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PF's Clinton Controversy Corner
The L.A. Times, that daily oracle of modern culture, has said everything that we wish to say about the matter, so rather than adding to the clamor, here are some of our favorites:
Well, if they're going to impeach a president, I'm glad it's not for something frivolous like murdering people in Nicaragua or training death squads in El Salvador or selling arms to Iran and drugs in the 'hood. Anyone else get the feeling that the U.S. is an irony-free zone?
-N.F, Corona Del Mar
As Republicans fall all over themselves to brand President Clinton with the scarlet A, should we not also affix a V to Kenneth Starr? What drives must a man answer to who turns down an opportunity to work in Malibu as dean of the Peperdine law school to spend months delving into another man's sex life? -J.B., Moreno Valley
Sexual scandals have been with us since Adam and Eve, the most talked about erotic misdeed in history. It wasn't really the apple Adam was after. Think about it.
-Al Martinez, Times Columnist.
Today, parents across the country will grapple with questions from their children about President Clinton's actions and the traumatic results. No question should be too small, too uncomfortable, or too silly to answer, child development experts say.
- Bettijane Levine, Times Staff Writer
"This is a defining moment for the Internet, but not necessarily a proud one," said Esther Dyson, a venture capitalist and Internet guru.
-Greg Miller, Times Staff Writer
Lewinsky, of her own volition, thrust herself into the president's life. She initiated their first contact, she chose to expose her intimate apparel with little or no prompting, she initiated the oral sex and repeatedly urged the president to have an orgasm, she broached the topic of all-out sexual intercourse (to no avail). Yes, the president's a dirty dog. What is Monica?
-S.C., Los Angeles
If McMillan [Times columnist] is sincere about putting principle over politics, then she ought to head the call for Lewinsky's apology to Hillary for the damage she did to the first lady and to the country. Something no one else seems to be clamoring for.
-L.O.M., El Monte
From the same people who cry over the pornography found on the Internet we get the lurid--and graphic--details of Clinton's affair splashed over the same medium. Nothing like a little hypocrisy to brighten one's day, eh?
-T.G., Santa Monica
It must kill those politicians and media people whose stomachs burn with hatred for Clinton that the majority of Americans still approve of the job he is doing. To many of us, the far greater obscenity is their willingness to shove salacious details of the affair in our and our children's faces day after day.
-C.H., Fountain Valley
It would not be surprising to see Americans now wishing a pox on both of these men. With grim determination, Starr has shown that Clinton disgraced the Presidency. But with this leering and spiteful report, Starr has disgraced himself.
-R.B., guest columnist from the Washington Outlook
The larger point is that the scandal hampers all of us. Scandal dulls the ability to carry on political discussion and debate--not just for Clinton but for his opponents and critics too. . . . Look at the press, in theory the watchdog over government. Its performance also seems dulled by the scandal. The networks have virtually given up covering serious questions of public policy.
--J.M., Times Columnist
NOW, a few from the internet:
Starr and his co-conspirators in this Republican instigated inquisition couldn't find any evidence of fraud, theft, racketeering or treason, so they resort to a salacious smear campaign designed to entrap and embarrass the President. The public is on to the game. We see through the hypocrisy the of sexual McCarthyism of Ken Starr's investigation.
-R.G., Mill Valley, California
Where are the felonies? Where's the graft? Where's the corruption? Starr has wasted four years and forty million dollars proving that a man will lie about an extramarital affair. . . . The religious fanatics who are trying to stir up a witch hunt mentality should heed the President's popularity ratings because those numbers are going to sink the GOP in November.
--S.W., San Raphael, California
AND FINALLY Thank you to Green Buyer for sending Thomas Paine quotes. (Some people are still living with the Civil War, others Vietnam, but personally, I'm stuck on the American Revolution. - ed.)
THOMAS PAINE:
"When it shall be said in any country in the world, my POOR are happy, neither distress nor ignorance is to be found among them; my JAILS are empty of prisoners, my streets of BEGGARS; the AGED are not in want, the taxes are not oppressive . . . when these things can be said, then may that country boast its constitution and its government."
I PUT the following work under your protection. It contains my opinions upon Religion. You will do me the justice to remember, that I have always strenuously supported the Right of every Man to his own opinion, however different that opinion might be to mine. He who denies to another this right, makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it.
Editorial:
What's the Difference Between
the 20th Century and the 10th Century?
(telephone lines)
As we approach the year 2000 (or whatever you call it) we ask ourselves whether civilization is getting any better. What can we do to make it better?
Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh endured suffering as much as any human can. Still, he remains optimistic about his own human condition. Here's what he wrote in "Present Moment Wonderful Moment."
Smiling at Your Anger
Breathing in, I know that anger makes me ugly.
Breathing out, I do not want to be contorted by anger.
Breathing in, I know I must take care of myself.
Breathing out, I know loving kindness is the only answer.
Still, the question remains: What's the difference between the 20th century and the 10th? Not much this week, with the Inquisition starting in Washington. Is humankind ten years old or twenty, going on 21st? Will we make it into adulthood?
The main things we have now (as opposed to the 10th century) are telephones, fax machines and the internet. With these communication tools we can pull ourselves together before it's too late. We have to do it today.
Fax your representatives in Congress if you disagree with the Inquiry. You can find contact info. at Pf's Activists' Workshop. If you feel up to it, contact the media too.
A prayer of Dr. Albert Schwitzer
May I follow a life of compassion in pity for the suffering of all living things. Teach me to live with reverence for life everywhere, to treat life as sacred, and respect all that breathes. O Father, I grope amid the shallows of doubt and fear, but I long to advance toward the light. Help me to fling my life like a flaming firebrand into the gathering darkness of the world.
Nov. 3 Election Results
"Yesterday's clean sweep of victories for medical marijuana and drug policy reform herald a new era in the electoral politics of the drug war."
--Ethan Nadelmann, director of The Lindesmith Center
"It is time to make compassionate medical use available and practical."
--Bill Zimmerman, Ph.D., Executive Director of Americans for Medical Rights, author of "Is Marijuana the Right Medicine for You?"
I-59 Controversy
As of this writing, the results of I-59 are still being kept secret.
DRC Net Comments on D.C.'s I-59:
North Carolina Sen. Lauch Faircloth, chairman of the Senate D.C. Appropriations Committee, was quoted yesterday in the Washington Times, regarding D.C.'s I-59 and Congress's move to block counting of the vote, saying, "I'd do anything I could to block it, to stop it. We're going to have to pass a federal law on this so-called medicinal marijuana. It's become an absolute farce in San Francisco. It's a joke. We are going to have to outlaw it." Faircloth added that he would be willing to block D.C. officials from certifying the results, saying, "any way to stop the law, I'd be in favor of it." Sen. Faircloth will have less power over the District, however, as his reelection bid was defeated 52-47 by Democratic challenger John Edwards.
I-59 was first introduced as I-57 by Steve Michael of DC ACTUP. After Michael passed away from AIDS without seeing his initiative make it to the ballot, Wayne Turner, his partner, and many allies, rallied and brought I 59 to the ballot in his honor. ACTUP's efforts garnered an impressive array of endorsements for I-59, including all the mayoral candidates and nearly all of the city council. Send ACTUP a note of congratulations at DCSign59@aol.com, and visit their web site.
[Editor's note: If this seems undemocratic to you, write some letters. Also, visit DRC Net.]
Act Up Speaks on I-59:
Thanks to supporters of DC's Initiative 59!! Although we're not tan, or rested, we're ready to fight back! Here's an update on our post election strategy:
Coming up!!! On Tuesday, November 10, we're calling for a peaceful but noisy rally/protest at One Judiciary Square at 12 Noon. Stand Up for Democracy!!! call Anise at (202) 547-9404.
Legal: We filed in federal court, by the ACLU-National Capital Area on Oct. 30. Once the Board of Elections and Ethics files their response to our complaint, a hearing should be scheduled. Our legal team is preparing motions to fast track proceedings, because lives are at stake. On November 4, we also filed a Freedom of Information Act Request with the Board to release our vote totals. It's essentially the First Amendment vs. the Barr Amendment.
Media: Local and national media has been reporting our plight, with angry citizens demanding that their votes count. Washington Post columnist Steve Twomey wrote a great column in the Nov. 5 issue (http://www.washingtonpost.com) Direct Action: On Nov. 5, several dozen DC residents delivered a one way bus ticket to Republican Senator Lauch Faircloth, who lost his reelection bid after spending too much time meddling in DC affairs (our heartfelt thanks to the voters of North Carolina!!!)
You can help!! Contact your Senators and Congressmembers (and the newly elected ones too!) and let them know you support democracy in the Nation's Capital! Write letters to the editor of your local newspapers You can also send a donation to 'Yes on 59' Campaign at 409 H Street, NE, Washington DC 20002 to help sustain our efforts (and pay off our debts) in the weeks to come, or join the ACLU of the National Capital Area at 1400 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036.
Editor's Note: In 2002, MPP defeated the Barr Amendment. In 2007, MPP hired Barr to lobby Congress in favor of marijuana. MPP said Barr cited "his increasingly disillusionment with the errosion of civil liberties and Republicans' inability to cut government spending while they controlled both the White House and Congress." MPP said Barr changed his political affiliation from Republican to Independent in 2006 and opened talks with MPP to represent them as a lobbiest. (Source: Marijuana Policy Report, Volume 13, Number 2 - Summer 2007, page one.)
Dare to Stand Up to DARE
The same week as the election, DARE America forced our favorite L.A. advertiser to remove its hemp shampoo ads from bus benches. Alterna's ad displays a big green hemp leaf with "THC (Drug) free" clearly written below it and a bottle of the hemp shampoo with the word "HEMP" emblazoned across the ad. The ad includes the company's phone number and web site www.4alterna.com.
The ads first appeared on L.A. billboards last February and seem to be everywhere in the city.
In an effort to communicate with DARE, Alterna supplied the organization with hemp educational packages and offered to donate a portion of hemp proceeds to help DARE. "If hemp and marijuana are left undefined by DARE, how do we properly explain to our children why 29 countries, now including Canada, distinguish between the two plants and encourage hemp cultivation?" asked Mike Brady, vice president of sales and marketing for Alterna.
Despite the attempted outreach, DARE remained steadfast in its opposition to Alterna's pro-hemp campaign.
This Alterna's billboard was in Silver Lake, on Fletcher Avenue.
[Editor's note: Although the billboards are gone, Alterna ads now grace the sides of 75 L.A. City busses.]
Editorial:
What's the Message?
For the first 24 hours after Tuesday's election it seemed that a gigantic om sign had descended on the earth. We voted pro-pot and won. I asked my Hindu astrologer friend whether our good fortune was due to prayers or karma--or just what--could explain the outcome of this election. He said:
"Instead of preaching LOVE THY ENEMY, other side preached HATE and anytime someone preach HATE and become EGOISTIC, they simply FALL apart. Knowing the power of vengeful thoughts, Mahatma Gandhi said: FIGHT WITHOUT MALICE. He meant that we have the right to fight, without hating the personalities or circumstances involved." -Ed. Viswanathan, author of "Am I a Hindu?" (Halo Books, 1992)
Social Acceptability
There's been a lot in the news lately about people's personal behavior. The Washington Post national weekly edition published a full page of pie charts in its 9/21/98 edition, with the lead: "Many Americans believe something has gone wrong with the nation's moral compass."
While some people feel it's morally wrong to lock pot growers in jail and clear cut forests to build housing developments, others have a different perspective. What may be morally wrong to one person seems perfectly all right to another. Popular media, such as movies, TV and advertisers, often contradict the "morality" of lawmakers and religionists, thus we live in a world of hypocrisy much of the time.
In evaluating the category "Personal Values," the Post asked people to rate a list of "things that some people do." They said, "Thinking about your own values and morals," rate each thing as "always acceptable; acceptable in some situations but not in others; unacceptable, but should be tolerated by society; or unacceptable and should not be tolerated." Let's look at how "smoking marijuana" ranked along side other things that some people do.
Marijuana scored low: a mere 5% said "always acceptable," 26% said "sometimes acceptable," 12% said "unacceptable but tolerated," and 55% said "unacceptable and not tolerated." Alcohol got a 57% "sometimes acceptable," divorce got 57% "sometimes acceptable," having a child withoug being married got 41% "sometimes acceptable," and interracial marriage got a 52% "always acceptable." The only thing considered worse than smoking pot was "a married person having an affair" (72% "unacceptable and not tolerated"). "Sex between two adults of the same sex" scored just below smoking marijuana (53% "unacceptable and not tolerated). Fortunately, the gays and pot smokers have found a common bond, namely evidence that smoking pot can alleviate the side effects of AIDS medication and reverse the wasting syndrome associated with AIDS.
Hope for the Future
Some of us worry that America's moral compass leans too far right, and that our legislators must come from Uranus, or some other planet besides Earth. To restore our faith in fair play, an essential aspect of the American dream, Pray for Peace News offers the following affirmation:
"We give our blessings to the men and women in government office when they make their decisions with steady consciousness of the highest good for all (including the earth)."
Other people believe the moral compass is pushed too far to the left, and that tolerance for pot smoking will send America to hell in a handbasket. For these people, we offer the following excerpts from the latest NORML pamphlet:
"Millions of Americans use marijuana; few abuse it. . . .
Marijuana smokers are no different from their non-smoking peers, except for their marijuana use. Like most Americans, they are responsible citizens who work hard, raise families, contribute to their communities, and want a safe, crime-free neighborhood in which to live. . . . .
Responsible marijuana use causes no harm to society and should be of no interest to state and federal governments. Today, far more harm is caused by marijuana prohibition than by the use of marijuana itself."
We believe NORML's positive outlook, plus studies to prove marijuana's health benefits, will go a long way to boost marijuana smokers' social acceptance in the years to come. Contact NORML for membership information (http://www.norml.org) and Pray for Peace News.
NEWT GINGRICH RESIGNS
We repeat our prayers for better government officials and affirm that the "new" Republican party (and the "old" Democratic party) now realize that Americans expect them to be honest. We live on a fragile planet that exists due to a delicate balance. With the internet and old politicians in outerspace it seems smaller every day. George Harrison once said in a song, "Save the planet, somebody may want to use it someday." We hope the "new" parties finally get it. For one thing, planting hemp could help revive deforested areas, improve farm production, support organic farming, and prevent soil erosion, but due to prejudice, intolerance and fanatical hatred toward the plant, politicians stand in the way of global policy changes that would improve life on Earth. So despite all the political turmoil and feuding, we will continue to keep the phrase "highest good for all" at the forefront of our political agenda.
Bhagavad-gita, 6.40
Sri bhagavan uvacha
partha naiveha namutra
vinasas tasya vidyate
na he kalyana-krt kascid
durgatim tata gacchati
The blessed Lord said: Son of Pritha, a transcendentalist engaged in auspicious activities does not meet with destruction either in this world or in the spiritual world; one who does good, my friend, is never overcome by evil.
Pray for Peace News est. 1995
Pray for Peace News was founded to spread awareness, education and devotion to the Great and Holy Mystery that is God. We accept all paths as true; all religions are but branches of the same tree. We promote interfaith dialogue and exchange programs to develop tolerance between religions.
Pray for Peace News is dedicated to nonviolence (vegetarian diet) and daily meditation. Pray for Peace News editors are committed to the legalization of sacred natural medicines for spiritual healing, for all people.
End the War on Drugs
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