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WOMEN IN BLACK
On Saturday, Feb. 17, from 12 to 1 p.m., The
Women in Black will hold a special peace vigil at
the Arch in downtown Athens. We will be com
memorating four years of our silent vigils for
peace, which began in February, 2003, a month
before the start of the Iraq War. We wish to
thank all those who have stood with us through
cold, rain, or extreme heat, and to invite others
to join us each week
on Tuesdays from 5 to
6 p.m. at the Arch.
On Saturday, Feb.
17, there will also be
peace demonstrations
across Georgia and the
nation, working to ask
Congress to end the
war.
As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote, "History
is cluttered v-ith the wreckage of nations and
individuals that pursued this self-defeating path
of hate. We still have a choice today: nonviolent
coexistence or violent co-annihilation."
Nancy MacNair
Athens Women in Black
IN DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY
I have had about enough of neo-conservative
.commentators bemoaning the array of resolutions
currently milling about the U.S. Congress that to
one degree or another convey opposition to the
president's latest move in Iraq: "The Surge." I
am seriously beginning to wonder if those types
really believe in democracy, even when its incon
venient for them to do so.
Don't get me wrong. I know what's going on
here. Non-binding resolutions are a way for con
gress people to grandstand, and appear to be do
ing something without really doing anything of
consequence at alL And a part of me really sym
pathizes with those who believe that the activi
ties currently under way are a colossal waste of
time. But, I depart company from those say the
current exercises of congressional prerogatives
endanger our troops and embolden our enemies.
Our enemies seem pretty emboldened already.
And our troops are already in serious danger. They
have been placed in danger because of ill-con
ceived, ideologically driven, poorly executed stra
tegic decision-making which has taken place in
the executive branch of this government. The cur
rent neo-con complaining is a rhetorical attempt
to shift the blame for this possible foreign policy
failure from where it clearly belongs. And it will
not work. The American people have wised up.
The current display of Congressional bravado
is a part of democracy in action. It is at times
transparent in its duplicity and untidy. But this is
how we do things here. The congress has a voice.
And so do the American people. Our president
is not a king. And the Congress of the United
States is not his court, that simply accepts what
he says, goes off into a corner and is seen but
not heard. This has been happening for far too
long, to the nation's detriment.
Ordinarily, I don't have much use for empty
symbolic gestures and posturing. But, the per
formance of the Congress (a co-equal branch
of government) as it
relates to this war
from the beginning
has been abysmal.
And if I am honest
I must confess that
this current flurry of
congressional activity
does strike me as a bit
of overcompensation
for the timidity of the past. But, I am willing to
overlook it in this instance. The Congress needs
to reassert itself. Late is better than never. Our
democracy requires it.
Steve Bradshaw
Email
A LOUSY DAY FOR W
"No question, 2006 was a lousy year for Iraq."
George Bush made this amazing comments a
couple of weeks ago while discussing progress in
Iraq. Well, George, that may be one of the truest
things you've said in years. Here's some other in
formation for you, now that you seem to be half
awake: Things have been lousy in Iraq for almost
four years. It's been lousy for all those who have
lost their lives in a useless conflict designed by
you to satisfy you and your buddies' need for
control and power. It's been lousy for the citizens
of Iraq who have endured unbelievable hardships
as a result of your meddling in their affairs. It's
been lousy for that part of the world where vio
lence is now a part of everyday life.
Of course not everything has been lousy,
George. Defense contractors have profited hand
somely over the last four years. Supplying your
war on terror is good business for them. The big
oil companies seem to be doing well too. Their
profits have never been higher and they hope
to have their greedy fingers in most of the oil
production in Iraq. Large contracting companies
are making a fortune on no-bid contracts keep
ing this ill-conceived war going. The S362 billion
spent so far have made all of them and others
very happy and there's nothing lousy about it if
you're in the war-for-profit business.
Now you say you have a new, improved plan.
A plan, once again, you assure us will work.
You want to send more troops and spend more
BUMPERSTICKER OF THE WEEK:
No Eelgrass, No Scallops
Thanks, Zach & Audrey.
That's 706-549-9523 or ben@Ha~pole.com.
money. How creative, George. You insist that
this will make things better a id help solve our
problems in Iraq. The 2100 additional troops you
plan on sending to Iraq will surely have a lousy
year or two or three. If they are lucky enough to
survive their lives will forever be altered by your
new plan. This sounds like a lousy thing to do to
the people you work for, George. Did you happen
to check the election results in November? The
people are tired of your lies and mistakes and
your war. On the other hand the corporations and
people who profit from your war on terror will
surely make more money with your new plan. Like
the last four years, their profits will continue to
climb. Sounds like you must work for them and
not for us. If I had to pick a really lousy year,
George, I would pick 2000. That was the year you
were appointed President, a good year for you
and your buddies and a lousy year for the rest of
the world. If I could suggest a plan to you that
really might work, it would be to stop your war
now and resign. This would surely be a lousy day
for you. but it would be a great day for the rest
of us.
Drago Tesanovich
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Grand Opening
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