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Subj: Praying for the King

Thanks for the editorial on the Divine Right of Kings.

You mentioned that W thought millions of Americans are praying for him, and Jiang Zemin and Vladimir Putin are somehow lacking that kind of prayerful support.

Perhaps W hasn't read Paul's letter to Timothy. I Tim 2:1-4, which has:

1. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4. Who will have all men to be saved, . . . .

It's clear that Paul's exhortation is to pray for ALL that are in authority, not just OUR king.

Bill Downs
Sherman Oaks, CA

Subj: Legal or Not, It's Full Steam Ahead

Dear BuzzFlash,

Don’t know if you saw this. Today’s Washington Post reports "Blair was advised by his attorney general last October that military action to force "regime change" in Baghdad would violate international law." The statement appears almost as an afterthought near the end of the article found here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12876-2003Mar11.html

I believed that we were a nation of principle and of laws. But no one in Congress, no one in the press, and no one in the media even raises the issue of legality. What has happened to the United States?

No need to attribute this to me; just wanted to be sure you had a chance to reference the article on BuzzFlash. Thanks.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Let's Show Those Rotten French!

Dear BuzzFlash,

You know, renaming french fries and french toast as "freedom fries" and "freedom toast" -- as our patriotic US Congress did recently -- is a good start. But, here's an even better idea (borrowed from BuzzFlash.com) for showing those ungrateful French wretches what we really think of them.

Let's give back the Statue of Liberty!

That'll teach 'em!

If you pass this on to everyone you know, and all of us contact our congressional representatives, then we can create a groundswell of support and soon that worthless piece of tin will be sailing its way back across the ocean to its rude, ungrateful, and unsupportive donors.

Hell, why would we even want a Statue of "Liberty" from a country that can't defend their own, and isn't willing to stand up for anyone else's?

Let's show those rotten French what we think of them. Let's show them that we don't need their help beating Saddam Hussein, and we don't want their stinkin' statue!

From a Patriotic American

Subj: Thanks

Dear Buzz,

Thank you so much for your constant vigilance in reporting the news. Living on the brink of war, perhaps nuclear war, has caused me much stress. You have left no rock unturned to bring out into the open the real issues that lay under the cloak and dagger secrecy of the Bush administration. I've read your pieces, written letters, protested en masse, phone-called/e-mailed politicians, and donated to peace, and now, from the reports I'm reading today of the Brits backing down (and the Bushies, too?), I feel like peace efforts are starting to pay off, on a global scale. Thanks for all the great information and inspiration you've provided. Peace may win over aggression after all.

Michele

Re: GOP: It's Okay to Lie to U.N., We're Leaving - A BuzzFlash News Analysis

Dear BuzzFlash,

After reading your analysis, I just had to respond as, up until recently I lived in Congressman Tancredo's district and I can say unequivocally that the foremost reason I left his district because of talk like this. I was, however, surprised he didn't include some snipe at immigration in his comments, that seems to be his main focus in addition to his and his party's self-righteous blatherings. It's just flat scary people like this get elected.

Sign me as a BuzzFlash Reader who's sick of the nonsense and out and out lies these people are saying.

Subj: White House Bans French Fries

Dear Buzz,

What an immature administration. They have now renamed French fries in the White House cafeteria as "Freedom fries". In the first place, French fries are from Belgium. In the second place, we have lost all our freedoms in this country.

MV

Subj: Rant

Dear BuzzFlash,

Remember the time at the golf course when W was responding to the bombing at Hebrew University that killed 5 Americans? Bush said "I cannot speak strongly enough about how we must collectively get after those who kill in the name of —in the name of some kind of false religion."

Soon after 9/11 he called the war on terrorism a "crusade". Comments such as these have served only to further polarize the Islamic world from the US & the West in general. All this at a time when support from Arab nations is critical in dealing with the current crisis.

At best, the comments made by Bush are typical brain burps, at worst they are sincere. The more W expresses his views on the situation the more clear the answer to that question becomes. Either way, the moderate to extreme Muslims in the world will see them in terms of the latter.

The Islamic extremist portray this as a battle between two distinct civilizations, one "good" & one "evil". Bush’s categorical comments further endear them to this philosophy. In fact, Bush himself presents this as a battle between his own version of "good" & "evil". So we're stuck calling each other names. By doing this, Bush places himself (and the country) on the same playing field as the terrorist. This is exactly what they want. We are willfully playing the role of their chosen enemy. We haven't the intellect to place these events in a context other than that of a battle between XFL teams: the "Evildoers" vs. the "Infidels".

A situation such as the one we're in calls for more than generic classifications, catch phrases & 2000 pound "bunker busters". This, unfortunately, is ALL we are getting from this guy.

A sense of how the conflict has matured and what can be done about it must be a prerequisite for handling this problem. A man who has professed his amazement that there are "blacks" in Brazil can not be expected to grasp every nuance of the evolution of this conflict & what actions must be taken to deal with it.

Dave Soriano

Subj: Am I The Only One?

Who thinks it is incredible that Bush is demanding that Iraq disarm while the Pentagon is showing footage of a 21,000 ton bomb test?

Quilp

Subj: Perle v Hersh...libel suit in UK?

Dear BuzzFlash,

According to Sy Hersh's interview with Dianne Rehm on WAMU, Richard Perle has sued him for libel in the UK courts.

Tuesday, March 11, 2003 (listen to show at http://www.wamu.org/ram/2003/r1030311.ram)

10:00 - Private Interests and Military Policy

Colin Swales

Subj: Who is April?

Dear Buzz,

The whole "news" conference was a farce, but I found American Urban Radio Network reporter April Ryan's question especially worthless. Below is her question from the New York Times' transcript:

"As the nation is at odds over war, with many organizations like the Congressional Black Caucus pushing for continued diplomacy through the U.N., how is your faith guiding you? And what should you tell America or what should America do collectively as you instructed before 9/11? Should it pray? Because you're saying let's continue the war on terror."

Did we really need another opportunity for Shrub to preen about how pious he is?

Below is the text of an e-mail I sent through their website (www.aurnol.com).

"The reporters at this highly scripted event were far too timid and deferential, but I found April Ryan's question especially egregious. Could she truly think of nothing better to ask than a softball question about faith that gave Bush the excuse to congratulate himself on his close relationship with God yet again?

I'm sure she did not want to be exiled to the back of the room, as Helen Thomas was, but surely such an opportunity should not be squandered. The American people deserved real answers to hard questions of a man determined to take us into a war."

I'm not holding my breath for an answer.

* * *

Here's AURN's response, from Tene' Croom, tcroom@aurnol.com:

I welcome your opinion concerning American Urban Radio Networks' (AURN) White House Correspondent April Ryan and her question about faith at President Bush's press conference. However, I strongly disagree that it was a softball question.

While there are many people, particularly African Americans, who are protesting against the possibility of a U-S led war against Iraq; many African Americans are praying there will be no conflict. So, faith is not a soft question. Faith, as I'm sure you know, is what kept African Americans sane through slavery, segregation and racism, to name just a few things that have caused them grief.

Having said that, I again appreciate you taking the time to let me know what you think about April's question. Feel free to contact me in the future about any other concerns you might have involving AURN's news department.

Tene' Croom
Director of News and Public Affairs
American Urban Radio Networks

Subj: Hersh says he's never seen journalists so frightened

first item in column

Harvard Crimson

Seymour Hersh criticized the Bush administration's approach to Iraq on Tuesday after picking up the Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism. "It's scary," he said. "I wish I could say something optimistic. I think this guy will do what he wants to do." He said of the attorney general: "(John) Ashcroft seems to be confusing his personal definition of God with the Constitution. He's the least knowledgeable and most dangerous attorney general we've had." MORE HERSH: "I have never seen my peers as frightened as they are now."

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=45&aid=24533

Chewgababy

Subj: Dic-Taters

Dear BuzzFlash,

I think Jan Mallis's friend's suggestion of calling french fries "Dic-Taters" is terrific! Its' a good way of showing how totally juvenile people are being for replacing the word "french" with "freedom". This is behavior one would expect from a spiteful, insolent child. But, for a member of Congress to engage is such behavior is embarrassing and pathetic. If it weren't for the French, America would be a British colony right now. So, whenever BuzzFlashers eat somewhere where the french fries have been renamed "freedom fries", we should order "Dic-Taters", and when the waiter states that they don't have those, just say "yes you do, right here", and point to their "freedom fries"!

Sincerely,

A BuzzFlash-er

Dear BuzzFlash,

If anyone is willing to do some homework, Putin has some very valid reasons for not wanting to participate in the rebuilding.

After the end of the war in Afghanistan, negotiations began to choose the new government. The reagan administration forced the Russians to go along with its choice, which turned out to be the Taliban.

Yesterday, I watched a program which pointed out that democracy may be the worst thing to introduce to Iraq. Why? Because the Muslim sect that Hussein & his people represent comprise only about 5% of the population. The other 95% are the same sect Muslims that rule Iran --religious zealots, extremists, etc. Hussein is hated more in the region for his lack of religious zeal than for his purported "threats" to his neighbors.

We know what a mess is facing us in the near future, I wonder what disaster the bushites will have wrought 20 years down the line? A whole new era of terrorists.

Liz Taylor

March 12, 2003, 12:50PM

Russia won't help with Iraqi regime change
Associated Press

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/special/iraq/1815619

MOSCOW -- Russia will not take part in the "dangerous precedent" of supporting regime change in Iraq, a top Russian diplomat said today, while the U.S. ambassador to Moscow warned that a Russian veto of a U.N. resolution supporting war would damage Moscow's economic and political interests.

Amid the growing tensions, President Vladimir Putin and President Bush talked by telephone today, the Kremlin press service said. Bush placed the call.

Subj: A Ripley Believe or Not from CNN

Sure we took an al-Queda prisoner and when he talked we gave him $25 million because it led to Mohammed. Then when he said "Hey, its goin to cost me $2 million to move the wife and kids" we gave it to him.

Sure.

Robert Reynolds

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/03/12/shaikh.reward/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An Egyptian radical will get $27 million as a reward for giving the United States information that led authorities to alleged September 11, 2001, mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, government sources said Wednesday.

The sources, confirming a story previously reported in a British paper and in Newsweek, said the unnamed Egyptian was captured during a raid in Quetta, Pakistan, last month. The Egyptian was described as an al Qaeda foot soldier.

Subj: Who is April?

Buzz:

A reader wanted to know about "April", the reporter who asked Bush that very worthless question about his religious beliefs. Well, the morning after the "news conference"....if you can call it that.... "April" phoned in to a local Atlanta radio talk show. She seemed real pleased with her performance until the callers (mostly a Black audience) begin to call and give her hell. Most stated that, with America headed towards an unjust war, and viewing all of the problems which pertain to minorities today with this administration, why would she offer up such a soft ball, nothing question. It appeared that she was elated to just be in the same room as the unelected King George. After the grilling that she received from Atlantans, she should be somewhere in hiding.......but then most of the media needs to hide it's collective head in shame at this time in our history. They have dropped the ball.

I emailed CBS to complain about the network's use of the banner/slogan/add, "Showdown With Saddam". I told them that they (and the other networks) are a part of the problem and have become part of the story. I also suggested better slogans, like: " Unjustified Attack on Iraq" and "America's Pre-emptive Strike against the Poor Citizens of Iraq'.

Let's not give up people. Let's pray, email, call, march, and pray! And don't forget those letters to the editor of your local paper.

Dee Turner
Atlanta

Dear BuzzFlash,

Yes, Pete, I have been hung up on at c-span. You wait an eternity and then when you finally get through, boom...if you tell them what you want to know..."We're not discussing that"..slam! Right in your ear. I had it happen once, wanted to ask that dimwitted woman, the abortion woman...you all know...She was ranting about Clinton vetoing the bill....boo hoo! I wanted to ask her if the bill included a right for the woman if her life was in danger or the life of the child! The smart***girl, said smartly the above and slammed the phone in my ear.

One time, I got through, and I cannot remember now who it was or what the topic was, but I asked and, of course, the nitwit republican hedged, changed the subject and did a bit of everything to keep from answering the question! I have become so bored with Bushs' begging on the phone for all nations to help him, please!!!

He is like a little boy, I hope he doesn't stoop to bribery...ah, forgot, he already did that!

I am up for anything..in my neighborhood, those blue and white signs are springing up like daisies. They say, "No war in Iraq...not in our names" and on the other side, it says "Invest in people, not war!" I see more and more every time I go out! I think they are hard to hold on to...the mean spirited republicans go out after everyone goes to sleep and steals them. One person had it attached to his security system and the police came...what an embarrassed republican!

Embarrassed republicans is almost a misnomer. They can do the most stupid things in the world and act as if it is normal!

I got a great letter form my republican brother today. He sent just a quote from I think, Will Rogers...something to the effect, that he said "The French told someone he wanted all the Americans to leave his country...and someone asked if that meant the 60,000 buried there?" I do not know if it is true, matters not to me, I am clutching at straws and told him so...My Granddaughter is being deployed to Kuwait.

He returned with republican logic (I had also suggested that there should be a draft so we would know who all went). His logic was that she would not be in the action, which is not what I am worried about...the barracks in Kuwait get bombed, too. And, he also told me that there would never be a draft (he has two sons who might have to go)...that our military was strong enough! So, there, sis, take it!!

I do not like republicans...can anyone tell??????

Bye, Shirley..St.Louis

PS: Is it just my conspiratorial nature, or is the Khalid Sheik Muhammed thing a something weird?? Just asking...You see, folks...we have never heard a word out of anyone about the 911 bombing. And, I was reading in a paper, or on this website that they all got together before GB was selected and said that the only way the people would stand still for a war, was if another Pearl Harbor incident happened! Sorry...just wondering...........

Subj: "You can change the World, Don't Forget.." the Stolen Election!

Dear Buzz,

I remember clearly the time when you posted this editorial. It seems so long ago.

We protested the stolen election in Washington D.C. on May 19th, 2001. At that time I was filled with hope that our Democratic Process would somehow restore what had been so brazenly stolen from all of us. But with corrupt and timid Democrats who could not be distinguished from the Pugs, our government along with its Yellow Press has swept the stolen election under the rug. For now.

I say this condition is temporary because I know that there are many not only here in America, but around the World as well who will NEVER get over it! The Stolen Election will not be forgotten and someday it WILL be dealt with!

Despite all that Bush and his Regime have done to distract the American People from the truth and to pump up His Illegitimate Empty Suit, it won't be over until the Brother counts the votes! Every single one of them!

We must NEVER let this happen again!

Thanks for posting it again, BuzzFlash.

Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)

Gore Country!

My Country!

Subj: Bush The Dry Drunk & Other Comments

Dear Buzz,

It seems a lot of people thought he was on "medication", too. To me, he sounded like he had come off an episode.

Bush was scripted.. he openly said so to one of the reporters…(to the one called April?) His eyes kept shifting, he slurred his words, he was extremely nervous, and the one time his face relaxed was when April asked him the question about his faith.. Otherwise, his forehead was crinkled and his mouth was turned to a frown. George bit the inside of his lip.. he does this when he's unsure about something, his mannerisms were robotic, and I could tell that he wished he were elsewhere. He acted bored and he "sighed" frequently. And, when George was done, he was well done. He whipped away from the podium and strode like a whupped poodle down the red-carpeted hallway.

He did not 'bless' the gathering with a benediction such as "God Bless America", which I thought was interesting.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Hi Buzz....

I have seen in the mail bag people asking questions about "ARMAGEDDON"....For anyone wanting to know all about it....just type "armageddon" in your URL line and you will be amazed at all of the parallels....After you have read that, go back again and type in "MOUNTAIN OF MEGIDDO"...My grandson who did two stints of 6 months each in the "GULF WAR" told me that they were doing their fighting very near to that place.....The prophecies of Revelations are coming to pass....ANTI CHRIST????? hmmmmmmm wondering......Keep on buzzing Buzz

Genie

Subj: Mainstream media inadvertently proves Iraq is no threat...

Dear Buzz,

You posted a Washington Post article as an indication that the war starts on Monday. But at the end of the article is yet another description that indicates Iraq is no threat to us. Whenever we get down to the brass tacks of what Iraq has, we find that it's almost nothing. It's only when listening to sensational slogans that we get a frightening picture of Iraq. This article notes merely as a curiosity that Iraq seems to have made few preparations for a country that's "under threat." Neither the reporter nor senior military official seems bothered by the contrast between our horrific military build-up and the pathetic state of Iraq's military, though:

'By contrast, military commanders have been surprised by the limited scale of preparations by Hussein's forces, as shown in intelligence reports... "We see some military movement but not as much as you would expect for a country that's under threat," the senior military official said... "[A]t some point there will come a point where he fights back."' (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16650-2003Mar12.html)

Here is another such description published last spring, New York Times. Like the one above, it describes Iraq as having little capability but then goes on to speculate--and this is the pathetic core of the argument you see repeated over and over again--that IF we were going to drive to Baghdad and topple the government then Iraq MIGHT unleash whatever weapons it's got left IF it has any. That's why we have to attack. GET IT? "Whatever he's got now, it's less than what he had in 1991," Mr. Duelfer, the former deputy chairman of the United Nations commission that monitored Iraq's chemical and biological weapons programs until 2000, said." (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/19/international/middleeast/19CHEM.html)

This one is Hans von Sponeck speaking, a former assistant Secretary General of the U.N. and the UN's humanitarian aid coordinator in Iraq from 1998 to 2000. It notes Iraq has no military capability left at all: "The Iraqi military is in miserable straits, quite desperate. "It's been reduced to buying hand-made spare parts for its equipment from back-street workshops. "So we'll see high-flying technology knocking Iraq to smithereens." (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2529229.stm) He says that we'll win the battle but lose the war, because of the backlash from our unprovoked attack.

He, like many others, says the challenge to us will come if the fight is taken to the streets of Baghdad. Buzz, I betcha that's why the coward Rumsfeld ordered those illegal chemical weapons to the Gulf, the 'calmatives' and other substances, such as the one used in the Russian hostage crisis last fall. After the 3,000 cruise missiles, we will spray 'calmatives' over Baghdad and then go in and shoot people in the head, the way the Russians shot the unconscious Chechens last fall.

You think we'll have a ticker tape parade later? Not blaming our troops, they probably feel so low. They know the whole world is against the war, that it's unjust, that Rummy tried to get permission to cremate them rather than bring their bodies home, and that now he's ordered 70,000 body bags to the Gulf. I really HATE going to Washington again this Saturday, but I wouldn't be anywhere else in the whole wide world: http://www.internationalanswer.org.

Peace, Mary - NYC

Subj: Giving Back the Louisiana Purchase

Buzz-

Maybe all these French bashers are right. And in that spirit, I humbly propose we give back the Louisiana Purchase. I believe that would include a big wide swath of those Red States in the Heartland. I could live with that solution!

:P

A BuzzFlash reader

(I think this will take you to a picture of the purchased land, although I make no guarantees.... http://www.democraticunderground.com/duforum/DCForumID66/4214.html)

Subj: Carlyle Group purchases CSX a week after naming CSX chairman to treasury secretary

Dear BuzzFlash,

Was it just a coincidence that the Carlyle Group (a card-carrying member of the Bush Family Evil Empire) announced its purchase of CSX Lines for $300 million, just a week after John Snow, the chairman of the board to CSX-- the parent of CSX lines-- was tapped as the new treasury secretary?

compare these two stories

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2002-12-08-treasury_x.htm

http://www.thecarlylegroup.com/news.htm#034

By the way, CSX Lines' net revenue for fiscal 2002 was $22 million. See the 10k here

http://www.edgar-online.com/bin/edgardoc/finSys_main.asp?dcn=0000916641-03-000356&nad=

Clearly, a sound business investment. I wonder what kind of bonus John Snow got for pulling this off? (Read the 10k, the president of CSX Lines was offered a $1.5M bonus to sell CSX Lines by the end of 2002.)

And was it just a coincidence that the Carlyle Group also bought a 33.8% stake in QinetiQ, a spin-off of Britain's Ministry of Defense within weeks of Tony Blair signing onto war with Iraq?

http://www.thecarlylegroup.com/news.htm#032

Why doesn't the press report on this stuff? It is right there in black and white waiting to be found.

--keep me anonymous

Dear BuzzFlash,

Here in Louisiana we have a terrific French heritage. We don't need to have any more of our "freedom fried" by an insensitive Congress, President, and Supreme Court. Here we are celebrating the bi-centennial anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase and we are fortunate enough (through the cooperation of France) to have the original documents on display in our old State Capitol building. We are teaching our school children every day about the Louisiana Purchase and about our rich heritage. We have an ongoing project to restore the French language to a people in Louisiana who had it ripped from them, another "freedom fried". Baton Rouge has a sister city in France and we have a wonderful cultural exchange. We have an entire city in our state named Lafayette. We have another city called Napoleonville ... and so on.

To the Republicans in Washington D.C.: Have you no values, no sensitivity to people, no clue? In Louisiana, our economy depends on such things as Mardi Gras and our culinary corridor with its rich French heritage. The last thing the Louisiana economy needs is a "bash the French" campaign. We need the money to educate our children.

As election day nears, I plan to remind the people of Louisiana that it was the Republicans who had "freedom fries". There will be so many "Have you had your 'freedom fried' today?" posters around Louisiana that "Dic-tater" and his other brother "Dick-tater" will choke on them. "Potatoe" will be nothing compared with "freedom fried".

If you won't listen to the French, then please listen to Senator Byrd. He has something important to say. Listen to our former President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, President Jimmy Carter. He has something important to say. Believe me, your "freedom fries" campaign will "back fry" on you in Louisiana. We grow up singing Frere Jacques.

Keep up the good work, BuzzFlash! We need you.

Margaret Waid, Ph.D.

Subj: Quote of the Day

"War with Iraq, $59 billion so far. We're rebuilding Iraq, $900 million at least. Privatizing Social Security - one trillion. Tax cuts that have been passed - 1.3 trillion. Tax cuts bush wants to pass - $700 billion. Turning record surpluses into deficits and leaving our children to clean up the mess - priceless."

-- James Carville, Crossfire, (3/10/03)

Chewgababy

Subj: house leaders blasted by smart girl's uncle on cbs this morn

Buzz,

Hope you caught CBS morning show with Harry Smith. In an interview with the Smart girl's uncle, the uncle blasted sensenbrenner, hastert, and delay for stalling on the Amber Alert bill, in essence coddling, protecting perverts and pedophiles. Hope this story appears on cbsnew web site soon and is not "restrained."

BB

Subj: Unintended Consequences

Dear BuzzFlash,

It looks like the US and Britain are going to thumb their noses at the United Nations by ignoring the right of any of the permanent members to cast a veto. What doesn't seem to have been taken into account by Bush and Blair is that by saying that the use of the veto has no effect they are also saying that when they choose to use the veto in the future, whether it be in protection of Israel or of the US's interests, that veto, too, will no longer have merit or be recognized.

There is grave danger in flouting this long-standing agreement that the use of the veto is valid, legal and to be respected. Looking at what could happen, think about this scenario:

The US and Britain do not respect the veto cast by Russia and/or France and go ahead with attacking Iraq. France, Russia, Germany or which every country puts forth a resolution condemning the attack and proposing sanctions against both countries. Britain and/or the US vetoes the resolution but, because of their prior act of ignoring the legitimacy of the veto, they no longer have any clout.

Or think about this one: One of the members of the United Nations puts forth a resolution that Israel must immediately take action to be in compliance with all the previous resolutions passed at the United Nations that they currently are flouting and if they do not, severe sanctions will be put into place or they must immediately comply or they will be attacked. The US would cast a veto but it would have no merit.

The road the US and Britain are traveling is one fraught with danger, one that could very well bring the world to the brink of a global war. When there is no longer any common respect for differing opinions; when might makes right, when one or two countries act contrary to the rules they signed on to accept, we must all be very, very frightened.

Bev

Hi BuzzFlash...

I tuned in West Wing last night only to find Law and Order in it's place. Do you know if this is a result of Martin Sheen's anti-war statements?? Has West Wing gone the way of Donahue?

Thank for your great site.

M. C. K.

Subj: The Congressional Cafeteria

My friend sent this to the NYTimes. I doubt if they print it. I told him I was sending it to you. Lovely.

To the Editor,

The decision by members of Congress to rename certain foods in their cafeteria would be funny if it were not a pathetic example of Orwellianism and ignorance. "French fries," of course, are Flemish and not French. The French language term for "French toast" translates literally as "lost bread," which might be an apt description of "Freedom bread" under the circumstances. There is jingoistic precedent for this practice, including calling sauerkraut "victory cabbage" during World War I. But why stop with the French? The Chinese and Russians can also veto American resolutions. Should we then refer, respectively, to children playing "Freedom checkers" with their marbles or, most appropriately, the United States playing "Freedom Roulette" with the world?

James P. Kahan
U.S. citizen resident in The Hague

Subj: Gong Show Reject

Hi,

Thanks for posting that photo. It reinforces what I've been thinking for a long time, that is, that the "glint of determination" in Bush's eyes has morphed into a "glean of madness."

Kathy Pistono

Subj: Where have we gone?? Lemmings all.

Dear BuzzFlash,

Watching cspan yesterday and observing the senators debating abortion and of course the stalwart male republicans attempting to tell women what they should do, how they should do it and wanting forever to control the one thing they don't have control over, birth. I was dismayed to discover that our congress, senators, politicians see no need to debate the war or potential war.

The British parliament, the Turkish parliament all of the EU are debating publicly, putting themselves out there to answer the questions of the people. We are relegated to trying to email cnn, msnbc, our senators, blah, blah, blah. with nary a hope of a response. Our government seems so totally consumed by the harm done to the unborn with not a thought to all the innocent live breathing existing children who already are on this earth living in Iraq.

When as a nation have we become so complacent. Why can't we see to it that the media covers evenly and squarely this administration and all of the deeds they are trying to pull. Whatever the public knows comes to us from the mainstream media. These so called journalists are a disgrace and make me ashamed of their profession. There job is to get the news out there not sit there fluffing their hair looking cute, making goo goo eyes at their guests and be anything but professional. Very little if anything is being said about issues other than G.W. and whatever his crowd allows to be put out there and we have the nerve to say we are a constitutional democracy.

What we seem to be becoming is a nation of lemmings of Doctor Seuss fame. Doesn't anyone remember what your mother told you that just because little johnny jumped off a bridge, does that mean that you should also??, I guess as a nation we forgot.

Charlene Moran
Crystal Lake, Illinois

Subj: Brief comment on War and Money

Dear Buzz,

I can't help but think that if the US were to offer the money we would otherwise spend (waste) on this outrageous, unethical and illegal war, to Iraq's citizenry after they rid themselves of Saddam Hussein, that the investment would go much further in helping to heal the entire world community’s wounds. Done correctly, it could take the wind out of the sails of those using our aggression to foster terrorism.

Anne V. Masters
Albany, NY