Letters 2/23/06

Feb. 22, 2006

A tale no responsible
hunter would buy
As a long-time hunter I’m dismayed by the Bush Administration’s spin on the unfortunate hunting accident that occurred between Dick Cheney and his friend in Texas.
I was once the unfortunate recipient of a 12 gauge blast at about 30 yards and I can say that while it hurt like hell, left welts and scared the daylights out of me, there were no pellets left in my body so deep that doctors would have elected to leave them in, let alone would any have reached my heart.
While I can understand their desire to spin this story as all administrations in my lifetime have, the outright blaming the victim is inexcusable. While the guy is in intensive care, they’re busy blaming him for not announcing himself while approaching from behind. While that would have been wise, if that truly is what happened, it does not make it the victim’s fault.
I’m sorry, Mr. Cheney, but from day one, whether you grew up in a hunting family or took a gun safety course as a Boy Scout, as I did, it is ingrained in all hunters‘ heads that when an accident happens it is always the responsibility of the one who pulled the trigger. You are never to fire a weapon without being certain that there is no one between you and the target or beyond the target. If you can’t be sure, you don’t shoot. Period.
Mr. Cheney could have taken the high ground and called a press conference, taken full responsibility for what happend and raised national awareness around issues of gun safety. Instead he chose to turn it over to his cast of spin doctors who have woven a tale no responsible hunter is going to buy. I fear that this kind of thinking is going to occupy the White House for three more years.

Timothy Young • Honor


Stop the spying
I’m concerned about news of the federal government wiretapping innocent Americans. The president already has the power to wiretap suspected terrorists, but he isn’t getting the court warrants to do it.
I was born around the time President Nixon resigned, but I know my history and we can’t allow anyone to spy on Americans. If Congress doesn’t hold the president accountable, they are telling us that the president is above the law.

Erin Potter • St. Ignace

Where‘s Osama?
If you believe our government, and media, Osama Bin Laden is in a cave reading newspapers, making tapes, and the odd book review. To quote David Letterman, “I only look goofy.”
The real reason Osama hasn’t been brought down yet is he is back home in Saudi Arabia. I’m sure how this happened is an interesting story, but once there the whole scenario changed.
Now’s he’s being protected by a sovereign nation. If we demand they turn him over and they don’t that would be real grounds for war. Envision U.S. troops in Mecca. Even if they wanted to, the Saudi’s can’t give him up because then the protests and the car bombs would be aimed at them, and they saw what happened to the Shah of Iran.
If the Saudi royal family is toppled from power all petroleum-based economies are at risk. We’re number one on that list. This was realized by most concerned parties and a “Don’t ask. Won’t tell.” position was taken for mutual survival.
Still, there was the need for a demonstration of political and military will. After a little bait and switch it was, Enter Sandman, Exit Saddam. No one liked him much anyway.
Nearly drowned out by this chorus of mis-adventure and subterfuge are the echoes of 9/11. All who suffered, died, or just cried that day or since have been sold out for position, power, and profit. If someone has to sacrifice, better us then the heads of governments and corporations. I guess free trade is quite expensive after all.

Joseph Morio • Interlochen

Acts of abuse
Let’s open our eyes, finally, and face the facts of abuse... a child who has experienced abuse sees nothing wrong, for it knows no other life. Statistics tell us that child will grow up to abuse others.
Those individuals who see nothing wrong with the abuse being perpetrated by the Bush administration might search their own childhoods for patterns of abuse. They might see how their tolerance of abuse from the administration includes them.
In tolerating the Bush administrations’ blatant acts of abuse we are simulataneously teaching our children and the children in us that abuse of power (to include the abuse of others) is rewarded. The cycle will continue as long as we refuse to stop the bleeding at its source.

McKenzie Magee • Lake Leelanau

Where‘s the truth?
February 6, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, but he was not testifying under oath.
Republican Committee Chair Arlen Specter ruled that the Attorney General need not swear to tell the truth. All requests by the Democrats for the testimony to be under oath were overruled by the controlling Republican majority. That’s right, a witness of one of the most important Senate committees is not required to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”
Why would all ten Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee vote against AG Gonzales taking the oath? It could have something to do with a recent article in Insight magazine, a conservative publication of Washington Times owner Rev. Sun Myung Moon. This article reports that Karl Rove has “threatened to blacklist any Republican who votes against the president.”
Mr. Rove is essentially bribing and blackmailing members of the Judiciary committee into protecting Gonzales and by extension, the president. This latest vile threat by Karl Rove is an admission that the administration fears their actions broke the law and they are desperate.
No one seriously believes that any Democrat or Republican would want to keep the NSA from spying on suspected terrorists anywhere, as Rove and others suggest. This isn’t about spying on American soil, it’s about doing it without a warrant. It’s beyond party politics; it’s about checks and balances and the rule of law. The administration bypassed the check of a judge and failed to lawfully consult with Congress. They assigned themselves all authority to determine reasonableness and probable cause for a search and claim that this power is “inherent” in the powers of the president. In the context of an undeclared, unending war, this is a dangerous unconstitutional precedent and it must be opposed.

Daniel Tomaski • Gaylord

Press slept through party
The 2nd annual Dance For Democracy was an amazing representation of our Peace & Justice Community at large. Twenty five area peace and justice organizations tabled at this event with an overwhelming show of support from the community at large. I am so proud to live in an area where activism is so alive!
People visited tables getting information on Earth Day, media reform, animal rights, civil rights and peace while eating soup, hot dogs, Middle Eastern baked goods and drinking fair trade coffee. Old friends reuniting, sharing thoughts on peace, justice and networking to save the world. New faces discovering a treasure trove of activist resources. They bought buttons, yard signs, bumper stickers, t-shirts, books... all giving the same message, “The Bush Administration is the U.S. at it’s worst.”
Activist Sunsara Taylor spoke brilliantly of human injustices committed by the Bush regime and reinforced our need to press on. Radical Pun Plamondon gave us a colorful picture of activism in the ‘60s and reminded us that the struggle continues ten-fold with the current administration. People danced, filling the dance floor and grooving to the afro-funk beat of Nomo’s driving percussion and whaling saxophones. What a night! What a night! What a night!
But what is this? For the second year in a row...where was the media?
Out covering the latest preppy party for meaningless snaps of people holding up drinks and showing off the new fashion wardrobe profiled and itemized for nobody’s interest. Absolutely no room in the Sunday paper for anti-war rallies that draw capacity crowds at the City Opera House. TV... I’m afraid, speaking out to defend democracy is not in the best interest of corporate-owned media, even in Traverse City.
370 people gathered to call for justice last Saturday night and to Dance for a return of Democracy. And the press slept through the whole thing.

Bruce Peterson • via email

Health info blackout
Consumers must have access to accurate information about the effects of nutrients on disease. They need that information to make informed choices about what foods and supplements to ingest to treat and reduce the risk of disease.
For example, the FDA prohibits claims that:
1. calcium reduces the risk of bone fractures;
2. omega-3 fatty acids treat heart disease;
3. omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of sudden-death heart attack;
4. glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate treat osteoarthritis. Yet each of the claims is provably true. The Health Freedom Protection Act will end the reign of censorship and grant consumers access to the science that substantiates the effects of nutrients and disease

Sally Himmelspach • TC

Government snoops
The monitoring of Al Quaeda calls to the U.S. is a no-brainer. But what about my calls over the Internet to my friend in Germany in which I sometimes bash the President?
How do I know that the word “Bush” has not long ago triggered the NSA, etc.., eavesdropping capabilities, and that my conversations have not since been monitored by their vast computerized resources?
You the media are the bulwark separating what democracy we still have from totalitarianism! I trust you realize that!
That is, I hope you all press for the facts of this spying to be released, with regards to exactly what kind of eavesdropping this regime has done and is still doing!

Charlie Reyner • Harbor Springs


BRIEFS
BAY HARBOR: Tip of the Mitt Watershed will host a public forum to help citizens of the Little Traverse Bay Watershed learn more about the cement kiln dust (CKD) contamination at the Bay Harbor property and what is being done to clean up the contamination.
The cleanup took on a new impetus earlier this month when press accounts revealed that Bay Harbor developers have reacquired a $750,000 home due to contamination and are negotiating with other property owners.
The forum will be held Thursday, March 23, 7-9 p.m. at the Bay Harbor Resort and Marina Conference Center (Village at Bay Harbor). RSVP to the Watershed Council by March 17 via phone or email publicforum@watershedcouncil.org. To register, contact Jennifer McKay at (231) 347-1181 ext 114 or Marci Singer at ext. 118.

MINI-BITS: TC filmmaker Rich Brauer has wrapped his latest feature, “Frozen Stupid,“ starring Ernest Borgnine. The film will be screen-ready by May...
Zonker Harris might approve of a new “generic“ degree being considered by Northwestern Michigan College that would allow students to fill their scholastic shopping cart with courses of their own choosing -- like pottery and dance -- to get a general associates degree...
Aging talk radio patriots: love that war and want to go? The Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion of the U.S. Army has raised the enlistment age from 34 to 39 years, also doubling enlistment bonuses to up to $40,000 in the active Army and up to $20,000 for the Army Reserve.
Tough getting to and from Northern Michigan? No wonder: to cut costs, Northwest Airlines is decreasing flights in the region by as much as 38%, according to a recent report to the Traverse Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Traverse City Beach Bums are busy signing players and plan to be ready to “play ball“ at their new stadium near Chum‘s Corners on May 24 against the defending Frontier League champions, the Kalamazoo Kings. Check ‘em out at traversecitybeachbums.com.