Category: Commentary

In a way, the tragic events of 9/11 played right into the Administration's hand.

Although Bush's presidency was only in its seventh month, he was something of a lame duck when the twin towers fell. He had no clear mandate from the American people. In November, he'd lost the popular vote, and had only garnered enough electoral votes to claim victory by convincing the Supreme Court to accept the results of a questionable Florida election and vote count. The majority of American voters had not voted for him, and a sizable number thought he'd stolen the presidency.

Thirty years after the fact, Vietnam is still an open wound. If you listen to the pundits on conservative talk radio, you might come to the conclusion that it's only those who served in 'Nam, or those who supported the war, who continue to be bothered over our collective adventure in Southeast Asia. Nothing could be further from the truth, and John Kerry should wake-up to this fact if he wishes to save his failing campaign.

Attempts have been made to sort mankind into hetero-, homo-, bi- and transsexuals. To assign some degree of normality to each category does little to clarify the nature of man as shown in the Bible in the first chapter of Genesis. But Christian Science explains why man's sexual identity is no part of the man found in Genesis I.

Even before Mel Gibson completed his film The Passion of Christ, corporate media had already rated it two thumbs down. When he was ready to distribute it, a maelstrom of critics appeared faster than spam in your mailbox. AOL immediately published two reviews. I thought, "Hmm, at last: fair and balanced reporting." The first review denounced the gore aspect of the film. OK, fair enough: the movie is gory. At the bottom of the article, a button suggested, "Click here for an alternate view." Naturally, I assumed it would reveal the film's redeeming qualities. I clicked. To my surprise, the critic dutifully explained how The Passion was anti-Semitic. Again, fair and balanced reporting proved to be one-sided bias.

Ralph Nader has some wonderful ideas. Many of the things he says are right on target. When he says there's barely any difference between the Democrats and the Republicans, that these two parties are basically two sides of the same coin, he's right. He's also right about corporate greed having too much of an influence on government policy, and he's right when he says that the two party system needs to be traded-in like a used car.

Daniel Boone blazed a trail to Kentucky because, in his words, he wanted "elbow room." North Carolina's Yadkin Valley had grown too crowded for his liking and he yearned for a place where neighbors were few and far between. Considering the fact that the population of the entire United States was only 2.2 million in 1770, which was about the time he made his first trek to Kentucky, he would likely feel pretty crowded in the Old North State now, with its population of over 8 million.

The adaptability and resilience of the human spirit is an ongoing source of amazement to all of us.. For example, with spring here I resolved to start jogging again and discovered that my body had invented a whole new sport. And like all great inventions, necessity was truly its mother.

As the presidential derby gets going in a predictable fashion, with the Democrat hopefuls attacking each other while remaining united against the current administration, I find myself, for the first time in memory, not caring about the outcome. Not only am I not inspired by any of the candidates currently in the running, I no longer have confidence in either of the official political parties to lead our nation. I don't think there's a politician in Washington who really understands the principles on which this country was founded.

The Masks of Halloween

by Christine Hall

I spent last Halloween on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. As usual on this day, the road was closed to traffic and the guys at WCHL, the local radio station, were claiming that there were over 10,000 people crammed onto the street. It seemed that nearly everybody except me was wearing a costume. I’d come as myself, figuring that was scary enough.

Yesterday’s “Alternative” Is Today’s Mainstream

by Christine Hall

Many people still think that those who buck the mainstream by taking alternative paths are kooky. They say that the health food people are all fanatics. Alternative health professionals like acupuncturists, reiki masters and homeopaths are quacks who play into people’s fears, keeping them from getting the medical attention they need. Those who meditate or practice any other “alien” spiritual system need to get a life and quit messing with that dangerous stuff.