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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 7, 2006 Letters To The Editor Letter Submissions Letters should be e-mailed in text-only format to [email protected] . Please include your address and a daytime phone number where you can be reached for confirmation. Letters are limited to 250 words. At Length submissions are limited to 400 words. Submissions may be edited for length, content and clarity. The Tidings gives priority to letters on local and regional topics of current interest. It seeks to encourage thoughtful, well-reasoned leters and to discourage personal attacks, repetitive messages and personal disputes. Form letters are not published in the Tidings, nor are letters identified as having been published in other publications. Reconciliation with Native peoples How Wonderful! We have a magnificent statue at the entrance of Ashland honoring the Native American community and acknowledging "Yes, You Are Still Here" and we are glad! I think it is also says: We are sorry for the past! The following open letter offers an apology and the need for all hearts to heal from the struggles and misery of the past. Let's welcome this beautiful piece of art into our community, our hearts and help our Native American friends celebrate their struggle and achievements. Dear Native American Friends, Has anyone ever said they are sorry for the pain and misery caused by the invasion of your land, for the broken treaties and the terrible mistakes of the past? America owes you an official apology. Until that happens, let me say: I am sorry! I feel a deep sorrow and decry the miserable treatment from the misguided policies of the past and present and I know all people of good faith share in this sorrow. Dear ones, let your heart embrace the gentleness of forgiveness. Let the beauty of grace mend your hearts, minds and souls. Extend the forgiveness in your hearts to your ancestors and to those yet to come. Let the future be healed as well as the past. Your forgiveness will heal all our souls, the nations and we will be one people again. I believe those who are no longer here, who cannot speak for themselves, seek forgiveness for their misdeeds. Forgive their ignorance, their fear and their damaged hearts. Let us look forward to the day when all people will join in knowing that the past is gone, the future is not yet here and the creative present is all that we have. Now we let our spirits unite in love, joy and courage and may we from this day forward, remain wholly loved and loving, forever, together. Bless this statue as it begins to heal all wounds. Sally McKirgan Ashland Jamison wrong about Israel Hal Jamison's fanciful attempt at rewriting history (9/27/06) postulates that Israel is not an independent state but, "an artificial creation of the United Sates ... serving U.S. intentions to control oil resources ..." Mr. Jamison obviously missed that the 1947 U.N. vote partitioning the British mandate into Jewish and Arab (Muslim) states was led by the U.S.S.R. who cast the first vote in favor followed by 32 other states including the U.S. He also missed that the U.S. provided no arms to the nascent Jewish state but that Czechoslovakia was the primary arms supplier in 1948 (as was France in the 1950's & early 60's.) If, as Mr. Jamison maintains, the purpose of Israel was and is to insure a "beachhead" in his imagined US campaign, not only to control middle east oil but to effect world domination, then I perhaps he can explain why the U.S. threatened to attack Israel when Israel (along with France and England) invaded the Sinai in 1956 in response to Egypt's nationalization of the Suez canal (causing their hasty withdrawal), or, 31 years later, allowed Israel to return the Sinai (including the gas and oil fields it had developed) to Egypt in exchange for peace, or why Israel was allowed to halt operations in both 1967 and 1973 when her forces could have easily taken Damascus or Cairo? Mr. Jamison also claims that Israel's development of nuclear technology was facilitated by the U.S. This patently false, Israel's nuclear program was developed with help from the French and hidden from the US. Lastly, Mr. Jamison claims that the State of Israel and Judaism are "not differentiated". Wrong again. Of the 6.3 million inhabitants of Israel, 77 percent are Jewish, 16 percent Muslim, 2 percent Christian, 2 percent Druse, and 3 percent other. I'm certain that the Muslims and Christians, not to mention the Druse of Israel would take issue with Mr. Jamison's creative assertions. On one point, however, Mr. Jamison is correct; Israel is not helpless. Although surrounded by 300 million Muslims committed to her destruction she has built a vibrant, pluralistic, tolerant, secular democratic state. These are her strengths. Bruce S. Klein Ashland Some conspiracies hold truth We were seriously disturbed by the demeaning "9/11 Conspiracy Nuts" editorial reprinted from this month's The Nation magazine. The article was filled with innuendos, muddied water and little substance, all in support of our Administration's questionable explanations. We realize that the mere possibility of intentional involvement of any governmental agencies in the 9/11 disaster, presents too harsh a reality for most Americans to face! September 11 has been the event that has profoundly shaped all our individual lives and our government's domestic & international policies for the last five years. It has personally affected all of us and adversely changed our image worldwide. Thousands of vital questions remain inadequately or unanswered surrounding the disaster. A groundswell of damming testimonials, scientific & visual data has surfaced which seriously undermines the administrations account. A non-partisan "Quest for the Truth" in this matter must promptly be resolved through a complete, impartial and independent, investigation of all the facts. This resolution need be accomplished soon, as we continue to head down a long, dark and slippery slope to what may well be the demise of all that we know and cherish. Dear neighbors, please spend just an hour of your valuable time in evaluation of the issues here. The facts presented are taken from visual, reliable and scientific sources. Make your own decisions as to whether this vital "9/11 Quest for the Truth" issue should prevail. A massive groundswell will be required to ferret out the "True Story of 9/11/2001," It may well be the single, most vital act of participation we can do as caring humans and patriotic citizens. David Ray Griffin's sold out presentation: "9/11: The Myth and the Reality" was filmed in Oakland, CA March 31, 2006. His investigative disclosures are broad, compelling & challenging. Dr. Griffin has a PhD in Theology and is the author of over 15 well read books, including "The New Pearl Harbor," "The 9/11 Commission report," "Omissions & Distortions" and soon to be published, "Christian Faith and the Truth Behind 9/11". His lecture can be currently read and/or listened to online. Search for: Reform/2006/911-Myth-Reality-Griffin30March06. A DVD of the "9/11 The Myth and the Reality" will be shown to the general public at: 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28 in the Performing Arts Center of the Central Point High School. Mark your calendar. Your participation will be an honor to our founding fathers! May the truth prevail! Al & Lucretia Smith Ashland Current Comments: I'm so sick and tired of all those PhD's in structural engineering telling me why the Twin Towers fell. It's about time someone with a Phd in Theology investigated the whole mess and explains what really happened. Phil - Ashland, Oregon - October 7th, 5:56 PM Phil,"PhDs in structural engineering" often like to protect their investment in their careers. They cannot have failed to note that people who speak out, like Kevin Ryan from UL and Stephen Jones from BYU, have jeopardized their careers for doing so. Lorraine ( [email protected] ) - Talent, Oregon - October 9th, 10:03 AM Lorraine, Your argument has some merit. Many scientists who are unwilling to jump on the "Global Warming" bandwagon have not failed to note that their careers are in jeopardy if they speak out. Phil - Ashland, Oregon - October 9th, 3:12 PM Phil (who-ever) Evidence presented by a PhD Thealogan in exercising his patriotic & civil responsibilities sould be fairly evaluated rather than critized by inuendo. For abundent scientific facts, search: "Scholars for 9/11 Truth". 300-members of civil, mechanical, aeronautical engineers & pilots reached these conclusions: Virtually all we have been told of the 3-building failures is provenly false; implying a violation of the laws of physics & engineering (invioable & unchangeable laws). Al Smith - Ashland, Oregon - October 9th, 6:19 PM Mr. Smith (or whatever your real name is) I have looked over the website you reccommended and found nothing but a repository of opinion by and for the aluminum foil hat brigade. Perhaps you should study up a bit on the laws of physics and engineering instead of blindly believing that "all we have been told of the 3-building failures is provenly (sic) false". Phil - Ashland, Oregon - October 10th, 6:07 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.