Never voted for Bush

Greetings from Punxsutawney Pennsylvania and the Inner Circle of the Punxsutanwey Groundhog Club. Believe it or not, we track what people are saying about our friend Phil so I read your commentary. In no way is Phil commenting on your remarks. He is really much more concerned about weather. I on the other hand say:  I never voted for Bush and want our friends in other countries to know that I am a proud American, but I believe that his decisions are not consistent with what many people feel. So the world may hate us but I hope they know that with a less than 50% approval rating…many of us are waiting for the next president to re establish our reputation in the world. Hang in there with us.

Ben Hughes,
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania

Ruined reputation

Now can we leave IraqNam and Afghanistan? We pissed away billions to support US oil fascism, and ruined our nation’s reputation in so-doing. Meanwhile, record numbers of homeless people and families, undernourished children, and failling young people grow, even as we pump up the BS for BC’s version of the Olympic Follies. What’s next?

All the best,
Joseph E Fasciani
now 65, who cannot “retire”

Dear Alan Cassels

It’s about time someone wrote what I have been suspecting! I’ve never been so furiously inspired in all my 24 years... yet I feel helpless to do anything about the current situation. I picked up an April 2008 copy of Common Ground at the Health Food Store in Penticton and have been blown away by the quality of the articles, yours being the icing on the proverbial cake. My step-grandfather, who has been more of a grandpappy than my real ones, has just gone through an ‘assessment’ in a care facility and luckily passed easily. Leading up to this joke, he was heavily medicated by his common law wife (my real grandmother who is not much of anything to me, unfortunately) and could barely function normally. I remember eating dinner with him one evening and he could barely find his fork, let alone his mouth. It turns out he was being force fed a deadly mixture of sleeping pills that completely rendered him useless. I had no idea of this at the time and attributed it to his brain tumor. I just remember feeling horrible for him as he laid his hands in his beloved chinese food after struggling to open a packet of sweet and sour sauce.

I agree with your article 100% and have no doubt in my mind that everything going on right now is profit driven. I hope to continue discovering more articles as informative and open minded as yours in the near future! Thank you,

Rich

A new way of thinking

Last week the evil organization Al Qaeda encouraged it’s member to attack the USA so that McCain might win the USA election. Well today the most powerful branch of international terrorism, Bush and his cohorts, attacked a village in Syria to oblige Al Qaeda’s wishes in a terrorist act that left eight people dead. It matters not if any of those killed by Bush’s New World Order were guilty of crimes of warring (that will possibly be known soon), what is clear is that Bush is guilty of killing these eight human beings. What is clear is that Bush is guilty of yet another act of State Based Terrorism likely designed to give McCain a boost in the election. If true that’s an even more scathing and cynical of Bush who already has the blood of at least many hundreds of thousands of people on his hands.

We need to find a new way of thinking to stop these wars. My way is to point out the war crimes, the killing crimes, of State Based Actors such as Bush and his agents of destruction. My way it to promote the notion that Governments right to War be revoked by the citizens of each Government in the world.

Act now. Revoke the Canadian Government’s right to War. Revoke your Queen’s right to War. Take that right away from her. Make no mistake about it Canada is still based upon the primitive notion of a Monarchy where the Sovereign Power to wage War sits. It’s time to shed that power from your government. Let your MP know, let your PM know that you revoke his power to wage War, that you revoke Parliament’s power to wage War.

Act now in America if you are a citizen there. Let’s your congressmen know. Let your presidential candidate know.

If enough Canadians or Americans do this - a clear majority of 60% - then it will be binding upon the war mongers in Canada! A citizens referendum.

Peace, prosperity and long life,
Peter William, a Concerned Human Being Living on Earth the one home we have in the Known Universe!

Best of Cuba

Hurricanes Gustav and Ike were devastating. Now islanders are working hard to make repairs. They want everything in shape as the 50th Anniversary of the Revolution approaches.

And, they want you to be part of this historic event during New Years!

Many people ask us how to help Cuba. Cubans say: Come and visit us! In doing so, you extend both economic AND moral support.

Together, we’ve launched two special tours for the holidays for you to experience the warmth, beauty, mystery and friendship that characterizes the safest, most festive destination in the Americas:

• Cuba Discovery and Adventure Tour from Dec 28, 2008 to Jan 4, 2009. Geared to families and friends who deserve a break far from “civilization” in a tropical paradise. Eight days of action packed culture and nature on this best of Cuba tour. A mountaintop excursion in Soviet Army trucks, visit to a self-sustaining rural eco-community, four days in an all-inclusive beach resort, hot Latin music and dance, and fine dining -- all in five-star comfort. Details at BestOfCuba.ca

• 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution Tour from Dec 27, 2008 to Jan 3, 2009. With change in the winds, what better time to visit Cuba and celebrate with the Cuban people on this most historic occasion? Participants will witness the rich fabric of island culture and have fun. An ideal tour for those who believe, as the Cubans do, that a better world is possible. Itinerary and costs at CubaSolidarity.ca

Here are two education programs:

• The ESL Cuba Volunteer departs to Cuba on November 8, 2008 for three weeks. It’s a small delegation of retired educators, ESL teachers and altruists who help Cuban youth at the university and primary level learn English. It’s a life-changing experience. See CubaVolunteer.com

• Teachers Introduction Tour to Cuba from Dec 27, 2008 to Jan 3, 2009. Participants will explore the island’s renowned culture of social progress, free education, universal health care, and peace. They’ll learn about Cuban efforts to construct a more equal society directly from its people. And, they’ll stay at the luxurious five star Hotel Habana Libre surrounded by the best Latin Jazz venues, just several blocks from the sea. See the details at HelloCuba.ca

Our main website at CubaFriends.ca hosts a wealth of fascinating reading on Cuban culture and history ranging from Jazz, Cigars, Libraries and Art to Law, Health Care, Education, Nature, Gays, IWD and May Day. Check it out and share it with your friends.

Contact us with any questions – we’re here to help make Cuba possible for you.

All the best,
Marcel Hatch, Education Director
708 - 207 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7 Canada