May 2, 2004: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Safety and Security of PCVs: Terror: Hostages: OSU Baramoter: James Lester says in 1990, terrorists from the Philippines abducted and murdered Peace Corps (yes, Peace Corps) volunteers, simply because they were American
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May 2, 2004: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Safety and Security of PCVs: Terror: Hostages: OSU Baramoter: James Lester says in 1990, terrorists from the Philippines abducted and murdered Peace Corps (yes, Peace Corps) volunteers, simply because they were American
James Lester says in 1990, terrorists from the Philippines abducted and murdered Peace Corps (yes, Peace Corps) volunteers, simply because they were American
Read and comment on this story from the OSU Barameter in which James Lester says that "In 1990, terrorists from the Philippines abducted and murdered Peace Corps (yes, Peace Corps) volunteers, simply because they were American. "
We think Mr. Lester may be confused or mistaken as no volunteers died in the Philippines between 1985 and 1990. Read the story at:
Friday's Baro good for a giggle*
* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.
Friday's Baro good for a giggle
by James Lester
I believe by increasing the public's general knowledge of minor issues and how the government functions, our society will be stronger.
Often, I will avoid large issues because discussions about them can become stale and overdone. Up until late this week, I had been struggling to decide on an issue to delve into. Thanks to the Barometer on Friday however, I've been provided with enough material to write for a very long time.
The paper was incredibly entertaining. I don't think I've ever laughed out loud in a class before, but it was just so darned hilarious. The cover picture is a great place to start.
I have several friends who participated in the All-University Sing and they really enjoyed it. But the picture ... my God, that picture! Even as I write this column, I have Friday's Barometer in front of me; the faces are so enchanting, and the determination is so real, that I cannot bring myself to look away.
The humor continues as the reader moves on to the forum section (which for some reason happens to be my favorite). There were some letters to the editor that also made me laugh out loud. Not a "this is uproarious" laugh, no, more of a "shock of desperation" laugh.
One of the letters was entitled "Bush our emperor?" Besides glaring problems that arose in the use of imperialistic analogies, I found this quote both funny and disconcerting. "North Korea, India, Pakistan have WMDs ... Did we invade those NON-democratic nations? They all pose a more imminent threat to the world than Iraq..." Please tell me Baro readers know what's so comical about this quote. Anybody?
India is (and has been) the most populous democracy in the history of the world. Not only is it a democracy, but it is one of the best allies to the United States in that region of the world. Britain has WMDs, but that whole ally thing sort of puts a damper on the invasion policy.
What else might cause me to laugh out loud? In 1973, Pakistan became a constitutional, federal republic ... wow, we're a republic. They have two houses, a prime minister and a president.
President Musharraf suspended the constitution in 1999, but reinstated it in 2002 when there was a backlash from the citizens. Since our invasion of Iraq, Musharraf and the national army have been very helpful in tracking and killing terrorists on the Afghan/Pakistan border. His and Pakistan's cooperation has been instrumental in weeding terrorists out of the deadly Kashmir province.
It's accurate in saying North Korea isn't a democracy, but the idea of an invasion of North Korea instead of Iraq is still laughable. North Korea is so isolated and controlled that any possible ties to terrorism are minimal, at best. The weapons they have are staying in North Korea.
Although it seems like common knowledge, many people do not know that we are still at war with North Korea, and have been in an uncomfortable state of armistice for 50 years.
There are approximately 37,000 American soldiers in South Korea right now, and some estimates say that if there is a first day of fighting, there will be one million casualties (mostly South Korean due to artillery and missile positions).
Using North Korea's financial and political problems will be a much easier way to bring down that regime. Even stupid old Bush knows that.
The fun doesn't stop there, however, because there was another letter titled "Look to Ghandi." I believe the student who wrote this is a very benevolent, loving person, but I do not think he grasps the complexity of the world around him.
In short, he said the United States should capitulate to terrorists in both our way of life and means of defending ourselves. We should completely abandon Israel (another democracy) and not let our women wear pants.
Historically, Islamic terrorists (who are a very small portion of the Islamic religion), are not the kind of people who recognize love, forgiveness and charity.
In 1990, terrorists from the Philippines abducted and murdered Peace Corps (yes, Peace Corps) volunteers, simply because they were American. In 2002, four missionaries who were bringing aid were also assassinated there.
In Somalia 1993, America sent forces to make sure food provided from the United Nations was being distributed to starving people, instead of being commandeered by violent warlords. After the 'black hawk down' incident and our subsequent retreat, Osama called our expulsion from Somalia his greatest triumph.
In Yemen 2003, four aid workers were assassinated. Red Cross and UN humanitarian workers in Iraq and Afghanistan have been indiscriminately targeted; it doesn't matter what people are there for (love or war); if they're Western, they're a target.
Hell, a terrorist group called Aum Shinrikyo plotted to bomb Disneyland. Is Disneyland really an affront to the way the Islamic culture believes we should live? Were all those children and families who would have been killed perpetrators of violence? Munificence and peace can only be applied to those who are willing to accept it, and terrorists, sadly, are not.
So thanks to Friday's Barometer and those out there who made it enjoyable to read. In these troubling times, the ability to make one laugh is a great gift, and on April 30, 2003, you granted me a plethora of endowments.
James Lester is a columnist for The Daily Barometer. The opinions in his column, which appear every Monday, do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Barometer staff. Lester can be reached at baro.forum@studentmedia.orst.edu.
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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Philippines; Safety and Security of PCVs; Terror; Hostages
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