Recommended reading
David Icke, in his books (www.davidicke.com), including his most recent “Alice in Wonderland and the World Trade Center Disaster,” describes in a similar way as Gerry Spence, who wrote “From Freedom to Slavery,” how most of the human race has been submissive to destructive forces of government and corporate tyranny. Both tell how, like sheep, we would easily trade in our freedom out of fear of our “wolves” for protection only to empower a more dangerous master.
Icke uncovers the forces closer to us than a cave in Afghanistan behind Sept. 11, 2001, and examines the war on terrorism. Since this book was written, 500-1,000 Middle Eastern people have been taken to prison in Southern California who were only trying to cooperate with a new regulation requiring them to register with immigration authorities. They were regarded as terrorists. The immigration and naturalization services would give no reason for the arrests.
We have a moral/social responsibility to get informed and do all we can to protect all people’s rights and civil liberties. Regardless what side of issues you take, such as the USA PATRIOT Act, I urge everyone to read his book with an open mind. You may or may not agree with him; however, I think this book and his other writings are too essential to not consider. “Brainwashed” by George Harrison, and my songs “Phoenix Rise” and “Wake up!” also speak loud and clear.

Ceila Levine

Eugene

Bush is playing

a dominating game

of dominoes
President George W. Bush on Sunday lent insight to the next “game” he intends to play: dominoes. Greeted by reporters upon arrival at the White House, the president was asked of his concerns about Iraq’s neighbor to the northwest: Syria. Stating his knowledge of Syria’s possession of chemical weapons, the president went on to say, “First things first — we’re in Iraq now.”
“First things first.” His advisors must have cringed at the premature divulgence of his next task for our young men and women in uniform. Having fought as a nation and lost so many thousands of young lives in Vietnam ostensibly to prevent the falling dominoes of communism, the administration appears to be setting up its own dominoes in the Middle East, hoping they’ll fall in the direction of democracy.
The late pacifist minister A.J. Muste is quoted as observing that “the problem after war is with the victor. He thinks he has just proved that war and violence pay. Who will now teach him a lesson?”
The road home was supposed to have been through Baghdad. Is it now through Damascus? Or Tehran? Or Pyongyang?
With Iraq successfully “liberated” and the world rid of a brutal despot, the American public must not rest satisfied in the belief that the “war on terrorism” has ended. The president himself has warned of a “long and difficult” struggle. He should know: He’s setting up the dominoes.

Todd Huffman

Eugene

Hate comments

not representative

of Christian faith
I am writing with regard to the article concerning hate mail that was received by ASUO officials (“Religious, racial hate mail infiltrates ASUO,” ODE, April 9). I am a Christian, and reading the abhorrent comments made by someone claiming to speak on behalf of all Christians deeply upset and angered me.
I am not writing to criticize you for printing the article; it was good journalism and it is your job. The reason I am writing is because people like this who make such sickening and hateful statements against other human beings must be rebuked, as they not only defame the name of Christ and Christianity, but also of humanity.
Because to the God I serve, humanity is the most precious thing. I, as a Christian, do not believe in that kind of hate, and neither does any true Christian because hate is not the heart of Jesus. A true Christian is a follower of Christ, the same Christ who said, “This is my command: Love one another” (John 15:17). No Christian I know believes otherwise, and on behalf of all true Christians, I condemn the statements of hatred and bigotry that were made by someone who professes the name of Christ.

Katie Hopkins

sophomore

international studies

and geography