U.S. Politics: The Cancer on Main Street
Approximately 90% of propositions on ballots get approved by a mere 4 to 6% of the total number of registered Texas voters. So, what can we do???? Just rhetorical, no need to respond. The Republicans and Democrats together initiated the wars in the Middle East (Iraq, Afghanistan) under the double Bush administrations and now Obama, instead of cutting our costs over there, is continuing an ever-lasting Afghan assault.
The Two-Party Failure Reality Show
Approximately 90% of propositions on ballots get approved by a mere 4 to 6% of the total number of registered Texas voters.
So, what can we do???? Just rhetorical, no need to respond.
The Republicans and Democrats together initiated the wars in the Middle East (Iraq, Afghanistan) under the double Bush administrations and now Obama, instead of cutting our costs over there, is continuing an ever-lasting Afghan assault.
In some ways, it is reminiscent of German and Italian forces during WWII plunging blindly headfirst into Russia, into Siberia and freezing their Nazi logos and collective butts due to the harsh sub-zero rugged terrain, just wasting lives and money in a no-win situation. In many ways, we’re doing the same thing in the Middle East.
Look at the sheer waste of taxpayer dollars versus the enormous profits being made by U.S. approved contractor services. Where is the trickle-down to us domestic citizens???
AND THEN… the government promises jobs, but does NOT keep that promise and then based on some obscure and absurd statistics disallows a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for all those on Social Security, Disability and Veterans benefits.
What does our government do to help the unemployed? It increasing the unemployment tax for businesses and plans to stop extensions for those running out of benefits again, sometimes for the 5th or 6th time. What happens to the masses of unemployed NOT getting their benefits???
Objectively, what is going to happen to the middle class in the U.S.? The middle class once held the largest number of American citizens. Today, it is nearing extinction.
Outsourcing is killing average Americans, along with lax immigration laws that continue to permit employers to hire legal and illegal immigrants at a fraction of the cost of hiring American citizens.
Obama wants Americans to cross-train into other fields. He wants single moms to return to school. He wants returning veterans to go to college. We should be asking Obama, “Why?” because what good is doing that if there are no jobs with or without a degree???
In short, plain and simple: we are a mess as a nation.
We remain at the mercy of greedy, powerful and disrespectful leaders in government and commerce. The groups in Washington, DC form a Legislative Mob. They are viciously pillaging American citizens and are destroying our once-great nation. We are out of control.
It is questionable whether we can return to some semblance of stability and normality. Look at our TV programs and even how we drive. Look at our impatience, hostility and disregard for one another. Look at all the political and corporate games that enable a Sarah Palin, Rick Perry, John Kerry and Nancy Pelosi to gain such power and control over our lives. Such myopic vision.
I’m sorry to rant here, but where the hell did our nation go? Where is our self-respect and respect for all of our American virtues and priorities? Where is the respect we used to show for one another??? Reality shows are causing us to lose sight of our reality!
I wish we could get rid of the TwoParty system. It is killing the U.S.
In closing, I believe that the Texas GOP AND the National GOP need to rethink more intelligently a new platform and direction, to climb out from the self-made muck that is consuming and defeating the Party’s success and survival. I think the Democrats at the state and national levels should do the same.
We are scraping out the barrel for candidates who never should be considered for the offices they run for. We need to find higher quality candidates. People with a brain who care about communities.
I also believe that the two-party system is failing most Americans and our economic well-being.
I further believe we need to get rid of all parties and simply vote for the BEST person for each position.
We need to limit significantly or eliminate excessive campaign contributions so that wealthy lobbyists, corporations and/or individuals can NOT purchase the best government money can buy.
Then, we need term limitations. Any elected official gets 2 terms max! After 2 terms THEY ARE GONE! Like crop rotation. Call it my LIP — Legislator Incentive Plan!!!
Think about it. All these suggestions will ensure that we can maintain a continuous flow of fresh, honest and ambitious slew of elected officials who will NOT be bought and who will perform their duties in the best interests of the community they serve within a 2-term limit!
Foremost, Americans need jobs!!!
Those are MY propositions for improving this nation and our lives!
(Peter Stern, a former director of information services, university professor and public school administrator, is a disabled Vietnam veteran who lives in Driftwood, Texas.)
Galileo’s Sun And Ours
Everyone knows the Sun is a brilliant round ball that travels around Earth each day. Perfect and unchanging, it is made of shiny quintessence, a heavenly substance not found on Earth. At least that’s what sophisticated Europeans thought in the early 17th century when Galileo and others began studying the heavens with the newly invented telescope 400 years ago.
Everyone knows the Sun is a brilliant round ball that travels around Earth each day. Perfect and unchanging, it is made of shiny quintessence, a heavenly substance not found on Earth.
At least that’s what sophisticated Europeans thought in the early 17th century when Galileo and others began studying the heavens with the newly invented telescope 400 years ago.
That view of the Sun began to crumble when Galileo and other early astronomers discovered sunspots. They seemed to be clear evidence that the Sun wasn’t perfect after all. Further, the sunspot blemishes came and went and changed sizes, demonstrating that the Sun isn’t unchanging. And seeing the sunspots move across the Sun’s surface indicated that the Sun was rotating on its axis. However, neither Galileo nor his contemporaries had any idea what sunspots were, or what the Sun was made of.
Galileo’s observations, especially of Jupiter and Venus, also led him to accept Copernicus’ theory that the Sun doesn’t go around the Earth, but rather Earth and the other planets go around the Sun. And as mentioned in previous columns, his promotion of these heretical ideas got him in serious trouble with the ecclesiastical-governmental authorities.
Today, of course, the Sun-centered view of our solar system is universally accepted, and we have a much better understanding of the nature of our Sun.
An ordinary star, the Sun is a huge gaseous ball composed not of any exotic heavenly substance but primarily of hydrogen, the most common element in the known universe. It’s heat, light, and other forms of energy come from nuclear reactions deep within its core.
At its center, the temperature is 27 million degrees whereas the temperature at the visible surface (called the photosphere) is a mere 10,000 degrees. The sunspots which so intrigued and baffled Galileo are now known to be areas of magnetic disturbance; they are darker in appearance because they are cooler.
And finally, our Sun, like all stars, is not eternal. It was born 5 billion years ago and will die in another 5 billion years.
[Much of this information is from Stephen P. Maran and Laurence A. Marschall’s book, Galileo’s New Universe, reviewed in this column; my Web site contains an archive of previous columns.]
• Sky Calendar
* 15 Mon.: The Moon is new.
* 16 Tues. evening: A very thin crescent Moon is to the lower right of Venus low in the west at dusk, and above the planet the next evening.
* 20 Sat.: Spring (vernal) equinox, the northern hemisphere’s first day of spring when day and night are (about) 12 hours long.
* 20 Sat. evening: The crescent Moon grazes the Pleiades star cluster, a sight best seen in binoculars; the star Aldebaran, the “red eye of the bull,” is to their upper right.
* 21 Sun.: Saturn is at opposition (on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun) when it rises at sunset, is up all night, and sets at sunrise.
* 23 Tue.: The Moon is at 1st quarter.
* 24 Wed. evening: The gibbous Moon is to the upper right of Mars, and below the planet the next night.
• Naked-eye Planets. (The Sun, Moon, and planets rise in the east and set in the west due to Earth’s west-to-east rotation on its axis.) Evening: Mars is high in the east as Saturn rises an hour after sunset; Venus is visible very low in the west after sunset. Morning: Saturn, low in the west, is currently the only morning planet. Mercury and Jupiter are now in the Sun.
• Astro Milestones. Mar. 13 is the birthday of William Herschel (1738-1822) who discovered the planet Uranus in 1781 from Bath, England. Mar. 14 is the birthday of Albert Einstein (1879-1955), who set forth the theories of relativity in the early 1900s.
• Time Change. Set clocks forward (“spring forward”) to Daylight Saving Time Sunday, Mar. 14, at 2 a.m.
Stargazer appears every other week. Paul Derrick is an amateur astronomer who lives in Waco. Contact him at 918 N. 30th, Waco, 76707, (254) 753-6920 or paulderrickwaco@aol.com. See the Stargazer Web site at stargazerpaul.com.
Impress Your Friends: Freak Out On A Carnival Ride
I have a basic rule of thumb when it comes to carnival rides: If the person running a ride, such as the Squirrel Cages, keeps a garden hose available for spraying out the seats, I stay away. That’s because this person’s sole ambition is to make me — and others like me — vomit. I realize this person may be a trained professional who, on a daily basis, makes countless split-second decisions on whether to push the red or green button to stop the ride. And, yes, I realize this individual has nothing but the safety of his passengers in mind when he secures a safety latch by removing his boot and whacking it until his arm gets tired, at which point, being a trained professional, he bolsters the confidence of his nervous riders by hacking up a cheekful of phlegm and shrugging his shoulders before walking off.
I have a basic rule of thumb when it comes to carnival rides: If the person running a ride, such as the Squirrel Cages, keeps a garden hose available for spraying out the seats, I stay away. That’s because this person’s sole ambition is to make me — and others like me — vomit. I realize this person may be a trained professional who, on a daily basis, makes countless split-second decisions on whether to push the red or green button to stop the ride. And, yes, I realize this individual has nothing but the safety of his passengers in mind when he secures a safety latch by removing his boot and whacking it until his arm gets tired, at which point, being a trained professional, he bolsters the confidence of his nervous riders by hacking up a cheekful of phlegm and shrugging his shoulders before walking off.
Yet somehow, in spite of these assurances, I’m still terrified of carnival rides. I think it’s because, when I was 10, my “friends” talked me into riding The Drop Out, which wasn’t actually a ride as much as it was a barf-a-torium with an observation deck. Basically, 30 people entered a circular room and found a spot along the wall. Gradually, the walls would begin to rotate faster and faster, creating enough centrifugal force to suck the cotton candy from the mouth of anyone standing within 100 feet. Once the ride reached optimum centrifuge, occupants would be stuck to the wall as the floor dropped out, leaving them suspended 20 feet above a pit of (presumably fake) spikes.
All of this was visible through a series of windows surrounding the ride so that, while waiting in line, people such as myself could prepare for the experience by, very slowly, having a bowel movement. I still don’t know how I got talked into this ride. All I know is I ended up next to someone whose stomach contents went on display the instant the floor dropped out. Due to the force of gravity, I couldn’t move my head without blacking out, which meant watching the sum total of this person’s food consumption — which was considerable — reconfigure itself on the wall next to me.
This was, without question, the longest ride of my life. To this day, I can still see the apologetic look on that person’s face as the ride came to an end and the three of us — him, his vomit and I — gradually slid down the wall together.
Since that fateful encounter I’ve had no interest in being strapped down, cinched up or buckled into something specifically designed to do things I wouldn’t normally do without a flight suit and full medical coverage. I once allowed myself to be talked into riding the Squirrel Cages with my friend, who is one of those people who is exhilarated by having his stomach in his mouth. Everything was fine until that part in the ride where — and you know the part I mean — it starts to actually move.
Granted, I’m not a professional carnival ride operator, but I think I could recognize some of the subtle signs exhibited by a rider who is in distress. For example: Someone who is pressed so hard against the cage that his lips are actually outside the door while screaming “LET-ME-OFF-LET-ME-OFF-LET-ME-OFF!” would be a red flag to me. Particularly if the rider in question began doing this after traveling less than two feet. In my case, these signs were somehow missed by our ride operator. I’m not saying it was all his fault.
Who knows, he might’ve been busy looking for a garden hose.
(You can write to Ned Hickson at the Siuslaw News at P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR. 97439, or nhickson@thesiuslawnews.com)
Proper Etiquette When Attending A Potluck Dinner:
For the past five years or more, I’ve used TurboTax to file my tax returns, as well as those of my family. Typically, it would take about two minutes for the disc to download, then maybe another five minutes or so to get the updates.
BRING A DISH TO PUT ON THE TABLE
These past few days have been most frustrating.
For the past five years or more, I’ve used TurboTax to file my tax returns, as well as those of my family. Typically, it would take about two minutes for the disc to download, then maybe another five minutes or so to get the updates.
Yesterday, installation of the 2009 version took more than four hours, turning my entire day into utter disarray.
After two hours of repeated downloading efforts that resulted in excruciatingly long waits vacillating between “install” and “uninstall” modes, I was left no choice but to call the TurboTax customer service number.
The respondent was a most amiable young lady named Jenne, located somewhere in the Philippines (yes, I was struck by the irony of having someone in the South Pacific assist with my income tax software). She said that this inability to properly install the 2009 version was generating more than a few calls from flabbergasted and aggravated users.
Far more pleasant than most U.S.-based customer service people with whom I’ve dealt, Jenne stayed on the line with me in excess of two hours before we corrected the download problems by circumventing myriad programs in my computer.
Several lengthy pauses in the process awaiting computer processing of one function before going on to the other allowed Jenne and me to engage in friendly conversation.
Jenne told me that it would be 90 degrees when her shift ended at 9:00 in the morning. I doubt that she fully comprehended my response that it was only 30 degrees in America’s midsection, where we had been surrounded by snow and ice for six weeks.
There, I’ve managed to combine two extremely frustrating situations into one thought stream.
This came less than 24 hours after I had gone around and around (literally) with a multi-layered student loan agency (agencies?).
At least four entities were involved in the loan process, none of which wanted to discuss repayment procedures. Each telephone operative referred me to another number, until it came full circle and I was told to contact the first number I had called. Talk about frustrating!
Yet, in the overall scheme of things my personal frustration cannot even hold a candle to that which President Obama must feel in trying to deal with Republicans.
Sitting through most (roughly six hours or so) of Thursday’s Health Care Summit, it was remarkable to watch Mr. Obama react with aplomb to the utter arrogance and disrespect shown by the party of corporate ass licking.
The President invited members of Congress to a potluck dinner, but Republicans in attendance showed up without one dish to contribute to the meal.
John Boehner set the tone by strutting in with a look on his puss as though he was sucking on sour lemons; that pissy expression never left him for the entire day.
Even the casual observer would note that whenever Boehner is in the presence of the President, the supercilious House Minority Leader looks as though he can’t leave the room fast enough and find somewhere to vomit.
Both Boehner and his lap dog, Eric Cantor, sat down behind stacks of documents two feet high. This was a puerile effort to ratchet up fear of a lengthy bill among those non-thinkers who buy their bullshit in wholesale quantities; never mind that health care is a subject of highest order complexity.
Immediately following the President’s announcement of the summit two weeks earlier, Republicans began riding the talking point wave, initiated by Tanning-Bed Boehner, calling it nothing more than “political theatre.” It’s rather hilarious that the only attendees who brought stage props were those very same Republicans…
Sadly, the mainstream media pretty much universally disregarded this exhibition of glaringly hypocritical hubris.
It’s absolutely unconscionable that the ersatz news reporting organizations completely missed the subtleties not only of that, but virtually everything else that transpired.
Despite inclusion of numerous Republican-based ideas within the bill, members of the Grand Obstructionist Party repeated, ad nauseum, the talking point to scrap the bill and start over from square one.
Uninterested in anything remotely resembling compromise, Republicans proved to all America that the GOP simply wants everything their way – i.e., minority rule.
Without reiterating the sheer volume of contentiousness that is the Republican Party, here are a few key exchanges that were mostly ignored by the phony corporate news services:
Continuing their tradition of evading responsibility as “Party leaders,” Republican top dogs Mitch McConnell and Boehner, devoid of a scintilla of a substantive proposal between them, relied upon Lamar Alexander for opening remarks.
After presenting a less than accurate summation of the bill at hand, including a wholly erroneous depiction of Senate Democrats using reconciliation for passage, Alexander was laid to the mat by several roundhouses from (former boxer) Harry Reid, who said he was welcome to his own opinion, but not his own facts.
About the only thing McConnell had to offer was a complaint that, despite the President’s Republican-Democrat-Republican-Democrat-etc. format, the Democrats had used more than twice as much time.
Mr. Obama silenced Ol’ Mitch, pretty much for the rest of the day, by reminding him who was President, that nobody had been designated official timekeeper, and, even if one existed, it was his bailiwick, thus any time he used was not to be measured with that of Senators and Representatives.
In her wrap-up, Nancy Pelosi admonished those of her GOP colleagues who had filled their comments with falsehoods, and went so far as to denounce the health insurance industry for its “shameful” behavior.
The mainstream news slackers have repeatedly taken Mr. Obama to task for waiting a year to hold this summit. What they failed to express, or comprehend, was the sheer brilliance of his methodology, the deftness of his touch in dealing with complex issues and opposition to reason.
The President allowed the debate to be dragged out by Republicans who shill for their corporate backers. Then, after giving them enough rope, he let GOPers entangle themselves inextricably in a collective noose through a public display of their unwillingness to work with Democrats, or for the American people.
Mr. Obama’s final comment to Republicans — that, by showing a complete unwillingness to reach across the aisle and work together harmoniously, Democrats had been left no choice but to forge ahead without them — was a sterling example of the kind of leadership his supporters have seen in the man from the outset.
For all those pundits and commentators who say Barack Obama is weak, the fact is nobody rises to the office of President of the United States without exceptional strength of will – and such strength has to be multiplied in exponential factors if the person is African-American.
Almost comically, the very next day, as if to cement proof that Republicans possess absolutely no handle on reality, or that which might even remotely appear as showing any interest in the good of their constituents, Rep. Steve King (R-IA, 5) got up in front of Congress and the World to extol the virtues of lobbyists, stating that somebody needs to stand up for the lobby.
I could never find words more apropos than King’s to better illustrate the depth to which moral turpitude permeates the contemporary Republican Party, and how remote its members are from the citizens of the United States of America whom they allegedly serve.
Shalom.
(Jerry Tenuto is an erstwhile Philosopher and sometime Educator. A veteran with seven years of service in the U.S. Army, he holds a BS and MA in Communications from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Depending upon your taste in political stew, you can either blame or thank Jerry for his weekly “Out Of The Blue” feature in The Lone Star Iconoclast. Visit his blog Blue State View at illinoiscentral.blogspot.com)
Baghdad’s Neutron Bomb and America’s Nuclear Obama
March 3, 2010 — Few people have heard of the Battle of Baghdad. They might remember Iraq’s information minister, Mohammad Saeed al-Sahhaf, warning of a surprise awaiting invading U.S. troops if they attacked Saddam International Airport. Later, al-Sahhaf claimed that the Iraqi Republican Guard had slaughtered U.S. troops and was in control of the entire facility. His claims were mostly true, but were countered effectively by a U.S. military-media campaign of evasions and distortions that switched the subject from the airport action to Private Jessica Lynch, while ridiculing al-Sahhaf as “Baghdad Bob.”
— An Interview with Captain Eric H. May —
(REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION)
Kim Petersen is co-editor of Dissident Voice. B. J. Sabri is an Iraqi-American antiwar activist. They can be reached at: Petersen_sabri@yahoo.com.
March 3, 2010 — Few people have heard of the Battle of Baghdad. They might remember Iraq’s information minister, Mohammad Saeed al-Sahhaf, warning of a surprise awaiting invading U.S. troops if they attacked Saddam International Airport. Later, al-Sahhaf claimed that the Iraqi Republican Guard had slaughtered U.S. troops and was in control of the entire facility. His claims were mostly true, but were countered effectively by a U.S. military-media campaign of evasions and distortions that switched the subject from the airport action to Private Jessica Lynch, while ridiculing al-Sahhaf as “Baghdad Bob.”
What came to be called the Battle of Baghdad Cover-Up (BOBCUP) was an illegal deception of the American people, as well as an immoral desecration of the military men who had fought and died there, only to be pushed into the memory hole by Big Brother Bush. Captain Eric H. May, a former U.S. Army intelligence and public affairs officer, was outraged. He responded by declaring himself to be self-activated on a mission of conscience, then investigated and confirmed BOBCUP. Next, he reported it to the Army Inspector General and to the mainstream media, only to discover that both entities were complicit in the cover-up.
He soon realizied that the entire U.S. establishment was dedicated to waging a criminal global war and erecting an oppressive homeland state, and honored his military oath “to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic” by forming and assuming command of a cyber-intelligence group, which he named Ghost Troop to honor the unacknowledged ghosts from the Battle of Baghdad. Before long the unit swelled to several hundred members, including veterans of all services, as well as a former Assistant Secretary of the Navy and a U.S. ambassador.
Initially, Ghost Troop’s mission was to penetrate the propaganda of the mainstream media, government, and military; and to provide the American people essential information being withheld from them.
Shortly after the Madrid bombing of 3/11, 2004, though, Capt. May and his chief officers determined that Madrid had been a “false flag” terrorist act carried out by the pro-war Spanish government and fraudulently blamed on Arab terrorists in an attempt to turn Iraq War-weary Spanish people into pro-Iraq War hawks just days before their national elections. They reasoned that our own 9/11 attacks, which had kindled war fever in the USA, were also false flag terrorism. Finally, they agreed that the U.S. government was routinely telling the public that there “was going to be another 9/11” because it meant to administer it.
With grim humor, Ghost Troop began to refer to this future false flag as “9/11-2B.” Using their military and media savvy to frustrate the 9/11-2B false flag became their second mission, and consumed most of their efforts.
Those who know Capt. May well consider his unique mission of conscience to be the stuff of legend. The Lone StarIconoclast in Texas has long demanded that Congress investigate his uncanny ability to warn the Internet about false flag dangers. He has forecast petrochemical refinery explosions in Southeast Texas, each of which may have been a foiled terror attack, six times. He exposed a U.S. WMD team that had infiltrated the Texas City refinery area in February 2006, forcing the local politicians, press and would-be perpetrators to collaborate on a propaganda piece with a dismissive title — but damning details:
“Nuclear Attack Warning Story Dismissed,” The Galveston County Daily News, 2/2/2006, http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=966022542546e363
There is a growing clamor in the 9/11 truth and patriot movements for Congress to award him the nation’s highest military honor. Dr. James H. Fetzer, the founder of Scholars for 9/11 Truth and a close collaborator and friend of the captain’s gave voice to many with his glowing accolade:
“This is a completely brilliant and fully justified recommendation, which I wholeheartedly support. I have not admired anyone during my life as much as I have Captain May. He is a superb analyst and remarkable human being.”
Iconoclast publisher W. Leon Smith credits him with saving the Republic by his leadership of Ghost Troop to prevent 9/11-2B. His newspaper, internationally recognized for its boldness, earlier this month carried the editorial:
“Captain Eric H. May Deserves Congressional Medal of Honor,” The Lone Star Iconoclast, 2/2/2010, http://iconoclastnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=472:captain-eric-h-may-deserves-congressional-medal-of-honor&catid=31:editorial&Itemid=71
Capt. May was a vibrant, fit man ― a martial arts expert ― when he began to lead Ghost Troop. He was constantly under threat from the military, the FBI and various national police and intelligence agencies. He was mysteriously stricken with ALS, commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, subsequent to his dissidence. Despite the advanced condition of his illness, Capt. May, now a paralyzed disabled veteran, was good enough to partake in the following interview.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Antiwar Warrior?
B.J. Sabri: In a 2004 email to Susan Elan of The Journal News you wrote, “I am pleased see that the antiwar is joining the infowar.” You sound like an antiwar activist. Are you really an antiwar military man? If you are antiwar, why did you take part in such war that you may have been privy to as being based on pretexts?
Captain May: I was no longer a serving soldier at the time of 9/11, or the ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. For the most part I accepted the official propaganda. It wasn’t until realizing the cover-up of the Battle of Baghdad that I became interested in analyzing the wars or the policies behind them. I was never an antiwar military man until after I examined the post-9/11 wars in the Middle East.
War Crime and Punishment
BJ: You say, “War is just homicide on a national scale.” Homicide against whom: U.S. military personnel, who are the aggressors, or the Iraq nation — military and civilians — who were attacked without a casus belli? Still, homicide sounds ordinary in these circumstances, why not use a precise term such as premeditated mass murder, in which both aggressors and aggressed suffered unnecessary death? In addition, whether homicide or mass murder, it seems that the criminals who planned and carried it out will go unpunished. Does this mean the United States government and military are above the law?
Capt. May: I realize that my phrase “war is just homicide on a national scale” is cold-blooded, but it is a professional military man’s first premise in understanding or discussing the phenomenon. I accept your objection that I don’t offer human judgments as to who is involved in self-defense and in aggression. I agree with you that such judgments must be made, and I’ve been forthright elsewhere in my moral evaluation of the “Global War on Terror,” admitting that we Americans have been duped into war crime, and calling for punishment of our leaders:
“Hamdan vs. Rumsfeld: Geneva Conventions now, Nuremberg Principles later,” Al Jazeerah, 7/3/2006, http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2006%20Opinion%20Editorials/July/3%20o/Hamdan%20vs%20Rumsfeld%20Geneva%20Conventions%20now,%20Nuremberg%20Principles%20later%20By%20Captain%20Eric%20H.%20May.htm
Whistleblower Jesse Macbeth
Kim Petersen: I first became acquainted with you when you responded to Dissident Voice pulling an article on damning revelations about U.S. military atrocities in Iraq made by a purported Army Ranger, Jesse Macbeth. However, Iraq Veterans Against the War disavowed backing Macbeth, and the veracity of Mr. Macbeth’s claims of service in the U.S. Army were questioned. Lacking substantiation of Mr. Macbeth’s claims DV pulled the article. Other media outlets followed suit. You decried this as a “hideous failure of American journalism.” Do you still see Macbeth as a victim of “swiftboating”?
Capt. May: In a word, yes. Jesse Macbeth is a perfect example of a crucial dissident voice who had both courage and a vital message. An Arab-American TV show host, Dr. Hesham Tillawi of Current Issues asked me to review the Macbeth tape just before the swiftboat attacks began, and it seemed absolutely credible to me, a veteran of four decades of military service. Macbeth was specific in terminology, tactics and training. He was also specific about Middle East geography, lifestyle, habits and attitude. There had already been two local Arizona mainstream media stories about him — neither previously challenged — as a war veteran. He had already been drawing benefits from the Veterans Administration without difficulty, meaning that the military considered him much more than a training washout, the story with which they later attacked him.
When Iraq Veterans Against the War failed to support him, it was because an IVAW administrator, Amanda Braxton, a lifelong civilian, had been buffaloed by the best swiftboating attack since the presidential election of 2004. It was led by men whose records in special operations, propaganda and Republican war rallying made them seem more like mercenaries than media. When I interviewed Braxton, she admitted that she had been frightened into turning on Macbeth. Further, she mentioned that his IVAW cohorts had never doubted that he was a war veteran. This was the best evidence of all that he was on the level.
Given my familiarity with the military system, I made calls all the way to the top level of the Army requesting confirmation from the official record supporting swiftboater claims that Macbeth had never seen the war — and found that the Army was trying to dodge any comment about him. Yes, Macbeth was swiftboated because his message was that we were using SS-style tactics against Middle Eastern Muslims — something the Middle East is well aware of. The alternative media chickened out on a crucial story, allowing the mainstream media and political establishment to cover it up. I wrote an article about it before moving on to other critical stories:
“Updating a War Crime Witness: Jesse Macbeth,” Political Research, 6/5/2006, http://www.mail-archive.com/political-research@yahoogroups.com/msg04031.html
The Battle of Baghdad
KP: I had heard about the Battle of Baghdad at the airport from my colleague BJ Sabri, where reportedly U.S. troops had suffered many losses, but you are the first person I know to have reported about it online. You wrote that it was kept from public consciousness, “hidden under the distraction story of Private Jessica Lynch.” The Battle of Baghdad still has not emerged into public consciousness. Why do you think this is so?
Capt. May: In Ghost Troop, we never left the cover-up unchallenged. In early April of 2007, as the fourth anniversary of the Battle of Baghdad approached, The Lone Star Iconoclast published an interview with me updating my research on the cover-up. A few days later Al Jazeera published an interview with Iraqi General Al-Rawi, who had commanded Saddam’s forces at the airport. A few weeks later the U.S. Congress held hearings about media and military failure to report the truth from Iraq and Afghanistan, especially in the cases of Pvt. Jessica Lynch and Cpl. Pat Tillman.
I believe that Ghost Troop and the Iconoclast gave Al Jazeera and Congress the encouragement they needed to do as much as they did. I believe that the continuing cover-up by the mainstream and alternative media goes far to demonstrate that they are in large part controlled by the same pro-war establishment that has orchestrated everything from 9/11 to the present to turn the American dream of security into the Muslim nightmare of invasion.
Neutron Bombing Baghdad
BJ: There were many published emails that you wrote where you defend the right for information and to find out the truth, at least about the Battle of Baghdad; now, if that is the case, and since you were a material witness to history, and since many accounts confirm that the United States used a neutron bomb to the end the battle that cost the U.S. military dearly, I ask you a very precise question: Did the United States use such a neutron bomb in Iraq?
Capt. May: When the Battle of Baghdad occurred, I was at home in Texas, my active duty military days behind me, watching events on CNN. At that point I knew that something catastrophic had happened in Saddam International Airport, but I had no idea that it was something nuclear. Over the next couple of years I received many reports from both Arab and Western witnesses that we had used a neutron warhead. It wasn’t until I reached the antiwar Camp Casey outside George W. Bush’s Texas headquarters in Crawford in 2005 that I spoke with numerous witnesses together. They included Army and Marine veterans of the Battle of Baghdad, Arab witnesses and journalists. All their accounts, taken together, convinced me that the neutron warhead was employed. Gen. Al-Rawi confirmed the nuke in his AlJazeera interview:
“US accused of using neutron bombs,” Al Jazeera, 4/9/2007, http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2007/04/200852514126899448.html
Bushmen and Zionazis
BJ: In your “Philippic contra George W. Bush,” http://www.ghosttroop.net/philippiccontrabush.htm, from your 2003 report to Congress, Ghost Troop, you suggested that he should articulate this message to the nation after the Battle of Baghdad began:
“We will not rest until the mission for which they gave their lives is accomplished. We will not stop until we have vanquished tyranny and terror abroad, and brought our heroes home. That will be our tribute to the fallen. God Bless America, Garry Owen, and goodnight.“
To me, you kept George Bush’s essence, but just embellished the rhetoric. Can you explain?
Capt. May: It’s likely that Bush himself read my words, since I interviewed with his team about becoming his speechwriter before he became president, when he was still the governor of Texas and we shared some acquaintances. In the philippic, I attacked him as a lying coward, and to drive the point home I wrote the words that I would have written for him had I been his speechwriter at the time of the Battle of Baghdad. At that point I still had no judgment about whether or not the war in Iraq was legal or illegal. I was chiding him for not having enough guts to admit facts.
I was writing rhetoric, of course, by putting the best face on the facts as I then believed them to be. Please bear in mind that I was also writing a historic document here by slamming the most powerful man on earth at a time when he had shown himself to be tyrannical and murderous. People who write philippics — which can only earn the name “philippic” when published to a murderous tyrant — have good reason to worry that the bold act will cost them their lives, and I believe it nearly cost me mine. A couple of days after I wrote it, political dissidents in the U.S. and UK began to be assassinated, which was the topic of a recently published article about them and me:
“Captain Courageous Witnessed: Dr. Kelly Assassinated!,” The Lone Star Iconoclast, 12/10/2009, http://iconoclastnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=340:captain-courageous-witnessed-dr-kelly-assassinated&catid=47:the-trenchwalker-by-w-leon-smith&Itemid=83
BJ: What do you think now about the endless wars of what many experts contend is a Zionist-controlled United States government?
I guess I would have to call myself one of the cynical experts. The United States has become a golem, mindlessly carrying out proxy wars for Zionists. Until we awaken as a nation to Israel’s machinations and manipulations against our own interests, we are in great danger ourselves, and represent a great danger to the rest of the world.
Nuclear Obama and 9/11-2B
KP: 9/11 provided a pretext for the so-called War on Terror, and Ghost Troop has been vigilant in defending against another 9/11. Does an Obama government affect the need for such vigilance?
Capt. May: Not in the least. In his first year in office, Obama has demonstrated conclusively that he is a puppet for the war cabal. He needs another 9/11-style event to re-energize the dictatorial Homeland and the imperial Global War, which are nothing more than euphemisms for “Vaterland” and “World War.” In Ghost Troop we use an operational codename for this required next 9/11: We call it “9/11-2B” — the 9/11 that the establishment assures us is going “to be.” Just a month ago Obama’s intelligence officials were projecting 9/11-2B in 3 to 6 months. The way we look at it, that means this puppet president wants to set up such an attack before the Congressional elections of next fall. His recent emphasis on beefing up our cyber security is an indicator that 9/11-2B will entail an attack on the Internet, the sole remaining free media, and the greatest impediment to totalitarian rule of the United States.
Tyrants and Terrorists
BJ: Do you really think that these wars are about tyranny and terror? In wider sense, do you think it is about time that the American people stop following what their rulers incite them to do in the names of causes that actually do not exist except on a propagandistic level?
Capt. May: I do think that these wars are about tyranny and terror: the tyranny and terror of Western psychopaths who have taken over the reins of power. They intend to do far worse deeds than they have done. The only way we can stop them is by doing what you suggest: awakening the American people to the perils of being misled by perfidious leaders and an evil establishment. I am proud to be, like you, among the dissident voices engaged in this historic struggle, in which we have transformed the Internet into the printing press of the New American Revolution.
To learn more about BOBCUP and 9/11-2B, or to join Ghost Troop Cyber Militia, refer to the unit’s homepage: http://www.spiritone.com/~ghosttroop/Captain_Eric_H_May.html.
Fly The Skinny Skies
Recently, actor-director, Kevin Smith was removed from his seat on a plane and forced to leave. The reason: he was too fat, or as the airlines say, “He was a person of size.” Smith, who starred as Silent Bob in a couple of movies, had purchased tickets for two seats because of his girth. But then he decided to stand by for an earlier flight. There was only one seat available on that flight, he sat in it, then was forced to leave. Now before you start sending irate emails to me, let me say something: I recognize that obesity is a big problem in America, and I understand that there may be times when someone is big enough to squish the person next to him. But this guy tried to play by the rules, and bought two seats. If there had been two vacant seats on the next plane, he would have bought them. And he was already seated! Was his physique really such an inconvenience for other passengers or such a danger to the flight that he should have been removed from the plane? Being overweight might be bad for you, but he wasn’t a criminal. Eating second helpings is not a felony.
Recently, actor-director, Kevin Smith was removed from his seat on a plane and forced to leave. The reason: he was too fat, or as the airlines say, “He was a person of size.” Smith, who starred as Silent Bob in a couple of movies, had purchased tickets for two seats because of his girth. But then he decided to stand by for an earlier flight. There was only one seat available on that flight, he sat in it, then was forced to leave. Now before you start sending irate emails to me, let me say something: I recognize that obesity is a big problem in America, and I understand that there may be times when someone is big enough to squish the person next to him. But this guy tried to play by the rules, and bought two seats. If there had been two vacant seats on the next plane, he would have bought them. And he was already seated! Was his physique really such an inconvenience for other passengers or such a danger to the flight that he should have been removed from the plane? Being overweight might be bad for you, but he wasn’t a criminal. Eating second helpings is not a felony.
I understand the reasons for the airlines’ rule. Nobody wants someone else infringing upon their space, and there’s hardly any room on airplane seats if the one next to you is empty. But people other than those “of size” can cause just as much discomfort and annoyance to the person next to them, but nobody’s kicking them off the plane. How about someone sitting next to you who hasn’t had a bath since the Clinton administration? Or what if you get “a talker” next to you? He’s some guy who buckles up and then says something like, “Let me tell you about myself. A lot of people don’t realize what an interesting field recycling bowling balls is. ….” Then there’s “the laugher.” She watches a movie on her computer while you’re trying to sleep, and every time you doze off, she laughs out loud. Her laugh is slightly more annoying than the sound of broken chalk on a blackboard.
Nobody wants to sit next to a drunk who spills half his drink on your new pair of pants. Then there’s the guy who’s taken a sleeping pill right when the plane takes off. He falls into a deep sleep with his head flopping onto your shoulder in a creepy way. The drooling doesn’t help. As much as we all love children, do you really want to sit next to a kid who keeps banging his toy hammer on the armrest for five hours?
Beside the “squish factor,” the other reason airlines say they are reluctant to have a heavy person on board is because in an emergency, he or she might prevent “a timely exit from the aircraft.” If you ask me, if you have to exit a plane because of an emergency, your least problem is that the person next to you likes to have ice cream after his pasta.
Besides, who decides if a passenger is “too fat?” Is it okay to be 10 pounds overweight? How about 25? 50? Do they draw the line at 100? 1081/2? Obviously, it’s a subjective call. Well, kicking someone off the plane who has made an effort to abide by the airline’s rules is a subjective call, too. And they blew it. They should have thrown a little common sense into the mix. An allowance should have been made for his having bought two seats, and there should have been some understanding of the inconvenience and embarrassment of being kicked off the plane after being seated. Again, I’m not saying that I’d love to be next to someone who takes up a good portion of my seat, too. I’m just saying they shouldn’t have made such a big deal about someone being big.
Now it would be easy for me to argue snidely that they kicked this guy off a plane, but they let a guy on who had a bomb in his underpants. So, I won’t say that. But it is a bit weird for the airlines to be so vigilant in profiling people with big profiles.
Lloyd Garver has written for many television shows, ranging from “Sesame Street” to “Family Ties” to “Home Improvement” to “Frasier.” He has also read many books, some of them in hardcover. He can be reached at lloydgarver@gmail.com. Check out his website at lloydgarver.com and his podcasts on iTunes.
Frozen Assets — Weather, Politics Take Toll On Americans
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chemtrails are again abundant in Texas, as are strange weather extremes that tend to follow them. However, the extremes have extended themselves around the planet.
Last year, the United States Geological Survey reported nearly 70 major earthquakes in the world, perhaps more than ever. Prior to the Bush Administration years, the average was about five or six a year. During the Bush years, the totals were usually in their 30s.
The latest occurred in Chile and other parts of South America on Sunday.
In the weeks preceding this event, much of the United States was snowbound, with record accumulations occurring in the northeast. Texas saw snowfall that has resulted in one of the wettest winters in history. Of course, for those involved in agriculture, the moisture may cause corn growers to be unable to plant their crops during the optimal window.
According to Dr. Travis Miller, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, the Gulf Coast has been too wet for four months or more. “Central Texas is pretty much the same. No field work has been done; no fertilizing, no land preparation. There are lots of weeds in the fields. We’re very close to planting time and absolutely no field work has been done.”
In politics, the freeze to develop a workable healthcare plan is solid, with Democrats and Republicans honoring party wishes instead of catering to humanity.
Likewise, the H1N1 scare has at least temporarily subsided now that drug companies have made their profits, although hundreds of miscarriages attributable to the vaccines have occurred and children have become permanently damaged. This gets little media attention because drug companies are major advertisers of television companies.
Insurance companies are putting the freeze on American citizens by drastically increasing health insurance premiums to make insurance coverage out of the reach of many.
Major Wall Street corporations are utilizing the Public Employees Retirement System as a trading mechanism to collapse assets and then purchase whatever they can under a new private-public mantle of obfuscated laws that operate in secrecy. This freeze has put Wall Street in a temporary bubble with use of taxpayer money paid into the retirement system, ultimately resulting in the non-transparent selling of securities that cannot be legally obtained, per Constitutional law.
The Supreme Court has further frozen out honest elections by allowing corporations to “openly” buy the candidates.
The deep freeze is expected to continue since virtually anything passed by the House and Senate will be costly to taxpayers.
I Pledge Allegiance To The…
“I pledge allegiance to the …Republican Party.”
“I pledge allegiance to the …Democratic Party.”
“I pledge allegiance to …Wall Street.”
“I pledge allegiance to …War.”
“I pledge allegiance to …Trafficking By Drug Companies.”
“I pledge allegiance to …Media Propaganda.”
“I pledge allegiance to …Political Lobbyists.”
“I pledge allegiance to …Monsanto.”
“I pledge allegiance to …Walmart.”
“I pledge allegiance to …the IRS.”
“I pledge allegiance to … the United States of America.”
Okay, so we finally got it right.
Or did we?
Actually, the upper part of the above list could be extended, but you get the idea.
The United States has a problem. For one, it keeps electing people who got us into this mess. For two, the top two political parties are nothing but trash. You’d think that anyone worth his salt would not have to bow down to a party to get elected, to give up his soul. Instead we get saddled with wimps whose allegiance might be to the United States, somewhere way down the line — but his party always comes first, as does catering to the dictates of big corporations.
It is because of the elitist values overtaking America that family values are waning. For instance, can you name one current TV show that espouses family values? How many shows do you watch that have no drug company commercials and no sex commercials?
Ever know a President that didn’t lie?
Or a Senator?
Or a Congressman?
Americans have grown to not only accept political/corporate corruption, but to expect it. Now, we are on the verge of a new phase — not just expecting it, but embracing it, which is why the two idiot parties are likely to flourish. You have the Clintons, the Bushes, and the Obamas to look after you, to make decisions for you, and to protect you with their own obscene values.
These are the current heads of your households, those who come up with convolutions instead of solutions.
Of course, you could do something about it.
But you won’t.
Proof is in the polls.
— W. Leon Smith
Honey vs. Vinegar: Survivor Afghanistan — Episode 2
My friend the “Marine Mom” just shot me another e-mail. “If you are determined to write about the game of Survivor,” she wrote, “why don’t you write about ‘Survivor Afghanistan’? I have a son over there now, serving in Helmand Province with the Marines — and, more than anything, I want HIM to survive.”
http://jpstillwater.blogspot.com
My friend the “Marine Mom” just shot me another e-mail. “If you are determined to write about the game of Survivor,” she wrote, “why don’t you write about ‘Survivor Afghanistan’? I have a son over there now, serving in Helmand Province with the Marines — and, more than anything, I want HIM to survive.”
“But I know almost nothing about what is going on in Afghanistan right now,” I shot back. “I haven’t been there since 2006, plus it’s never a good idea to write about stuff you know nothing about (even though Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, the New York Times and folks in the Senate appear to do it all the time). You can lose credibility that way. But I do know a lot of stuff about the TV show’s 20th season, Heroes vs. Villains.” For instance I know that, even after ten years on the show, Jeff Probst is still HOT.
And I also know that I just sent a video application off to CBS so that I can be on their season 21 show — and that if you watch my video, you will be voting for me to win a free audition trip to L.A. Just click here:
I’d be great on Survivor! Except of course for my knees.
But Marine Mom wasn’t going to let me off the hook that easily and she e-mailed me again. “I have heard from many Marines and others in the military that having our troops on the ground and endangering them is totally unnecessary. It’s like Joe Biden said. We can watch this all from the air.” That’s true. Hey, even the Pentagon has access to Google Earth.
“Also, most of the enemy has gone to ‘ungoverned’ areas of Pakistan. Since they are ungoverned, and Admiral Mullen and others say that they are such a risk to the USA, then we could bomb there, or use hammer & anvil tactics and just tell Pakistan that they should get on one side and we will be on the other and the enemy in the ‘ungoverned’ area will get crushed. These could be solutions to the problem. But, basically, I believe that this war is non-winnable. But if the goal is to give Afghans trust in their government, that’s totally impossible. We don’t even totally trust our own government!
“Also, there is a ‘bait and switch’ con-game going on in Washington now,” Marine Mom continued. “A former Marine that I know told me that the Pentagon and Washington never had any plans to totally leave Iraq all along — and that it is only an apparent switch to Afghanistan. And it’s not only just a switch to Afghanistan, but a bait-and-switch too! We Americans were sold the con that we were leaving the wars, but after voting for ‘change’ away from war, we now find out that it was all bait-and-switch all along! The bait: Get out of wars. The switch: The Pentagon’s forces are still in Iraq, although claiming to leave, and there’s a massive build-up and huge bases being built in Afghanistan too! And here our Marines go now, off to Marjah.”
And then a friend of mine in Kabul e-mailed me too. “Kabul is calm after an explosion on the Jalalabad road yesterday, east of Kabul; where many military bases are located. The target was a military convoy but civilians were again the victims. And yesterday five suicide-bomber organizers were arrested by the Afghan police in the eastern part of Kabul. The organizers apparently got their training and equipment from the other side of the AfPak border. They had guns, bombs, special suicide jackets and other explosive materials with them at the time of their arrest.”
So. Has hearsay made me an expert on Afghanistan yet? Yeah.
And here’s even more stuff from Marine Mom, regarding gays in the military. “We don’t need to be separating the gays out NOW, right in the middle of a war. What we really need to do is to separate the WINNERS and the LOSERS — both in the general and in officer corps. If a heterosexual is a loser and has a culture of losing, and the gay has a culture of VICTORY, they need to pick the one with the CULTURE OF VICTORY. The key is to WIN the wars they are sent to — and, even more important, have politicians in office who will only send our troops to war IF IT IS NECESSARY.”
Hmmm. That’s all well and good. I like a victory as much as the next guy. But what exactly does “victory” in Afghanistan consist of? From where I sit, “victory” seems to consist of winning as many big contracts and as much resource booty as possible for globalized corporatists with no loyalty to America and also for weapons manufacturers. That seems to be the whole rationale for our troops to be spending nine long bloody years slogging around in Afghanistan. And it seems to be the only rationale that I can see for the war on Iraq and the nightmare in Palestine, too.
There can’t be any other reason. Nothing else is logical. Nothing else makes sense.
If one were to actually approach world relations logically, one would also discover that one catches more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Take Norway for instance. Its government serves its people. It doesn’t have an oppressive ruling class. Everyone likes Norway. The Norwegians use honey instead of vinegar. For example, have you ever heard of Norway being accused of torture?
Okay. Now that I (and Dick Cheney) have let the cat out of the bag, let’s talk about torture. Villains in the employ of the supposedly freedom-loving, moral and honorable U.S. are torturing Afghans, Iraqis and Palestinians like crazy — and these torturers are torturing some pretty hard-core dudes. These dudes that are now being tortured have already been abused and tortured since their childhoods. They know how to either resist torture or to make up fancy lies while on The Rack. These dudes are USED to torture and abuse.
But OMG! What if you treat these guys kindly? What if you surprise them with the very first gentleness that they may have ever experienced in their whole lives? They’ll crack!
Just let ME at these hard-core dudes. I’d do a half-hour of Jin Shin Jyutsu acupressure moves on them and soon have them crying like babies. “No one has ever been NICE to me before!” they’d wail — as they spilled all the beans.
Of course no one has ever been nice to you, dummy. Duh. If you are living on land that has water or oil or whatever under it or you are standing in the way of a freaking pipeline or are a pawn in the Great Game? Or you are the only thing standing in the way of the Western “capitalist” money-making juggernaut? What the freak else did you expect?
Let’s move on.
On the TV show “Survivor Samoa,” Russell tried to weaken and destabilize his opponents in order to win the game. And that’s just like what has happened in “Survivor Afghanistan”!
Pakistan has spent the last 40-odd years trying to destabilize Afghanistan.
Russia and the USSR have spent the last 40-odd years trying to destabilize Afghanistan.
The powers-that-be in Washington DC, the CIA and the Pentagon have spent the last 40-odd years trying to destabilize Afghanistan.
And guess what? This strategy is working! Afghanistan has been destabilized like crazy. Their socks are toast!
Right now, Afghans themselves don’t seem to have a snowball’s chance in Hell of winning “Survivor Afghanistan.” It’s like on the first episode of the TV show’s Season 20 — when one of the Villains shouted, “Break her arm!” If the Pentagon does switch to drone-only warfare in Afghanistan, Afghans are going to immediately get voted off their own country. It’s like Jeff Probst says. “Fire represents life.” And after the “Tribe” gets done speaking in “Survivor Afghanistan,” chances are rather good that, if you are an Afghan, your torch will be OUT. And you will be dead.
PS: Here’s the latest report on Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. Which players on the show used honey this week? And which of them used vinegar? Let’s find out.
James definitely used vinegar on this episode. “Stephanie needs to be gone!” he cried. And she was. But Cirie used honey — and that worked too. My money is on her. I bet that James is gonna be voted out as soon as there’s a merge. And I bet that Cirie will be one of the finalists. Honey wins every time! That, and a little bit of skulduggery.
No Senior Moments?
Remember your Senior Year in high school? Was it a great year? Was it the highpoint of your athletic career? Did you win the science fair? Did you have a memorable time at the prom? Did you learn more as you prepared for college? Did you go to some great basketball and football games? How about all those graduation parties? Or was Senior Year a painful time filled with awkwardness, acne, and adolescent angst? Well, a Utah State Senator, Chris Buttars suggests that for many students, 12th grade is a waste of time that costs the state millions of dollars. At first, he suggested that the state cut out 12th grade altogether. Since then, he dialed it back to propose that Senior Year be optional. He just doesn’t think 12th grade is necessary for many students, because so many “kids are just goofing off.” Of course, many of us feel that state senators aren’t necessary, because so many of them are just goofing off.
Remember your Senior Year in high school? Was it a great year? Was it the highpoint of your athletic career? Did you win the science fair? Did you have a memorable time at the prom? Did you learn more as you prepared for college? Did you go to some great basketball and football games? How about all those graduation parties? Or was Senior Year a painful time filled with awkwardness, acne, and adolescent angst? Well, a Utah State Senator, Chris Buttars suggests that for many students, 12th grade is a waste of time that costs the state millions of dollars. At first, he suggested that the state cut out 12th grade altogether. Since then, he dialed it back to propose that Senior Year be optional. He just doesn’t think 12th grade is necessary for many students, because so many “kids are just goofing off.” Of course, many of us feel that state senators aren’t necessary, because so many of them are just goofing off.
If kids are goofing around and wasting time in school, I don’t know that this behavior should be rewarded by telling them they don’t have to go to school anymore. Maybe making sure that 12th grade isn’t a waste of time would be a better way to go. If the results of Drivers’ Ed aren’t so good, you don’t stop teaching kids to drive safely. You teach them better.
Similarly, William Sederburg, Utah’s Commissioner of Higher Education, said the bill was a move in the wrong direction. He pointed out that half of the students who graduate now are unprepared for college math and about a third do not have the writing skills for college.
Anybody who feels that kids need less rather than more education today hasn’t talked to too many teenagers lately. If the Senator would just go to the nearest mall, he’d hear things like, “So, uh, like, I thought it was so random when he asked me if this is a new sweater since me and him were shopping when I bought it.” Or, “So she went all Lindsay Lohan with me and I was totally, like, duh.” Or “I gave him a ten dollar bill for the burger and Coke. Is this the right change? I think I took a mental health day from school when they did subtraction.” Do you think the Senator would still say they don’t need more education?
And of course, let’s not forget all those once-in-a-lifetime Senior Year moments. Do we want to deny kids the Prom, the Big Game, or that magical moment when they find out that there’s no such thing as a “permanent record?”
When kids go off to college or work, they are going to have to answer “yes” or “no” to questions about sex, drinking, and drugs. Do you really want them to be out in the real world dealing with things like that earlier rather than later? A year to grow and mature isn’t a luxury. How can we expect 17-year olds to handle the real world when many adults can’t?
J.D. Williams, the student body president of Utah’s West Jordan High School doesn’t think 12th grade is a waste of time. He says, “If you’re the type of kid who will slack off, you’d find a way to do that in sophomore or junior year anyway.” That’s a good point, but if Buttars and those who agree with him hear that statement, they might want to cut out the sophomore and junior years, too.
One thing that happens when children aren’t educated properly is that they become adults who haven’t been educated properly. We hear adults using bad grammar every day. How often do we see someone making a speech on television, and hear her say, “We all have to think more positive about this issue” — instead of “more positively?” Over and over again, sportscasters talk about how teams “have to play more aggressive” — instead of “more aggressively.” And these are people whose high schools had a 12th grade.
In case you haven’t guessed, I’m not in favor of cutting out the Senior Year. I’m hoping that you’ll be convinced by something William Sederburg, Utah’s Higher Education Commissioner, said on CNN: “We would like the high school system to take the 12th year serious.”
That’s right. He said “serious,” not “seriously.” And he’s Utah’s head of Higher Education.
I don’t make these up. I couldn’t.
Lloyd Garver has written for many television shows, ranging from “Sesame Street” to “Family Ties” to “Home Improvement” to “Frasier.” He has also read many books, some of them in hardcover. He can be reached at lloydgarver@gmail.com. Check out his website at lloydgarver.com and his podcasts on iTunes.
Cabelas — Like Disney World For Adults
The Cabelas store up north of Ft. Worth is like Disney World for grownups (mostly men) minus the rides. It’s a whole new concept in retail. Store as amusement. And I’m not talking about how I can spend 30 minutes in a handbag or shoe department and thoroughly enjoy myself.
The Cabelas store up north of Ft. Worth is like Disney World for grownups (mostly men) minus the rides. It’s a whole new concept in retail. Store as amusement. And I’m not talking about how I can spend 30 minutes in a handbag or shoe department and thoroughly enjoy myself.
If you’re into hunting, fishing, wildlife, guns, knives, boats, dogs, hiking, the outdoors (and related categories), you’ll like Cabelas. Even if you’re a man who hates to shop, you’ll want to stay for hours. Zack’s been a Cabelas catalogue shopper for years. He’s planned to visit this place since our friend Ron returned from the store in Buda a while back, regaling us with tales of the aquarium, the ammunition, the taxidermy displays. (Besides many varieties of Texas wildlife, there’s a section of animals from other hunting/safari destinations including elephants, zebras, and so forth). — Pretty impressive whether one hunts with gun or camera — or simply enjoys looking. It’s sort of like a zoo of animals standing still —long enough that one can examine them in detail.
Zack budgeted an hour for his stop at Cabelas on our way to seeing family in Dallas and taking Josh to the airport. We had to practically drag the man out after two hours. (I guarantee you he wouldn’t have followed ME around a women’s store for half that time. He’s been known to sit in the truck to wait while I dash into Target). We all enjoyed the outing.
You know this must have been interesting if I can say I liked it even though I didn’t make ONE purchase. It was an experience (one I probably wouldn’t tolerate so well —for quite so long next time or too frequently). Josh had wondered why we needed to leave so early just to SHOP at some “sporting goods store.” (Neither my son nor I truly understood the breadth and depth of this superstore that caters to the consummate sportsman. I think Zack was even a little surprised). Josh enjoyed his buffalo burger from the restaurant upstairs, and had to admit he was impressed with the place, though his eyes began to glaze over long before we checked out. I noticed there was even a room upstairs for birthday parties. IN A STORE. This was a new concept for me. I wonder when they’ll start charging admission.
I learned from this experience that Zack CAN and WILL shop longer than 10 minutes given the right stimulus. He was in Man Shopping Heaven. I think they pipe testosterone through the ventilation system. We saw assault rifles that looked too heavy for me to even lift. We saw knives that could kill bears. There were all manner of accessories for every imaginable manly outdoor sport. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so much ammunition in one place — or fishing lures — or knifes — or any of the other thousands of items available. I had to wonder if there are that many sportsmen in the world to use all this stuff.
All the sales persons seemed knowledgeable. The server in the restaurant was really into the exotic fare that was available. Even the women who work in this place look like they could climb a mountain, fly fish, skin a squirrel if necessary, gut a buck, make a fire by rubbing sticks together, back a boat trailer expertly, tell one variety of deer from another, use a doe call, and live on road kill in the wilderness if the situation called for it.
I’m thinking it might be a whole lot easier in the future to drag Zack along on trips to the Metroplex, so long as we squeeze in a (two or three hour) stop at Cabelas. (Can you see where I’m going with this?) And maybe, just maybe, he’d tolerate a stop at Northpark or the Galleria with a little more grace than usual (even when we headed for the women’s departments).
Life is so often about compromise and balance. And sometimes maybe even a little harmless manipulation.
Gene Ellis, Ed.D is a Bosque County resident who returned to the family farm after years of living in New Orleans, New York, and Florida.
She’s an artist who holds a doctoral degree from New York University and is writing a book about the minor catastrophes of life.
Check out Genie’s blog at http://rusticramblings.wordpress.com/
Dam Breaks Sending Wall Of Water Into Austin
Austinites packed the opera house on March 1, 1890 to debate the pros and cons of the most ambitious public-works project in the history of the state capital – turning the Colorado River into a source of cheap electricity.
Austinites packed the opera house on March 1, 1890 to debate the pros and cons of the most ambitious public-works project in the history of the state capital – turning the Colorado River into a source of cheap electricity.
The bright idea of damming the Colorado originated with Alexander P. Wooldridge, a New Orleans native who moved to Austin to practice law and jumped feet-first in the affairs of his adopted hometown.
“What is to be done to establish permanent prosperity in an overdone and rather poor capital city without commerce and manufactures? Wooldridge asked in a New Year’s Day 1888 letter to The Daily Statesman. His solution, the diversion of the muddy Colorado to generate power and to irrigate cropland, attracted little interest at the time.
A scaled-down version of the grand undertaking unveiled the next year was enthusiastically endorsed by the newspaper, which had turned thumbs down on the original proposal. Cynics suggested that Wooldridge’s promotion to president of The Daily Statesman may have had something to do with the abrupt about-face.
A contractor mounted a single-issue challenge to the incumbent mayor, who faced reelection in December 1889. John McDonald presented the dam as the magical elixir for all that ailed Austin, but his opponent refused to take a position on the red-hot issue.
During the heated campaign, the city engineer filed glowing first-hand reports from New England on the wonders of water power. Austin could follow in the footsteps of Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts and become a major textile center.
Writing to The Statesman editor, a venerable ex-governor picked the plan to pieces. Oran Roberts expressed grave doubts any man-made structure could contain the rain-swollen Colorado or that the dam could be built for a mere $100,000. He also warned of the detrimental effects of industrialization maintaining that he for one had no desire to live in a smoke-shrouded mill town.
The Daily Statesman delayed publication of Gov. Roberts’ letter until election day in order to minimize the impact of his sobering perspective. A rising tide of pro-dam excitement swept McDonald and a slate of like-minded councilmen into office.
The victory moved one voter to angry eloquence. “The North has reviled and spurned us, has cursed, abused and kicked us,” he fumed. “Now we can rise up and assert our manhood, and shake our fists at the cold and selfish fanatics of the North. God is just.”
The public meeting at the opera house in March 1890 proved to be just a formality. Few in attendance seemed to mind that the dam had nearly doubled in size or that the estimated cost had soared to a million and a half dollars. Five weeks later, the issuance of the necessary bonds received 96-percent approval at the polls.
Construction was completed in three years despite the mayor’s feud with the head engineer, who quit in disgust, sluggish bond sales and the embarrassing failure to lure a single new factory to town. Even persistent rumors of corruption and the use of alarmingly inferior materials did not erode public confidence.
“Austin’s darling hope is now accomplished!” The Daily Statesman rejoiced in May 1893. “The dam is finished, and the lake is full. Critics and backbiters will please now go off and die.”
However, as a source of cheap and dependable electricity, the McDonald Dam was an absolute flop. For weeks at a stretch in the annual dry season, the generators stood high, dry and idle. Recently installed street lamps in the downtown district were nothing more than expensive decorations.
Heavy spring rains put the dam to the test in 1900. By Saturday morning, Aprril 7, swirling floodwaters 11 feet deep surged over the granite barrier loosening its grip on the soft river bottom. The cylindrical dam finally broke under the strain, and giant chunks were rolled downstream by the swift current.
Five men and three boys, including the chief engineer’s two sons, were caught in the generator room of the power house. None made it out of the deathtrap alive.
A woman and her two little girls standing on the bank below the power house were swept away by the torrent. Their bodies were never recovered.
The Montopolis Bridge barely survived the onslaught, and an alert policeman saved dozens of lives by clearing the Congress Avenue span of sightseers. Sheer luck spared the stricken city further fatalities, but widespread damage could not be averted as block after block was buried in knee-deep mud.
The disaster left Austin without electricity until a coal-burning steam plant arrived by rail the next week. The bonds that funded the defunct dam took far longer to pay off and for years to come were a financial millstone around the taxpayers’ necks.
The disastrous demise of his dream did not diminish the faith of A.P. Wooldridge. Twenty years later, he was quoted as saying, “That project at the present time is somewhat discredited, but in my opinion it will yet prove a great boon to our people.”
Bartee Haile welcomes your comments, questions and suggestions at haile@pdq.net or P.O. Box 152, Friendswood, TX 77549. And come on by www.twith.com for a visit!
