Posted October 7, 2002

Senate Overwhelmed?

For the last week I have been continually emailing senators with antiwar messages. Today I can not access any senate web sites either individual senator sites or the main senate web site? Could I have been blocked access to the senate?

~ Norm M.

Webmaster Eric Garris replies:

I can't get to the site either. Maybe they are overwhelmed.

HaCohen's Articles

I am a Canadian-Palestinian and I just read some of your [Ran HaCohen's] articles. I have to be honest with you, sir. While growing up I had a resentment to Jews. I thought that all Jews are Zionists. When I got into graduate school I met a Jewish man in my lab and we clicked together very well. My friendship to him made me realize the shameful concept I had about "all Jews" is so wrong and racist. You too are proving my old thoughts wrong. But I have to tell you something. The government of Israel tries to speak on behalf of all Jews in defending the IDF and settlers' atrocities. This is the reason why I disliked Jews. There always is on the news a government representative that speaks to the TV camera as if he/she speaks on behalf of all Jews. It is just like Hamas speaking on behalf of all Muslims. I hope this email was not a waste of your time. I really enjoy your articles.

I just want to thank you, sir, and my friend for correcting me. Good luck on your Ph.D thesis and I hope your defense will go as you wish. God bless and may our people live together in harmony.

~ Rashid A.

War Toys

Thank you for making me aware of the offensive "Forward Command Post" that J.C. Penney is selling. In response to your call to complain to them, I wrote them the following letter:

"J.C. Penney's
6501 Legacy Drive
Plano, TX 75024-3698

"Dear J.C. Penney's:

"I am outraged at your selling of the toy 'Forward Command Post'....

"Such glorification of war, and the marketing of war to children is unconscionable! How are parents supposed to raise their children to be compassionate, caring individuals when they are bombarded at such a young age by the negative influence of such toys encouraging violence? How are parents supposed to teach their children to resolve playground conflicts by talking and not fighting, when those same children see a society that allows and encourages leaders of nations to resolve their conflicts with weapons?

"Especially in this day and age of spiraling violence in the world, and new threats by our government to launch a new war against Iraq, the last things we need are more toys glorifying war. Children need to know that war as a very terrible thing, resulting in gruesome death and suffering, and something to be avoided at all costs, not something that is 'fun' or 'exciting,' as your toy tries to convey. ...

"I ask you to please discontinue the sale of the 'Forward Command Post.' It is not healthy for children. I will not be shopping at any of your stores until this item is removed from your inventory."

~ Nancy H.

Raimondo Speaks for Me

I can't tell you how long it's been since I cared what anyone has said about the world around us. I have listened to many talk shows for years and have dropped them one by one until now the only thing my radio plays at work is the angry grunge I grew up with. I accidentally linked to one of Justin Raimondo's columns several months ago and ended up reading everything he has ever written, at least what I can get my hands on. Not only do I admire this man I find myself logging on to my computer every morning even before I brew my required morning pot of coffee in anxious anticipation of what he has to say next. He is indeed a rare find, I don't know how much my opinion means to you but I feel he speaks for me to when he takes on difficult issues. I will make sure to contribute at least every month because without the light from Antiwar.com guys like me will be in the dark.

~ ML

Another Pawn

Regarding "Why Jim McDermott is a Hero -- and Tom Lantos is a Scheming Hypocrite," by Justin Raimondo:

Just read your article about Lantos. Don't care for him myself. However, this blood drive against Iraq is more about creating chaos and outstanding debt than it is about saving Israel, so that Bush and friends can make loans with extreme interest rates, tighten the screws, and continue to rule and profit. Israel is only another pawn. ...

~ Dawn Abel

Who Benefits?

Thank you for providing Backtalk.

The link shown below is helpful to those who oppose a war with Iraq:

http://www.moveon.org/infoiraq.html

Here ... [is a letter] I've written to my Congressional Representative, Greg Walden. I have not been able to get through by telephone, so I just keep sending letters by e-mail to his address. Others are welcome to copy, plagiarize and/or use....

"Why is it that this country of ours, with the most money, the largest military, the most highly technologically developed, has to make war on other countries? Why does the president and his congress feel that they must follow the ancient tradition of spilling blood to meet some end of their own?

"The greatest resource this country has, and indeed, is built on, is compromise. Where is that resource now? Why must you and your colleagues depend on killing and maiming to accomplish your goal for cheap oil?

"Who benefits from a war on Iraq? Certainly the owners of the oil companies and corresponding manufacturers get their short term windfalls, but what of the rest of the world? Only the top few wealthiest people on the planet benefit from this belligerence.

"Is that where you want to be? In the top 1%? Is that why you persist in supporting death and terror in countries that control oil?"

~ Sara Dyer, Oregon

Patriot Act in Action

I know that these folks are not your cup of tea. Nonetheless, here is evidence of the Patriot Act in action. Extrapolate a little, and its not hard to imagine that Antiwar.com could suffer the same: http://checafe.ucsd.edu/burnflyer.html

"The University of California at San Diego has ordered the Ché Café Collective, a student organization, to remove hyperlinks on the burn.ucsd.edu website to an alleged 'terrorist' organization, citing the recently enacted USA Patriot Act..."

~ Erich Walrath

Editor's note:

Backtalk editor Sam Koritz is profiled in the Real World section of October's Smart Money magazine (print version only, not available online).