and his senior White House staff, including Carter’s White House Chief of Staff. President Carter signed the unanimously passed US Senate Joint Resolution 16, on October 17, 1978.
About the Author
Dr. Howard Edward Haller is a respected academic scholar, University Professor, University Trustee, past University Board President, award winning author & professional speaker. Dr. Haller is an accomplished senior business executive. Dr. Howard Edward Haller is the Great Great Grandson of Jefferson Davis. Dr. Haller actively lobbied Congress, along efforts by Senators Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield & Hatch, to restore Jefferson Davis citizenship.
The Tyrant of Egypt
by Wael El-Manzalawy
We are ruled,in Egypt, by a tyrant called Mubarak. He has imprisoned thousands of his opponents and tortured them. He is planning to make his son the next president of Egypt by force and oppression. He was chosen as one of the worst twenty dictators in the world by a famous American magazine. The western politicians support him because they are afraid of the Islamic ruling of Egypt. I hate Mubarak,the tyrant, but I hate more the American, the British and the French politicians because they support him by giving him money and weapons. I think that the western politicians are responsible for our suffering from Mubarak the,dictator.
About the Author
Wael El-Manzalawy
Egyptian writer
We are ruled,in Egypt, by a tyrant called Mubarak. He has imprisoned thousands of his opponents and tortured them. He is planning to make his son the next president of Egypt by force and oppression. He was chosen as one of the worst twenty dictators in the world by a famous American magazine. The western politicians support him because they are afraid of the Islamic ruling of Egypt. I hate Mubarak,the tyrant, but I hate more the American, the British and the French politicians because they support him by giving him money and weapons. I think that the western politicians are responsible for our suffering from Mubarak the,dictator.
About the Author
Wael El-Manzalawy
Egyptian writer
Barack Obama, Jack Bauer, and Vicky's Father
by Richard Cummings
Barack Obama, Jack Bauer, and Vicky's Father
"He'll have you be a Communist before you leave this house," Vicky's mother said to me as I entered their house for a weekend stay in Paysandu, Uruguay. She was referring to her husband, who is a member of the Frente Amplio party in Uruguay. He was also tortured.
There are three political parties here in Uruguay: Frente Amplio (the wide front), Blanco, and Colorado. Blanco and Colorado are like our Republicans and Democrats, the two behemoths that exchange power from election to election. Frente Amplio was always the little engine that couldn't. If Ralph Nader were here, he would certainly be Frente Amplio.
And he might be upset because Frente Amplio won the last elections. Why would he be upset about this? Well, once you become the front-runner, you can't complain about how others do everything. People now complain about how you do (or don't do) things.
I once filled out a political questionnaire online. I was young and wanted to be involved in the political process, but it didn't seem to me that the Republicans or Democrats matched my beliefs. In this questionnaire, you fill out all of your political beliefs and it then tells you what political party you are. Well, after filling in the form, I was told by my computer that I was part of the Natural Law Party.
The Natural Law Party? Who are they? Was my computer making stuff up? I thought we just had Republicans, Democrats, and all those people who follow Ralph Nader. But no, there are many more.
After I was told that I was Natural Law Party by my computer, I found some web sites and read about it. All they seemed to mention was guns, guns, and more guns. Charlton Heston would feel right at home here...and he needs a comfortable place to call home after his interview with Michael Moore in Bowling for Columbine.
My computer must have been playing tricks on me. The one thing that I recall saying in the questionnaire was that I was for Gun Control and now it put me into a party where my future friends would have stockpiles of weapons and I would probably have to move to Montana.
So, I decided to forego my Natural Law affiliation and vote for someone who could actually win an election, and that someone would not be Ralph Nader. Ralph Nader has some wonderful ideas but they're not presented in the best package, which is a shame because I think we need other political parties in the process.
Like Frente Amplio in Uruguay. Frente Amplio, the little engine that couldn't, kept chugging along, election-after-election, and then they found the right packaging, in the form of a doctor named Tabaré Vasquez. To the surprise of many, they unseated the stodgy two-party system and won the national elections in the 2004.
Vicky's father, the one who would like me to be a Communist, is a founding member of the Frente Amplio party. And, as mentioned, he was tortured. He was tortured during the dictatorship in Uruguay that lasted between 1973 and 1985. During the dictatorship, anybody who disagreed with the government was rounded up and taken away, and most who were taken away were killed.
I've never met anyone who has been tortured and I felt oddly privileged to be able to meet Vicky's father. He's very open about his beliefs and his experiences. His words and his wounds tell a similar story, that of a willingness to suffer, if not die, in the pursuit of your beliefs. I think with pride of our forefathers in America who fought a similar fight for the life that we are currently permitted to lead.
But, to no surprise, Vicky's father is no a great fan of America. (On his refrigerator, he has a poster saying Terrorist #1 with a picture of Osama Bin Laden and Terrorist #2, with a picture of you-know-who.) His ideals tend more toward a shared communist collective than a spirited capitalist environment. However, I liked that, in spite of our vastly divergent views, we were able to have an open discussion of our differences.
I see the life he envisions through his politics. It is a world where everyone has work, healthcare, education, a roof over their heads, food for their families, bar-b-ques with family and friends on the weekends. It's a world everyone wants but everyone has different ideas for how to achieve it.
When I asked why he thought Communism had failed throughout the world, he mentioned that it still exists in Cuba. "Cuba," he mentioned, "is an example that other nations should follow."
"But" I responded "Cuba doesn't have general elections or allow people to speak freely about their beliefs." I thought this would be an extremely important issue for him since he had been tortured for speaking his beliefs. But it wasn't. And I asked him to explain this to me.
"In Uruguay," he said, "80% of the people were against the dictatorship. If the majority of the people are against the idea, the idea is wrong. But in Cuba, 80% of the people are for Fidel..."
I was fairly stunned, if not completely shocked, that he basically supported the torture and suppression of the opposition in Cuba, given that he himself was tortured. In thinking about this later, it made a little more sense: he was tortured for his belief in Communism and, to not support these ideals now, would not justify the torture he withstood for 2 years.
Tortured for two years. Tortured for two years for his political beliefs.
How does this happen? How does a dictatorship happen in a country that was previously democratic? And how did it come to an end?
Nobody here seems to have an answer for any of this. Apathy? "Maybe". Complacency? "Probably". There is no definite answer that I have been given.
I follow the US political news from Uruguay via the Internet. I have watched the CNN coverage of the Republican and Democratic debates. And I have spoken with many Uruguayans about it. Many of them are aware of the candidates (and they all like Barack). In our discussions, we talk about the political process in America.
Almost all of the them are stunned to discover that only 30-40% of Americans vote. "How can that be?", they ask. "Do people not care? Everybody here votes!"
Everybody in Uruguay votes because its mandatory. You actually receive a fine if you do not vote. And, as people don't like to part with their money, they vote.
I mistakenly mentioned that "sometimes votes don't matter and so some people don't bother."
"How could a vote not matter?" they plainly ask.
Well, I then explain to them our electoral college system and that it's possible that someone could win the popular vote but not win the presidency, like the Al Gore/George Bush debacle.
"That's stupid!" they say. I agree.
I recently got sick. Getting sick in a foreign country is never fun. However, in Uruguay, you don't need prescriptions for medicine. If you are a prozac/paxil/zoloft pill popper, you would love this place. You just walk into the pharmacy and tell them what you would like.
I didn't need a pharmacy however, I needed time and 24. Since I had a stomach flu, time was the only cure, but I needed something to do. I needed some good American television. However, unless you have cable (I don't), you'll not find any English language television. So, I went to the Internet, and what do you know, I find what I was looking for...24!
My friend Brian at work had introduced to the show 24. I initially resisted because I had a full plate with Entourage, the Sopranos, American Idol, and football on Sundays. I didn't want to lose another hour each week to TV. But I watched one episode and was addicted. It was my Zoloft.
So, while I was sick in Uruguay, I wanted to watch a little 24. Jack Bauer is an absolutely stud, among the great triumvirate of action heroes: Jack Bauer, Jason Bourne, and James Bond. Notice any coincidence with the names? Hmmm...
In season 2 of 24, which takes place just after 9/11 (when we had the good will of the entire civilized world with us), suspected terrorists bring a nuclear bomb into the United States with the intention of setting it off in Los Angeles. Jack, of course, saves the day and diverts the bomb to the Nevada desert where casualties are kept to a minimum.
There is an outcry for revenge. Who would dare do this to us? A recording is discovered that implicates three Islamic countries. This recording suggests that these countries sponsored and paid for this terrorist organization, "Second Wave", to set off the nuclear bomb.
All is set in motion for a swift, decisive retaliation. The planes are in the air ready to let the bombs fly. But wait. Jack Bauer has discovered that this recording is probably a fake. He is in the process of obtaining evidence to verify this.
The President, who is the first black president, is being pressured from all sides to attack, attack, attack. Nobody wants to wait for more evidence. The recordings have been verified...let's attack.
The President does not want to start a war, a war which could become World War III, over what could be false information. But, Mr. President, we will lose the element of surprise and more American lives if we don't attack right away. The President decides to wait for the information from Jack Bauer. He waits to ensure that the information that we have is accurate. He does not want to go to war under false premises; he does not want to attack other countries who did nothing to us.
The President decides to wait, to make the informed decision. And, of course, he was right.
Nobody agreed with the President's decision to wait for more information. It was not a popular decision. A dissenting political opinion, especially in regard to war, will not win you many reelections. It takes strength, courage, and conviction...and also the ability to read.
Barack Obama voted against the war in Iraq. In spite of all the pressure to vote for it, he voted against it. He believed that it was the wrong thing to do. He believed this for many reasons, but chief among them, he actually read the document that was provided to all those in government. It astounds me that most of the government officials are simply "briefed" on these issues, choosing not to read them in their entirety. They vote "yes" on a war after receiving the cliff-notes version of Why We Should Go To War.
I was against the war in Iraq. I wrote this letter to George Bush before the war. In trying to find out the email address for the Whitehouse, I had a unique experience. I visited whitehouse.com to find the email address but what I found were naked ladies in compromising positions (it has since changed, sorry). After a few hours, I continued my search only to discover that the address is actually whitehouse.gov.
Whatever anybody's opinion on the war is now-good, bad, or indifferent-one thing is clear: We, the American people, were lied to about the reasons for going to war. There was no imminent threat from Iraq. There were no weapons of mass destruction, much less a delivery mechanism to get them here.
Do you know what happens when Goliath attacks David? Everybody hates Goliath.
One little David, Cuba, just presented Goliath with a tremendous opportunity, an opportunity to rise above arrogance, presumption, and pride. Fidel Castro's resignation provided the US with the first opportunity in some 50 years to begin a healing process in our relations with Cuba. His brother, Raul Castro, who took over a few days later, has demonstrated signs of being more socially, economically, and politically open. Could there be a better time to have a discussion?
But Goliath remained steadfast unwilling to even have a conversation.
Goliath: "This is the same system, the same faces and the same policies that led to Cuba's miseries in the first place. The United States is isolating the Cuban regime. To improve relations, what needs to change is not the United States. What needs to change is Cuba."
We tried to change Cuba in the past, as we did in many countries, with secrecy and subterfuge in the form of the CIA. This didn't work. It didn't work in Cuba, the Middle East, nor the regions in South America where I have recently visited.
The person who tortured my friend Vicky's father. Do you know where he learned his skills? You guessed it...the CIA. They have a long silent history here in South America that supported not only torture but many of the dictatorships.
I'm reminded of Tom Hanks' character in Charlie Wilson's War. With the help of the CIA, he had used covert action to successfully avert a Soviet takeover of Afghanistan. However, what started out as a successful campaign to thwart the Soviets, ends many years later with many of the Afghan warriors pointing their guns, guns supplied by us, at us.
In the end, Charlie concludes: "Those things happened and they were glorious, and then we fucked up the end game."
Which begs the question...is it too late to un-fuck it up?
And the answer is, and has to be, no!
Enough of arrogance and presumption.
When Goliath has to boast that his way is best, it is the first signal that his way may not be the best!
It is time for a change.
The change of leadership in Cuba was a perfect opportunity to demonstrate such a change. With Cuba, we should not have rebuked their new leader right away. We should have talked to him.
On his foreign policy page, Barack says first and foremost he will be "willing to come to the table" and have a conversation.
A conversation?
What an interesting notion...
About the Author
Richard Cummings is a writer, technologist, and traveler who chronicles his thoughts and opinions on his daily blog Live Your Way which can be found at: http://www.thisishowyoudoit.com/blog/
Barack Obama, Jack Bauer, and Vicky's Father
"He'll have you be a Communist before you leave this house," Vicky's mother said to me as I entered their house for a weekend stay in Paysandu, Uruguay. She was referring to her husband, who is a member of the Frente Amplio party in Uruguay. He was also tortured.
There are three political parties here in Uruguay: Frente Amplio (the wide front), Blanco, and Colorado. Blanco and Colorado are like our Republicans and Democrats, the two behemoths that exchange power from election to election. Frente Amplio was always the little engine that couldn't. If Ralph Nader were here, he would certainly be Frente Amplio.
And he might be upset because Frente Amplio won the last elections. Why would he be upset about this? Well, once you become the front-runner, you can't complain about how others do everything. People now complain about how you do (or don't do) things.
I once filled out a political questionnaire online. I was young and wanted to be involved in the political process, but it didn't seem to me that the Republicans or Democrats matched my beliefs. In this questionnaire, you fill out all of your political beliefs and it then tells you what political party you are. Well, after filling in the form, I was told by my computer that I was part of the Natural Law Party.
The Natural Law Party? Who are they? Was my computer making stuff up? I thought we just had Republicans, Democrats, and all those people who follow Ralph Nader. But no, there are many more.
After I was told that I was Natural Law Party by my computer, I found some web sites and read about it. All they seemed to mention was guns, guns, and more guns. Charlton Heston would feel right at home here...and he needs a comfortable place to call home after his interview with Michael Moore in Bowling for Columbine.
My computer must have been playing tricks on me. The one thing that I recall saying in the questionnaire was that I was for Gun Control and now it put me into a party where my future friends would have stockpiles of weapons and I would probably have to move to Montana.
So, I decided to forego my Natural Law affiliation and vote for someone who could actually win an election, and that someone would not be Ralph Nader. Ralph Nader has some wonderful ideas but they're not presented in the best package, which is a shame because I think we need other political parties in the process.
Like Frente Amplio in Uruguay. Frente Amplio, the little engine that couldn't, kept chugging along, election-after-election, and then they found the right packaging, in the form of a doctor named Tabaré Vasquez. To the surprise of many, they unseated the stodgy two-party system and won the national elections in the 2004.
Vicky's father, the one who would like me to be a Communist, is a founding member of the Frente Amplio party. And, as mentioned, he was tortured. He was tortured during the dictatorship in Uruguay that lasted between 1973 and 1985. During the dictatorship, anybody who disagreed with the government was rounded up and taken away, and most who were taken away were killed.
I've never met anyone who has been tortured and I felt oddly privileged to be able to meet Vicky's father. He's very open about his beliefs and his experiences. His words and his wounds tell a similar story, that of a willingness to suffer, if not die, in the pursuit of your beliefs. I think with pride of our forefathers in America who fought a similar fight for the life that we are currently permitted to lead.
But, to no surprise, Vicky's father is no a great fan of America. (On his refrigerator, he has a poster saying Terrorist #1 with a picture of Osama Bin Laden and Terrorist #2, with a picture of you-know-who.) His ideals tend more toward a shared communist collective than a spirited capitalist environment. However, I liked that, in spite of our vastly divergent views, we were able to have an open discussion of our differences.
I see the life he envisions through his politics. It is a world where everyone has work, healthcare, education, a roof over their heads, food for their families, bar-b-ques with family and friends on the weekends. It's a world everyone wants but everyone has different ideas for how to achieve it.
When I asked why he thought Communism had failed throughout the world, he mentioned that it still exists in Cuba. "Cuba," he mentioned, "is an example that other nations should follow."
"But" I responded "Cuba doesn't have general elections or allow people to speak freely about their beliefs." I thought this would be an extremely important issue for him since he had been tortured for speaking his beliefs. But it wasn't. And I asked him to explain this to me.
"In Uruguay," he said, "80% of the people were against the dictatorship. If the majority of the people are against the idea, the idea is wrong. But in Cuba, 80% of the people are for Fidel..."
I was fairly stunned, if not completely shocked, that he basically supported the torture and suppression of the opposition in Cuba, given that he himself was tortured. In thinking about this later, it made a little more sense: he was tortured for his belief in Communism and, to not support these ideals now, would not justify the torture he withstood for 2 years.
Tortured for two years. Tortured for two years for his political beliefs.
How does this happen? How does a dictatorship happen in a country that was previously democratic? And how did it come to an end?
Nobody here seems to have an answer for any of this. Apathy? "Maybe". Complacency? "Probably". There is no definite answer that I have been given.
I follow the US political news from Uruguay via the Internet. I have watched the CNN coverage of the Republican and Democratic debates. And I have spoken with many Uruguayans about it. Many of them are aware of the candidates (and they all like Barack). In our discussions, we talk about the political process in America.
Almost all of the them are stunned to discover that only 30-40% of Americans vote. "How can that be?", they ask. "Do people not care? Everybody here votes!"
Everybody in Uruguay votes because its mandatory. You actually receive a fine if you do not vote. And, as people don't like to part with their money, they vote.
I mistakenly mentioned that "sometimes votes don't matter and so some people don't bother."
"How could a vote not matter?" they plainly ask.
Well, I then explain to them our electoral college system and that it's possible that someone could win the popular vote but not win the presidency, like the Al Gore/George Bush debacle.
"That's stupid!" they say. I agree.
I recently got sick. Getting sick in a foreign country is never fun. However, in Uruguay, you don't need prescriptions for medicine. If you are a prozac/paxil/zoloft pill popper, you would love this place. You just walk into the pharmacy and tell them what you would like.
I didn't need a pharmacy however, I needed time and 24. Since I had a stomach flu, time was the only cure, but I needed something to do. I needed some good American television. However, unless you have cable (I don't), you'll not find any English language television. So, I went to the Internet, and what do you know, I find what I was looking for...24!
My friend Brian at work had introduced to the show 24. I initially resisted because I had a full plate with Entourage, the Sopranos, American Idol, and football on Sundays. I didn't want to lose another hour each week to TV. But I watched one episode and was addicted. It was my Zoloft.
So, while I was sick in Uruguay, I wanted to watch a little 24. Jack Bauer is an absolutely stud, among the great triumvirate of action heroes: Jack Bauer, Jason Bourne, and James Bond. Notice any coincidence with the names? Hmmm...
In season 2 of 24, which takes place just after 9/11 (when we had the good will of the entire civilized world with us), suspected terrorists bring a nuclear bomb into the United States with the intention of setting it off in Los Angeles. Jack, of course, saves the day and diverts the bomb to the Nevada desert where casualties are kept to a minimum.
There is an outcry for revenge. Who would dare do this to us? A recording is discovered that implicates three Islamic countries. This recording suggests that these countries sponsored and paid for this terrorist organization, "Second Wave", to set off the nuclear bomb.
All is set in motion for a swift, decisive retaliation. The planes are in the air ready to let the bombs fly. But wait. Jack Bauer has discovered that this recording is probably a fake. He is in the process of obtaining evidence to verify this.
The President, who is the first black president, is being pressured from all sides to attack, attack, attack. Nobody wants to wait for more evidence. The recordings have been verified...let's attack.
The President does not want to start a war, a war which could become World War III, over what could be false information. But, Mr. President, we will lose the element of surprise and more American lives if we don't attack right away. The President decides to wait for the information from Jack Bauer. He waits to ensure that the information that we have is accurate. He does not want to go to war under false premises; he does not want to attack other countries who did nothing to us.
The President decides to wait, to make the informed decision. And, of course, he was right.
Nobody agreed with the President's decision to wait for more information. It was not a popular decision. A dissenting political opinion, especially in regard to war, will not win you many reelections. It takes strength, courage, and conviction...and also the ability to read.
Barack Obama voted against the war in Iraq. In spite of all the pressure to vote for it, he voted against it. He believed that it was the wrong thing to do. He believed this for many reasons, but chief among them, he actually read the document that was provided to all those in government. It astounds me that most of the government officials are simply "briefed" on these issues, choosing not to read them in their entirety. They vote "yes" on a war after receiving the cliff-notes version of Why We Should Go To War.
I was against the war in Iraq. I wrote this letter to George Bush before the war. In trying to find out the email address for the Whitehouse, I had a unique experience. I visited whitehouse.com to find the email address but what I found were naked ladies in compromising positions (it has since changed, sorry). After a few hours, I continued my search only to discover that the address is actually whitehouse.gov.
Whatever anybody's opinion on the war is now-good, bad, or indifferent-one thing is clear: We, the American people, were lied to about the reasons for going to war. There was no imminent threat from Iraq. There were no weapons of mass destruction, much less a delivery mechanism to get them here.
Do you know what happens when Goliath attacks David? Everybody hates Goliath.
One little David, Cuba, just presented Goliath with a tremendous opportunity, an opportunity to rise above arrogance, presumption, and pride. Fidel Castro's resignation provided the US with the first opportunity in some 50 years to begin a healing process in our relations with Cuba. His brother, Raul Castro, who took over a few days later, has demonstrated signs of being more socially, economically, and politically open. Could there be a better time to have a discussion?
But Goliath remained steadfast unwilling to even have a conversation.
Goliath: "This is the same system, the same faces and the same policies that led to Cuba's miseries in the first place. The United States is isolating the Cuban regime. To improve relations, what needs to change is not the United States. What needs to change is Cuba."
We tried to change Cuba in the past, as we did in many countries, with secrecy and subterfuge in the form of the CIA. This didn't work. It didn't work in Cuba, the Middle East, nor the regions in South America where I have recently visited.
The person who tortured my friend Vicky's father. Do you know where he learned his skills? You guessed it...the CIA. They have a long silent history here in South America that supported not only torture but many of the dictatorships.
I'm reminded of Tom Hanks' character in Charlie Wilson's War. With the help of the CIA, he had used covert action to successfully avert a Soviet takeover of Afghanistan. However, what started out as a successful campaign to thwart the Soviets, ends many years later with many of the Afghan warriors pointing their guns, guns supplied by us, at us.
In the end, Charlie concludes: "Those things happened and they were glorious, and then we fucked up the end game."
Which begs the question...is it too late to un-fuck it up?
And the answer is, and has to be, no!
Enough of arrogance and presumption.
When Goliath has to boast that his way is best, it is the first signal that his way may not be the best!
It is time for a change.
The change of leadership in Cuba was a perfect opportunity to demonstrate such a change. With Cuba, we should not have rebuked their new leader right away. We should have talked to him.
On his foreign policy page, Barack says first and foremost he will be "willing to come to the table" and have a conversation.
A conversation?
What an interesting notion...
About the Author
Richard Cummings is a writer, technologist, and traveler who chronicles his thoughts and opinions on his daily blog Live Your Way which can be found at: http://www.thisishowyoudoit.com/blog/
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