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Today's Alternative News

will strive to give you perspectives on the news that you will rarely receive from other sources. At times, there will be eye-witness reports from troubled areas, at other times, there will be commentary, interviews and literary works.

The opinions of the writers are their own and may or may not represent the position of www.todaysalternativenews.com.

National 2002

National 2002
11/10/2002 (2) America And the World: Where Do We Go From Here Sam Hamod The Republicans defeated the Democrats through their zeal, the Xian Coalition, and money; the Democrats lost because they were not an opposition party, had no galvanizing programs or message, forgot about the African Americans and Latinos and simply caved in to Bush in the persons of Gephardt, Lieberman and Unfortunately, for America, this new Republican administration will create more problems for America and the world because Bush has no vision except war, war and more war. Iraq is just the beginning; but when he has to take on China, it will be a different and earth shattering disaster. 11/03/2002 (2) A Nation Cannot Be Ignorant and Remain Free John Wilkins Americans are becoming more ignorant by the year. As Thomas Jefferson put it, "A nation cannot be ignorant and remain free." Our adults and children must learn the roots of their freedom, their government and what democracy is all about in order to protect and to continue it. 10/31/2002 (2) Dr. Pat Washington, Denied Tenure At San Diego State Univ.; Some Cry Discrimination Janice Jordan Dr. Pat Washington, an Afro American Professor of Women's Studies at San Diego State University has been denied tenure and many believe it is based on racial discimination. A picket line is being set up to protest this action of dismissing her at SDSU. The NAACP is also becoming involved as well as the Peace and Justice Party. 10/31/2002 (2) Drugging Our Children The Legal Way Arianna Huffington The FDA, Congress and drug companies are allowing U.S. children to be drugged, legally, under the guise of helping them medically. This is a serious national problem that is getting worse, not better. Drug companies who abuse the laws, these days, are rarely reprimanded; the Congress, because of the large bribes given to them, do little about it and have held the FDA in check as well. 10/31/2002 (2) Use and Abuse of Secrecy In A Democracy: Paper Tiger, Daniel Ellsberg's War A Review and Commentary by Nicolas Lemann Daniel Ellsberg, in his book, SECRETS, explores the use and abuse of secrecy in a democracy by looking at Nixon, Kissinger, Haig and others during the Viet Nam War. Nicolas Lemann reviews the book and makes his own commentaries as to how these matters relate to today's U.S. democracy and how once again, secrecy in government is being abused. 10/28/2002 (2) Arrests In Sniper Case Spook Already Fearful Muslims Wayne Parry Muslims in America were already being spooked by John Ashcroft, but when they heard that John Muhammad was the lead serial killer, it sent even more chills into the Muslim communities of America even though none of them would do such a thing; they were fearful of more backlash, as occurred with Bin Laden and his doings. 10/28/2002 (2) San Francisco Rally Draws Thousands Against U.S. Iraq Policy Wyatt Buchanan, Christopher Heredia, Suzanne Herel Over 80,000 people marched in protest against Bush's desired war against Iraq and his other actions in the U.S. and in the world. The numbers of protestors at this early stage outnumber those who marched in the 60s against Viet Nam; the people are standing up to be heard. 10/28/2002 (2) A Recipe For Disaster Doreen Miller The Bush group running America is egomaniacal, hard-core, self-righteous people who are destroying democracy even as their rhetoric is about "democracy," "freedom," "human rights," and more. If this continues, it will lead to disaster for America and its democratic institutions, as well as its world leadership for the good. 10/28/2002 (2) Meet The New Zionists: The Christian Coalition Matthew Engel The Christian Coalition in America is among the most ardent of zionists; supporting the idea of deporting all the Palestinians from Palestine and Jerusalem. But the future may cause conflict with other Jews; they feel at Armageddon, whatver Jews are left alive should be converted to Christianity. This is a dangerous, uneducated, passionate group. 10/26/2002 (2) Champion of Democracy Dies; Paul Wellstone, In Memory Sam Hamod The Paul Wellstone I knew was a true champion of democracy and fairness; a moral man, a man of courage, a man of convictions and action on those convictions. This is a terrible loss not only for America, but for the world because there are few men willing to stand up for their principles; most stand only for expediency and power. 10/23/2002 (2) George Bush: Addiction, Brain Damage and Bush's "Dry Drunk" Syndrome Katherine van Wormer President Bush shows all the signs of what Alcoholics Anonymous label, "Dry Drunk." This is a state when the person has not been drinking, but manifests some of the same characteristics he has when intoxicated: pomposity, peevishness, exagerrated sense of self, etc. Even Bush's two valued logic and his limited perspectives are a manifestation of this destructive behavior. 10/23/2002 (2) Do Not Give The Republicans Absolute Power Voice4Change Several articles on activism against war, starvation, politics and social issues from a moral political point of view. There is also a plea for people to get out to vote so that the Republicans do not have Absolute Power in Washington, DC. 10/23/2002 (2) Evidence and Behavior Links DC Sniper to White House Oval Office Nidal Sakr The Bush family, both Sr. and GW have pushed a culture of violence in the world; this has led to more domestic violence and a destruction of our norms with respect to killing, torture and breaking of ethical and moral laws. It was bad enough under Bush Sr., but this new "unelected" president, GW, has made matters worse with his constant desire to kill others and to attack other nations, as well as excusing Sharon's violence in Israel. We must "judge ourselves before we are judged"; things don't look very good right now; the sniper is the fruit of this warmongering and culture of killing. 10/22/2002 (2) Cyberterrorism Used Against Professors:Dehumanization:Librarians Silent Jonathan Hunt-Glassman;Edward Said;Newsweek Three articles that deal with new forms of cyberterrorism against independent professors at Columbia University; Demonization by Israel and the U.S. of those they consider enemies, especially by Perle and Wolfowitz; librarians, because of the new "Patriot Law" are becoming agents and keeping records available to government agents spying on U.S. citizens. The three articles make clear that much mischief and evil is afoot; tragically, it is difficult to stop it until the public wakes up to the immorality of what the Bush group is up to. 10/22/2002 (2) Bingo King Abuses Latinos and Funds Extremism in Israel Margot Patterson Irving Moskowitz makes millions of dollars through his bingo empire from Latinos, yet he doesn't invest in their community but sends the money to support Israeli settlements and extremism in the Holy Land. Moskowitz' funding of "the Jewish presence" in Jerusalem has led to more conflicts over the years. 10/19/2002 (2) The Washington DC Area Sniper As Metaphor Sam Hamod The DC area sniper is an accurate metaphor for our vulnerability and at the same time it is a portent of things that may come unless President Bush stops his warlike rhetoric and behavior against the Muslim world. 10/19/2002 (2) If Poet Amiri Baraka Becomes Ex Poet Laureate, Is It Bad For Writers and Censorship Philip Weiss Artists and writers have been warned away about speaking truthfully about 9.11--some have punished for it, Susan Sontag, Arundhati Roy and others--now there is an attack on the artistry/poetry of Amiri Baraka. This attack on Baraka, if it is successful, could be bad for all writers; it would go against a long tradition of writers speaking out in their own voices with their own honest perspective on events in their own nation and in the world. Editors Note: www.todaysalternativenews.com stands behind Amiri Baraka and his right to write poetry in whatever way he wants; certainly it is no more criminal than the lies being told to the world by Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Ashcroft--in fact, Baraka has more of a right to speak because an artist is often the only conscience of a country gone mad (as is the case with America under Bush and his minions). 10/19/2002 (2) More Letters and Ideas of Protest from MoveOn MoveOn MoveOn suggests that citizens become even more active in these last days before the November election. This article contains suggestions for letters and where to send them and other methods of being involved in the American political process. 10/18/2002 (2) Court Rules For Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee VS Continental Airlines The U.S. District Court in New Jersey ruled that a lawsuit by the ADC against Continental Airlines for discrimination against Arab Americans could stand and go to trial. 10/18/2002 (2) AntiWar Protests Sweep America and the World Leslie Feinberg AntiWar protests are sweeping America and the world; in Italy, an estimated 1.5 million people in 120 cities,over 350,000 recently in London, 10,000 in Seattle, and hundreds of thousands in San Francisco and Washington, DC are expected on October 26. Those in favor of the war are shrinking; those opposed to the war are multiplying by the day as a possible reality of war gets closer. Now is the time to stand against this dishonorable war of President Bush and his cronies. 10/18/2002 (2) Alan (the dog) Dershowitz, Champions Torture C. Clark Kissinger Alan, and as some have labeled him at Harvard, "the dog," Dershowitz, is now in favor of torture, even though it is against all moral and internal laws. Somehow, he has lost his bearings and flipped out; he has also lost the respect of many in America and in the world. 10/16/2002 (2) Somebody Blew Up America Amiri Baraka Amiri Baraka's famous poem questioning what really happened on 9.11 at the Twin Towers in NYC and elsewhere in America and in the world. 10/16/2002 (2) Summary of Anti-War Efforts Across America and the World From Various Sources Voice4Change This is a compilation of various articles about the anti-war movement in America, from major sources to other less known voices. Voice4Change says their primary focus in the next three weeks is to put more Republicans out of office in the House and the Senate; but, beyond this, they are trying to save our society, our nation and our planet. 10/16/2002 (2) Conscientious Objection To War: Informational Materials www.Move On.Org This is information about Conscientious Objection to War, an honorable decision when faced with an immoral war,a military or if one is purely against war as a means of human behavior. The website for the information is included in the article from www.MoveOn.Org. 10/16/2002 (2) The Chickenhawk Database of Draft Dodgers Who Run Our Government New Hampshire Gazette This is a compilation of DRAFT DODGERS who run our country, starting with George Bush and Dick Cheney and all the rest who have a thirst for war--ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY'VE NEVER BEEN IN A WAR THEMSELVES. A chickenhawk is a governmental person, or advisor, such as Richard Perle, who is bloodthirsty to go to a war that he actually won't fight in, but will send others into to be maimed or to die--while he makes sure he stays at home and tends to his knitting. 10/15/2002 (2) Objections To Bush's Desired War Resolution Congressman Jay Inslee Congressman Jay Inslee explains why he opposed and continues to oppose the war resolution President Bush requested from the U.S. Congress. 10/15/2002 (2) Kansas State Prayer To The Legislature Joe Wright's Prayer in Kansas To The Legislature Minister Joe Wright, when giving the invocation and prayer at the opening of the legislature, gave a prayer that asked for justice in the Middle East and to follow the word of God, not of money and politics. The sermon was one of the most praised in history and has been read around the world. 10/15/2002 (2) Squalor, Rats and Filth Going Unrepaired at Camp Pendleton; 10:10:02 Ramona and Mike Byron Ramona and Mike Byron recently paid a visit to Camp Pendleton to investigate the terrible living conditions of our troops and their families in military housing. What they found was appalling, heartwrenching, utterly terrible. There were rats, fungus rot, damp rot, unsanitary conditions and no one seemed to care. When even Congressman Issa was asked to help, he replied, according to them, "There is nothing I can do about it, good luck." That is a hell of a note. Remember, these men and their families protect our nation, our freedom and may have to go to war--yet they themselves, are neglected and made to live in squalor with little financial support and with little government care. 10/12/2002 (2) Why Jews Should Mistrust Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson And Speak Against Them Rabbi Schlomo Greenberg We Jews must speak out against such ignorant imposters such as Falwell, Robertson and others who know little of religion and have evil in their hearts. These men and women look forward to an Armageddon that will leave many Jews dead and the rest as converts to Christianity--why should we Jews want that? As rabbis, we must speak out against these imposters who have little learning and even less wisdom and less goodness. 10/10/2002 (2) Citizens Speaking Out Against War In Escondido: North County Forum Elizabeth Fitzimmons An strong anti-war protest is continuous at the office of Congressman Duke Cunningham in Escondido. Gary Waayers, a vietnam vet began his vigil alone, but since that time, the demonstrators have grown in number, picking up people daily. As Mr. Waayers said, he is concerned "that people would be dying for political causes;" not for the protection of America or for a just cause. 10/10/2002 (2) CIA: War Will Make Us Less Safe Eli Pariser The CIA has told Pres.Bush and others that there is more likelihood of Saddam Hussein using chemical weapons if we go to war with Iraq and/or continue ratcheting up the rhetoric of war against Iraq. This puts President Bush's desire for war at odds with his own CIA. Clearly, Bush does not understand the consequences of his rhetoric or actions; this could be fatal to many of our troops and civilians. 10/09/2002 (2) Detailed Analysis of Bush's Oct. 7 Speech on Iraq Institute For Public Accuracy A thorough analysis of Bush's speech on Iraq on Oct. 7 discloses mistakes, misleading statements, outright lies and illogical statements. Further, Mr. Bush has yet to provide evidence of his statements that Iraq is an imminent threat or why he has suddenly shifted from Bin Laden to Saddam. Bush's attempt to tie Saddam and Bin Laden together as allies was absurd. Overall, the speech was deceptive, lacked evidence and played to the most ignorant of his audience. 10/09/2002 (2) Harry Belafonte Slams Colin Powell as a House Slave Dave Alexander Activist Harry Belafonte called Colin Powell a sell out to his race and a house slave for Bush and Ashcroft because of his tolerating their behavior and assisting them in their evil ways. Belanfonte made his remarks on a syndicated radio show in San Diego. He also likened Ashcroft's actions to those of the late, infamous Senator Joseph McCarthy, a man who absused civil rights, human decency and the constitution with his "red scare" tactics that are similar to Ashcroft's "Muslim scare" tactics. 10/08/2002 (2) Lies from Bush, Lieberman, Lantos, Royce and other liars Sam Hamod The banality and evil of the lies of Bush, Cheney, Royce, Lantos, Lieberman and King are outrageous. Royce even went so far as to deny that the U.S. gave Iraq poison weapons to use against Iran (when every expert in America and the world knows and speaks of this) when confronted by Rep. Maxine Waters. America is in danger because of men like these, they are spiritual brothers of Saddam and Sharon, liars, greedy, cruel and cowardly. Bush's speech to the nation Monday night, was but a repeat of the same misleading song he's been singing to the nation for the past few months. And as for Bush's smirk, it doesn't show he's intelligent or that he's a man, it shows that he's an ass. 10/07/2002 (2) Democracy: Threats to its survival in America Phillip Kelley, JD Mr. Kelley makes clear that democracy is under attack by Bush and Ashcroft, neither of whom understand the first amendment or care to. We need more men and women who will stand up to defend the freedom of speech that is a vital part of our democracy. 10/05/2002 (2) Secretly Taped Conversation Between Bush and Asscroft (touch of humor) Funny Bone Bush and Asscroft have their little secret tet'a'tet figuring out who is going to try to enter the White House as spies--Gore, Al Queda, etc. Check it out,it's probably this dumb. 10/04/2002 (2) Senator Slimy Joe Lieberman: A Man Not To Be Trusted Joseph Hirschorn Slimy Joe Lieberman, as he is known to many in Washington, DC has betrayed the Democrats, his friends and America by his behavior.He promised to stand against Bush's demands for a quick war in Iraq, yet he then broke his word and stood with Bush at the first opportunity, thus shocking Senator Daschle. He has shown that he is more interested in Israel than in America. Thus, none of us fellow Jews want to claim him. He is an insult to our people by his deceit and misrepresentations. 10/03/2002 (2) Poet Laureate, Baraka, Stands By His Words Against Israel and Won't Step Down Maria Newman With quiet dignity, Poet Laureate of New Jersey, Amiri Baraka exercised his first amendment rights in a poem, "Who Blew Up America" when he accused zionists of being behind the plot to blow up the Twin Towers of NYC on Sept. 11, 2001. He also attacked overt and latent racism, colonialism and the undemocratic behavior of America in the world. His poem has won wide respect throughout the world and upset the Anti Defamation League, long known for its support of zionism while wearing the mantle of respectability (which it does not deserve because it protects only zionists, no one else, nor has it ever protected or objected on behalf of anyone else, but has attacked various African American leaders in the past, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, W.E.B. DuBois, Richard Wright and James Baldwin, Ishmael Reed and others). 10/03/2002 (2) Amiri Baraka, The New Bin Laden? Marvin X Amiri Baraka, the poet laureate of New Jersey attacks the colonialist and racist spirit that continues until today in America. In his poem, "Who Blew Up America?", Baraka makes clear his vision of who blew up the twin towers and goes on to attack racism and bias in America, Israeli brutality toward Palestinians and America's greed for power over the world while still parading the parody of democracy that now exists under Bush and henchmen in power. Marvin X, an outspoken, articulate and forceful writer lays it all out in this commentary on the controversy over the poem and Baraka. 10/02/2002 (2) For Bush, Dollars and Cents Drive Land Use Policies Brad Knickerbocker President Bush's land policies are corrupted by his greed for dollars and Republican party faithful's wishes; thus, killing salmon needlessly, destroying forests and wetlands and disrupting the flow of God given natural rivers. There is no end to his chicanery or abuse of America's natuaral environmental treasures. 10/02/2002 (2) No Faith In Bush's War on Iraq Derrick Jackson The Bush family shows little Christian charity or forgiveness, they tend more toward war and hatred in their dealings with foreign countries and those who disagree with them. They have lost their moral anchor and will not soon recover it, if ever. Most intelligent churchmen, aside from the Southern Baptist Convention and the Evangelicals, thing Bush should be patient and try to avoid war, but Bush seems intent on plowing ahead regardless of the moral or ethical wrongness of his decisions. 10/02/2002 (2) America Betrayed by Bush,Gebhardt and Biden Sam Hamod Gebhardt and Biden have sold out to the Bush and his henchmen by giving up their fight against a needless war in Iraq. As Jesse Jackson put it, "We have one party, with two names in America." It is clearly the case at this time; both parties are frittering away our freedoms and our democracy. Bush, Biden, Cheney and Gebhardt should all be on the first plane that attacks Iraq. If not, then they should resign so as to save our country from corruption, deceit and stupidity. 10/01/2002 (2) Mutual Funds: America's Narcoleptic Giants Arianna Huffington Mutual Funds are America's newest corporate giants, owning a very large share of the American stock market. However, they serve two masters, the stockholders and also the 401 K plans of many corporations, thus are on both sides of the investment fence. More transparency must be forthcoming in corporations and in mutual funds in order for Americans to trust either of them in the future. 10/01/2002 (2) Get On The Bus Against Bush Ramsey Clark, Jr., Esquire & Bob McCubbin Everyone is urged to join the protests on Oct. 26 to stand against Bush's aggression toward other parts of the world. It is important to participate so that even the media must report on the demonstrations across America; get on this bus bound for San Francisco. 09/30/2002 (2) Zionist Influence in the U.S. Government Rabbi Schlomo Greenberg America has been infiltrated by zionists who care more about Israel than they do about America. Many rabbis, who are Amerians first, have been attacked by these warmongers who include wuch people as Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, Edward Luttwak and others listed in the article. 09/30/2002 (2) An Exchange Between North County Forum and Rep. D. Issa Dick Eiden This exchange between Dick Eiden of the North County Forum and Congressman Issa is enlightening in understanding their positions on a possible war with Iraq and other possible wars in the Middle East that President Bush may start. This exchange is for your use in understanding various positions on this possible war. 09/27/2002 (2) Have You No Decency, George W. Bush? Sam Hamod President Bush and his henchmen, Cheney, Rummy, Ashcroft, Wolfowitz and Perle have gone beyond the veil of decency with their attacks on those who disagee with them as being, "traitors" or, in the case of the U.S. Senate, saying, "They do not care about American security." IT IS TIME FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SAY TO BUSH AND HIS HENCHMEN, "HAVE YOU NO DECENCY, HAVE YOU NO SHAME?" 09/27/2002 (2) US Poverty Figures Inaccurate; Things Are Worse Than The Government Says Sam Hamod The government must admit the truth about the growing and very large real poverty rate in America. The wage of $18,000 they use as a base for poverty is inaccurate; the real living wage is closer to $30,000 according to most economists. Furthermore, there are actually more unemployed in America than government agencies admit. The riots of Argentina and Brazil may be harbingers of things to come in America. Furthermore, no "victory in Iraq" soup will feed a child's empty stomach. The children of Brazil may be the future of our children if the president and congress don't wake up and address these problems in an honest fashion. 09/25/2002 (2) U.S. Poverty Rate Grows At Alarming Rate Robert Pear Poverty in America is on the rise, but little is being done to solve the problem. The divide between the rich and the poor is widening in America. 09/24/2002 (2) Are Ashcroft and other politicos in law enforcement altering crime statistics Fox Butterfield It may be that some of the politicians involved with law enforcement are altering crime data in order to deceive the public about the truth. 09/24/2002 (2) It's Gut Check Time For Corporate America Arianna Huffington It's time for corporate America to have a gut check about its greed, abuse of power and raja lifestyle. For too long, these corporate rajas have ripped off shareholders and the rest of America while using the guise of work and wisdom as their rationalization for greed. 09/16/2002 (2) Lies About Employment Figures And Living Wages; Sept. 13, 2002 Sam Hamod From the Reagan era onward, Americans have been deceived about the real unemployment rate because of changes in the definition of "employment" and "unemployment." Since that time, things have worsened because more and more working people are becoming "working poor"--unable to pay their bills with their meager salaries. Bush and his administration are paying no attention to this, they'd rather focus on Iraq; however, this unemployment and working poor mess may do more harm than Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein to the fabric of America. 08/22/2002 (2) Why The U.S. Economy Will Continue to Fail Sam Hamod The U.S. economy is failing and is in for a long, hard, desultory ride because of the lies that have been told by business, economic leaders and by the U.S. government. No intelligent foreigner wants to put his money in the U.S.; many in Japan, Europe and the Middle East are puling their money out of the U.S. market and this is very bad for our economy. If the truth be known, there is no real "transparency" in the U.S. economy starting with stats about unemployment to honesty about profits and stock insider options. 02/12/2002 (2) Enron, Bush, Cheney and the Loss of America's Moral Compass Sam Hamod Bush and his buddies are more corrupt than Bill Clinton; he was a sleaze and a liar, Bush though may destroy our constitution and isolate America from the rest of the free world. Bush and his team are destroying our democracy and our position in the world--if the public doesn't wake up soon, it may be too late. Perhaps Enron will be the wake up call, so that people will see that Bush and Cheney think the citizens work for them, they don't feel they work for the citizens. 02/12/2002 (2) Letter to the New York Times Sam Hamod Tom Friedman of the NYTimes makes an important moral and ethical error, he continues ignoring Israeli contributions to the violence in the Middle East. He fails to see the difference in scale between the throwing of rocks and the use of F16s, tanks and helicopters; he is blind to Israel's brutality of the Palestinians, blaming everything on the Arabs, Islam and the Palestinians. Friedman is either immoral or has a case of early seniility. 02/12/2002 (2) Stealing Our Land Dr. RIdgely Abdul Mu'min Muhammad Some of the immoral whites of Alabama found legal and illegal means to steal the land of blacks (some Muslim and some Christian). The laws were often bent to favor the illegal seizure of black lands; this continues to this day. 01/09/2002 (2) Black Farmers in America: Help, Too Little, Too Late Dr. Ridgely Abdul Mu'min Muhammad The USDA through nefarious and illegal behavior has been tearing black farmers off their land in the South for centuries; at the present time, things are getting worse. The AP sent in reporters to do stories of this rape, but it was too little, too late and didn't tell the whole important story.

11/10/2002 (2)
America And the World: Where Do We Go From Here
Sam Hamod
The Republicans defeated the Democrats through their zeal, the Xian Coalition, and money; the Democrats lost because they were not an opposition party, had no galvanizing programs or message, forgot about the African Americans and Latinos and simply caved in to Bush in the persons of Gephardt, Lieberman and
Unfortunately, for America, this new Republican administration will create more problems for America and the world because Bush has no vision except war, war and more war. Iraq is just the beginning; but when he has to take on China, it will be a different and earth shattering disaster.

11/03/2002 (2)
A Nation Cannot Be Ignorant and Remain Free
John Wilkins
Americans are becoming more ignorant by the year. As Thomas Jefferson put it, "A nation cannot be ignorant and remain free."
Our adults and children must learn the roots of their freedom, their government and what democracy is all about in order to protect and to continue it.

10/31/2002 (2)
Dr. Pat Washington, Denied Tenure At San Diego State Univ.; Some Cry Discrimination
Janice Jordan
Dr. Pat Washington, an Afro American Professor of Women's Studies at San Diego State University has been denied tenure and many believe it is based on racial discimination. A picket line is being set up to protest this action of dismissing her at SDSU. The NAACP is also becoming involved as well as the Peace and Justice Party.

10/31/2002 (2)
Drugging Our Children The Legal Way
Arianna Huffington
The FDA, Congress and drug companies are allowing U.S. children to be drugged, legally, under the guise of helping them medically. This is a serious national problem that is getting worse, not better. Drug companies who abuse the laws, these days, are rarely reprimanded; the Congress, because of the large bribes given to them, do little about it and have held the FDA in check as well.

10/31/2002 (2)
Use and Abuse of Secrecy In A Democracy: Paper Tiger, Daniel Ellsberg's War
A Review and Commentary by Nicolas Lemann
Daniel Ellsberg, in his book, SECRETS, explores the use and abuse of secrecy in a democracy by looking at Nixon, Kissinger, Haig and others during the Viet Nam War. Nicolas Lemann reviews the book and makes his own commentaries as to how these matters relate to today's U.S. democracy and how once again, secrecy in government is being abused.

10/28/2002 (2)
Arrests In Sniper Case Spook Already Fearful Muslims
Wayne Parry
Muslims in America were already being spooked by John Ashcroft, but when they heard that John Muhammad was the lead serial killer, it sent even more chills into the Muslim communities of America even though none of them would do such a thing; they were fearful of more backlash, as occurred with Bin Laden and his doings.

10/28/2002 (2)
San Francisco Rally Draws Thousands Against U.S. Iraq Policy
Wyatt Buchanan, Christopher Heredia, Suzanne Herel
Over 80,000 people marched in protest against Bush's desired war against Iraq and his other actions in the U.S. and in the world. The numbers of protestors at this early stage outnumber those who marched in the 60s against Viet Nam; the people are standing up to be heard.

10/28/2002 (2)
A Recipe For Disaster
Doreen Miller
The Bush group running America is egomaniacal, hard-core, self-righteous people who are destroying democracy even as their rhetoric is about "democracy," "freedom," "human rights," and more. If this continues, it will lead to disaster for America and its democratic institutions, as well as its world leadership for the good.

10/28/2002 (2)
Meet The New Zionists: The Christian Coalition
Matthew Engel
The Christian Coalition in America is among the most ardent of zionists; supporting the idea of deporting all the Palestinians from Palestine and Jerusalem. But the future may cause conflict with other Jews; they feel at Armageddon, whatver Jews are left alive should be converted to Christianity. This is a dangerous, uneducated, passionate group.

10/26/2002 (2)
Champion of Democracy Dies; Paul Wellstone, In Memory
Sam Hamod
The Paul Wellstone I knew was a true champion of democracy and fairness; a moral man, a man of courage, a man of convictions and action on those convictions.

This is a terrible loss not only for America, but for the world because there are few men willing to stand up for their principles; most stand only for expediency and power.

10/23/2002 (2)
George Bush: Addiction, Brain Damage and Bush's "Dry Drunk" Syndrome
Katherine van Wormer
President Bush shows all the signs of what Alcoholics Anonymous label, "Dry Drunk." This is a state when the person has not been drinking, but manifests some of the same characteristics he has when intoxicated: pomposity, peevishness, exagerrated sense of self, etc. Even Bush's two valued logic and his limited perspectives are a manifestation of this destructive behavior.

10/23/2002 (2)
Do Not Give The Republicans Absolute Power
Voice4Change
Several articles on activism against war, starvation, politics and social issues from a moral political point of view. There is also a plea for people to get out to vote so that the Republicans do not have Absolute Power in Washington, DC.

10/23/2002 (2)
Evidence and Behavior Links DC Sniper to White House Oval Office
Nidal Sakr
The Bush family, both Sr. and GW have pushed a culture of violence in the world; this has led to more domestic violence and a destruction of our norms with respect to killing, torture and breaking of ethical and moral laws.
It was bad enough under Bush Sr., but this new "unelected" president, GW, has made matters worse with his constant desire to kill others and to attack other nations, as well as excusing Sharon's violence in Israel. We must "judge ourselves before we are judged"; things don't look very good right now; the sniper is the fruit of this warmongering and culture of killing.

10/22/2002 (2)
Cyberterrorism Used Against Professors:Dehumanization:Librarians Silent
Jonathan Hunt-Glassman;Edward Said;Newsweek
Three articles that deal with new forms of cyberterrorism against independent professors at Columbia University; Demonization by Israel and the U.S. of those they consider enemies, especially by Perle and Wolfowitz; librarians, because of the new "Patriot Law" are becoming agents and keeping records available to government agents spying on U.S. citizens.

The three articles make clear that much mischief and evil is afoot; tragically, it is difficult to stop it until the public wakes up to the immorality of what the Bush group is up to.

10/22/2002 (2)
Bingo King Abuses Latinos and Funds Extremism in Israel
Margot Patterson
Irving Moskowitz makes millions of dollars through his bingo empire from Latinos, yet he doesn't invest in their community but sends the money to support Israeli settlements and extremism in the Holy Land. Moskowitz' funding of "the Jewish presence" in Jerusalem has led to more conflicts over the years.

10/19/2002 (2)
The Washington DC Area Sniper As Metaphor
Sam Hamod
The DC area sniper is an accurate metaphor for our vulnerability and at the same time it is a portent of things that may come unless President Bush stops his warlike rhetoric and behavior against the Muslim world.

10/19/2002 (2)
If Poet Amiri Baraka Becomes Ex Poet Laureate, Is It Bad For Writers and Censorship
Philip Weiss
Artists and writers have been warned away about speaking truthfully about 9.11--some have punished for it, Susan Sontag, Arundhati Roy and others--now there is an attack on the artistry/poetry of Amiri Baraka. This attack on Baraka, if it is successful, could be bad for all writers; it would go against a long tradition of writers speaking out in their own voices with their own honest perspective on events in their own nation and in the world.

Editors Note: www.todaysalternativenews.com stands behind Amiri Baraka and his right to write poetry in whatever way he wants; certainly it is no more criminal than the lies being told to the world by Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Ashcroft--in fact, Baraka has more of a right to speak because an artist is often the only conscience of a country gone mad (as is the case with America under Bush and his minions).

10/19/2002 (2)
More Letters and Ideas of Protest from MoveOn
MoveOn
MoveOn suggests that citizens become even more active in these last days before the November election. This article contains suggestions for letters and where to send them and other methods of being involved in the American political process.

10/18/2002 (2)
Court Rules For Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee VS Continental Airlines

The U.S. District Court in New Jersey ruled that a lawsuit by the ADC against Continental Airlines for discrimination against Arab Americans could stand and go to trial.

10/18/2002 (2)
AntiWar Protests Sweep America and the World
Leslie Feinberg
AntiWar protests are sweeping America and the world; in Italy, an estimated 1.5 million people in 120 cities,over 350,000 recently in London, 10,000 in Seattle, and hundreds of thousands in San Francisco and Washington, DC are expected on October 26. Those in favor of the war are shrinking; those opposed to the war are multiplying by the day as a possible reality of war gets closer. Now is the time to stand against this dishonorable war of President Bush and his cronies.

10/18/2002 (2)
Alan (the dog) Dershowitz, Champions Torture
C. Clark Kissinger
Alan, and as some have labeled him at Harvard, "the dog," Dershowitz, is now in favor of torture, even though it is against all moral and internal laws. Somehow, he has lost his bearings and flipped out; he has also lost the respect of many in America and in the world.

10/16/2002 (2)
Somebody Blew Up America
Amiri Baraka
Amiri Baraka's famous poem questioning what really happened on 9.11 at the Twin Towers in NYC and elsewhere in America and in the world.

10/16/2002 (2)
Summary of Anti-War Efforts Across America and the World From Various Sources
Voice4Change
This is a compilation of various articles about the anti-war movement in America, from major sources to other less known voices. Voice4Change says their primary focus in the next three weeks is to put more Republicans out of office in the House and the Senate; but, beyond this, they are trying to save our society, our nation and our planet.

10/16/2002 (2)
Conscientious Objection To War: Informational Materials
www.Move On.Org
This is information about Conscientious Objection to War, an honorable decision when faced with an immoral war,a military or if one is purely against war as a means of human behavior. The website for the information is included in the article from www.MoveOn.Org.

10/16/2002 (2)
The Chickenhawk Database of Draft Dodgers Who Run Our Government
New Hampshire Gazette
This is a compilation of DRAFT DODGERS who run our country, starting with George Bush and Dick Cheney and all the rest who have a thirst for war--ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY'VE NEVER BEEN IN A WAR THEMSELVES. A chickenhawk is a governmental person, or advisor, such as Richard Perle, who is bloodthirsty to go to a war that he actually won't fight in, but will send others into to be maimed or to die--while he makes sure he stays at home and tends to his knitting.

10/15/2002 (2)
Objections To Bush's Desired War Resolution
Congressman Jay Inslee
Congressman Jay Inslee explains why he opposed and continues to oppose the war resolution President Bush requested from the U.S. Congress.

10/15/2002 (2)
Kansas State Prayer To The Legislature
Joe Wright's Prayer in Kansas To The Legislature
Minister Joe Wright, when giving the invocation and prayer at the opening of the legislature, gave a prayer that asked for justice in the Middle East and to follow the word of God, not of money and politics. The sermon was one of the most praised in history and has been read around the world.

10/15/2002 (2)
Squalor, Rats and Filth Going Unrepaired at Camp Pendleton; 10:10:02
Ramona and Mike Byron
Ramona and Mike Byron recently paid a visit to Camp Pendleton to investigate the terrible living conditions of our troops and their families in military housing. What they found was appalling, heartwrenching, utterly terrible. There were rats, fungus rot, damp rot, unsanitary conditions and no one seemed to care. When even Congressman Issa was asked to help, he replied, according to them, "There is nothing I can do about it, good luck." That is a hell of a note. Remember, these men and their families protect our nation, our freedom and may have to go to war--yet they themselves, are neglected and made to live in squalor with little financial support and with little government care.

10/12/2002 (2)
Why Jews Should Mistrust Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson And Speak Against Them
Rabbi Schlomo Greenberg
We Jews must speak out against such ignorant imposters such as Falwell, Robertson and others who know little of religion and have evil in their hearts. These men and women look forward to an Armageddon that will leave many Jews dead and the rest as converts to Christianity--why should we Jews want that?
As rabbis, we must speak out against these imposters who have little learning and even less wisdom and less goodness.

10/10/2002 (2)
Citizens Speaking Out Against War In Escondido: North County Forum
Elizabeth Fitzimmons
An strong anti-war protest is continuous at the office of Congressman Duke Cunningham in Escondido. Gary Waayers, a vietnam vet began his vigil alone, but since that time, the demonstrators have grown in number, picking up people daily.
As Mr. Waayers said, he is concerned "that people would be dying for political causes;" not for the protection of America or for a just cause.

10/10/2002 (2)
CIA: War Will Make Us Less Safe
Eli Pariser
The CIA has told Pres.Bush and others that there is more likelihood of Saddam Hussein using chemical weapons if we go to war with Iraq and/or continue ratcheting up the rhetoric of war against Iraq. This puts President Bush's desire for war at odds with his own CIA. Clearly, Bush does not understand the consequences of his rhetoric or actions; this could be fatal to many of our troops and civilians.

10/09/2002 (2)
Detailed Analysis of Bush's Oct. 7 Speech on Iraq
Institute For Public Accuracy
A thorough analysis of Bush's speech on Iraq on Oct. 7 discloses mistakes, misleading statements, outright lies and illogical statements. Further, Mr. Bush has yet to provide evidence of his statements that Iraq is an imminent threat or why he has suddenly shifted from Bin Laden to Saddam. Bush's attempt to tie Saddam and Bin Laden together as allies was absurd. Overall, the speech was deceptive, lacked evidence and played to the most ignorant of his audience.

10/09/2002 (2)
Harry Belafonte Slams Colin Powell as a House Slave
Dave Alexander
Activist Harry Belafonte called Colin Powell a sell out to his race and a house slave for Bush and Ashcroft because of his tolerating their behavior and assisting them in their evil ways.
Belanfonte made his remarks on a syndicated radio show in San Diego. He also likened Ashcroft's actions to those of the late, infamous Senator Joseph McCarthy, a man who absused civil rights, human decency and the constitution with his "red scare" tactics that are similar to Ashcroft's "Muslim scare" tactics.
10/08/2002 (2)
Lies from Bush, Lieberman, Lantos, Royce and other liars
Sam Hamod
The banality and evil of the lies of Bush, Cheney, Royce, Lantos, Lieberman and King are outrageous. Royce even went so far as to deny that the U.S. gave Iraq poison weapons to use against Iran (when every expert in America and the world knows and speaks of this) when confronted by Rep. Maxine Waters.

America is in danger because of men like these, they are spiritual brothers of Saddam and Sharon, liars, greedy, cruel and cowardly. Bush's speech to the nation Monday night, was but a repeat of the same misleading song he's been singing to the nation for the past few months. And as for Bush's smirk, it doesn't show he's intelligent or that he's a man, it shows that he's an ass.

10/07/2002 (2)
Democracy: Threats to its survival in America
Phillip Kelley, JD
Mr. Kelley makes clear that democracy is under attack by Bush and Ashcroft, neither of whom understand the first amendment or care to. We need more men and women who will stand up to defend the freedom of speech that is a vital part of our democracy.

10/05/2002 (2)
Secretly Taped Conversation Between Bush and Asscroft (touch of humor)
Funny Bone
Bush and Asscroft have their little secret tet'a'tet figuring out who is going to try to enter the White House as spies--Gore, Al Queda, etc. Check it out,it's probably this dumb.

10/04/2002 (2)
Senator Slimy Joe Lieberman: A Man Not To Be Trusted
Joseph Hirschorn
Slimy Joe Lieberman, as he is known to many in Washington, DC has betrayed the Democrats, his friends and America by his behavior.He promised to stand against Bush's demands for a quick war in Iraq, yet he then broke his word and stood with Bush at the first opportunity, thus shocking Senator Daschle. He has shown that he is more interested in Israel than in America. Thus, none of us fellow Jews want to claim him. He is an insult to our people by his deceit and misrepresentations.

10/03/2002 (2)
Poet Laureate, Baraka, Stands By His Words Against Israel and Won't Step Down
Maria Newman
With quiet dignity, Poet Laureate of New Jersey, Amiri Baraka exercised his first amendment rights in a poem, "Who Blew Up America" when he accused zionists of being behind the plot to blow up the Twin Towers of NYC on Sept. 11, 2001. He also attacked overt and latent racism, colonialism and the undemocratic behavior of America in the world. His poem has won wide respect throughout the world and upset the Anti Defamation League, long known for its support of zionism while wearing the mantle of respectability (which it does not deserve because it protects only zionists, no one else, nor has it ever protected or objected on behalf of anyone else, but has attacked various African American leaders in the past, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, W.E.B. DuBois, Richard Wright and James Baldwin, Ishmael Reed and others).

10/03/2002 (2)
Amiri Baraka, The New Bin Laden?
Marvin X
Amiri Baraka, the poet laureate of New Jersey attacks the colonialist and racist spirit that continues until today in America. In his poem, "Who Blew Up America?", Baraka makes clear his vision of who blew up the twin towers and goes on to attack racism and bias in America, Israeli brutality toward Palestinians and America's greed for power over the world while still parading the parody of democracy that now exists under Bush and henchmen in power. Marvin X, an outspoken, articulate and forceful writer lays it all out in this commentary on the controversy over the poem and Baraka.

10/02/2002 (2)
For Bush, Dollars and Cents Drive Land Use Policies
Brad Knickerbocker
President Bush's land policies are corrupted by his greed for dollars and Republican party faithful's wishes; thus, killing salmon needlessly, destroying forests and wetlands and disrupting the flow of God given natural rivers. There is no end to his chicanery or abuse of America's natuaral environmental treasures.

10/02/2002 (2)
No Faith In Bush's War on Iraq
Derrick Jackson
The Bush family shows little Christian charity or forgiveness, they tend more toward war and hatred in their dealings with foreign countries and those who disagree with them. They have lost their moral anchor and will not soon recover it, if ever.
Most intelligent churchmen, aside from the Southern Baptist Convention and the Evangelicals, thing Bush should be patient and try to avoid war, but Bush seems intent on plowing ahead regardless of the moral or ethical wrongness of his decisions.

10/02/2002 (2)
America Betrayed by Bush,Gebhardt and Biden
Sam Hamod
Gebhardt and Biden have sold out to the Bush and his henchmen by giving up their fight against a needless war in Iraq.
As Jesse Jackson put it, "We have one party, with two names in America." It is clearly the case at this time; both parties are frittering away our freedoms and our democracy. Bush, Biden, Cheney and Gebhardt should all be on the first plane that attacks Iraq. If not, then they should resign so as to save our country from corruption, deceit and stupidity.

10/01/2002 (2)
Mutual Funds: America's Narcoleptic Giants
Arianna Huffington
Mutual Funds are America's newest corporate giants, owning a very large share of the American stock market. However, they serve two masters, the stockholders and also the 401 K plans of many corporations, thus are on both sides of the investment fence. More transparency must be forthcoming in corporations and in mutual funds in order for Americans to trust either of them in the future.

10/01/2002 (2)
Get On The Bus Against Bush
Ramsey Clark, Jr., Esquire & Bob McCubbin
Everyone is urged to join the protests on Oct. 26 to stand against Bush's aggression toward other parts of the world.
It is important to participate so that even the media must report on the demonstrations across America; get on this bus bound for San Francisco.

09/30/2002 (2)
Zionist Influence in the U.S. Government
Rabbi Schlomo Greenberg
America has been infiltrated by zionists who care more about Israel than they do about America. Many rabbis, who are Amerians first, have been attacked by these warmongers who include wuch people as Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, Edward Luttwak and others listed in the article.

09/30/2002 (2)
An Exchange Between North County Forum and Rep. D. Issa
Dick Eiden
This exchange between Dick Eiden of the North County Forum and Congressman Issa is enlightening in understanding their positions on a possible war with Iraq and other possible wars in the Middle East that President Bush may start. This exchange is for your use in understanding various positions on this possible war.

09/27/2002 (2)
Have You No Decency, George W. Bush?
Sam Hamod
President Bush and his henchmen, Cheney, Rummy, Ashcroft, Wolfowitz and Perle have gone beyond the veil of decency with their attacks on those who disagee with them as being, "traitors" or, in the case of the U.S. Senate, saying, "They do not care about American security."
IT IS TIME FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SAY TO BUSH AND HIS HENCHMEN, "HAVE YOU NO DECENCY, HAVE YOU NO SHAME?"

09/27/2002 (2)
US Poverty Figures Inaccurate; Things Are Worse Than The Government Says
Sam Hamod
The government must admit the truth about the growing and very large real poverty rate in America. The wage of $18,000 they use as a base for poverty is inaccurate; the real living wage is closer to $30,000 according to most economists. Furthermore, there are actually more unemployed in America than government agencies admit.

The riots of Argentina and Brazil may be harbingers of things to come in America. Furthermore, no "victory in Iraq" soup will feed a child's empty stomach. The children of Brazil may be the future of our children if the president and congress don't wake up and address these problems in an honest fashion.

09/25/2002 (2)
U.S. Poverty Rate Grows At Alarming Rate
Robert Pear
Poverty in America is on the rise, but little is being done to solve the problem. The divide between the rich and the poor is widening in America.

09/24/2002 (2)
Are Ashcroft and other politicos in law enforcement altering crime statistics
Fox Butterfield
It may be that some of the politicians involved with law enforcement are altering crime data in order to deceive the public about the truth.

09/24/2002 (2)
It's Gut Check Time For Corporate America
Arianna Huffington
It's time for corporate America to have a gut check about its greed, abuse of power and raja lifestyle. For too long, these corporate rajas have ripped off shareholders and the rest of America while using the guise of work and wisdom as their rationalization for greed.

09/16/2002 (2)
Lies About Employment Figures And Living Wages; Sept. 13, 2002
Sam Hamod
From the Reagan era onward, Americans have been deceived about the real unemployment rate because of changes in the definition of "employment" and "unemployment."
Since that time, things have worsened because more and more working people are becoming "working poor"--unable to pay their bills with their meager salaries.
Bush and his administration are paying no attention to this, they'd rather focus on Iraq; however, this unemployment and working poor mess may do more harm than Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein to the fabric of America.

08/22/2002 (2)
Why The U.S. Economy Will Continue to Fail
Sam Hamod
The U.S. economy is failing and is in for a long, hard, desultory ride because of the lies that have been told by business, economic leaders and by the U.S. government. No intelligent foreigner wants to put his money in the U.S.; many in Japan, Europe and the Middle East are puling their money out of the U.S. market and this is very bad for our economy.
If the truth be known, there is no real "transparency" in the U.S. economy starting with stats about unemployment to honesty about profits and stock insider options.

02/12/2002 (2)
Enron, Bush, Cheney and the Loss of America's Moral Compass
Sam Hamod
Bush and his buddies are more corrupt than Bill Clinton; he was a sleaze and a liar, Bush though may destroy our constitution and isolate America from the rest of the free world. Bush and his team are destroying our democracy and our position in the world--if the public doesn't wake up soon, it may be too late.
Perhaps Enron will be the wake up call, so that people will see that Bush and Cheney think the citizens work for them, they don't feel they work for the citizens.

02/12/2002 (2)
Letter to the New York Times
Sam Hamod
Tom Friedman of the NYTimes makes an important moral and ethical error, he continues ignoring Israeli contributions to the violence in the Middle East. He fails to see the difference in scale between the throwing of rocks and the use of F16s, tanks and helicopters; he is blind to Israel's brutality of the Palestinians, blaming everything on the Arabs, Islam and the Palestinians. Friedman is either immoral or has a case of early seniility.

02/12/2002 (2)
Stealing Our Land
Dr. RIdgely Abdul Mu'min Muhammad
Some of the immoral whites of Alabama found legal and illegal means to steal the land of blacks (some Muslim and some Christian). The laws were often bent to favor the illegal seizure of black lands; this continues to this day.

01/09/2002 (2)
Black Farmers in America: Help, Too Little, Too Late
Dr. Ridgely Abdul Mu'min Muhammad
The USDA through nefarious and illegal behavior has been tearing black farmers off their land in the South for centuries; at the present time, things are getting worse. The AP sent in reporters to do stories of this rape, but it was too little, too late and didn't tell the whole important story.