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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels September 15, 2004 Bush using fear to control us A large segment of the U.S. population was terrified by the millennium change. Against reason, with nothing more than a few worst case scenarios cavorting in their minds, millions of Americans prepared for the end as the calendar approached Dec. 31, 1999. Remember? There were many bright, well-read people suckered into generators, food-stocking, gas hoarding, rifles, and gold conversions. Until Jan. 1, 2000, that is. Given that, and the marketing bonanza of 9/11, is it any wonder a small group of White House right-wingers can gain control of so many American minds? While Roosevelt wisely urged people to not exaggerate fear, Bush encourages it. Tom Marvin Ashland Editorials are funny, not factual Sometimes "Our View" stretches the bounds of editorial license. It stated our Olympic athletes "were booed during the opening ceremonies." However, Peter Cipollone, Olympic Gold Medalist in rowing, had this to say: "The crowd did not boo the USA athletes, but instead grew silent as they marched in." and, of the closing ceremonies: "At the sight of our USA jackets and flags, the crowd did not go silent. They cheered and waved and reached out across the barrier to touch us." It has raised the issue of the Swift boat veterans questioning John Kerry's fitness to command based on their views of his Vietnam and post-Vietnam actions. This issue is neither "nonsensical" nor "the first punch in the fight." Legal 527s, whatever their message, are a freedom of speech issue and should not be blocked by the courts. Certain allegations by the Swiftees about Kerry's war actions have been confirmed; e.g., re: Cambodia and his purple heart for an unintentional self-inflicted wound. His post-war actions are public record. The "first punch" was thrown by pro-Democratic 527 organizations who have raised over $100 million to date. To paraphrase Shakespeare, "they will not go quietly into the night, they will not vanish without a fight." View "Our View" and the expunged O'Reilly for their entertainment value - not reasoned opinion. Jo W. French, Sr. Ashland Focus on true meaning of vote I greatly appreciate several of your recent editorials in which you have gone behind the facades of rhetoric to present the truth. I submit the following to emphasize the importance of hearing the difference between what the administration says and what they do: "It's not who votes that matters. It's who counts the votes" -Stalin "Of course people don't want war. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and then denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and for exposing the country to danger." -Goering Vote. This election is about protecting and sustaining democracy. It's about all of us getting involved at every level to create for all of the American people a democratic America. It's about an America that makes our contribution to a world of peace, environmental health and a powerful equality that helps us recognize our own face and hearts in the face and hearts of others and in the earth upon which we depend for our physical and spiritual survival. If we think about these issues rather than images and personalities, we may get closer to the true meaning of our vote and the life we continue to live after election day. Kathleen Meagher Ashland The madman told the truth According to George Bush, Saddam Hussein had to go. He'd used WMDs on his own people. Plus he was in cahoots with al-Qaeda. So we went to the U.N. and got a resolution urging Saddam to disarm - or else. But Saddam said, "Hey, I don't have any WMDs." We knew he was lying but we gave him another chance. He stuck to his story. No way could we risk our national security by believing a madman, so we took him out. But wait a minute - a year later and we've found no WMDs. And Saddam's regime is shown to have had no ties to al-Qaeda. Looks like the madman was telling the truth after all. And now we have 1,000 U.S. dead, over 10,000 Iraqi dead, and a war bill that's at 100 billion and rising. And what about Osama bin Laden? Anyone heard of him lately? Malcolm Hillgartner Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams