Friday, May 28

Hey, wait a minute
I thought it was Tom Ridge's job - as head of Homeland Security - to warn us about terrorism. Wednesday (May 26, 2004) he was not at the press conference when Attorney General John D. Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert S. Mueller issued warnings about the likelihood of terrorist attacks this summer. Are these people talking to each other? I would feel more comfortable if Ashcroft and Mueller were telling us they had thwarted terrorist planning instead of warning us to "duck and cover."
#189 (04-38)
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Thursday, May 27

Celebrate Memorial Day
On the occasion of Memorial Day this weekend let us pause to remember those who gave their lives in defense of our country and our way of life, and give thanks for those who defended it yesterday, do so today and will do so tomorrow. Freedom is not free and we can honor our men and women in uniform by being as good an American as we can in all ways.
#188 (04-37)
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Friday, May 21

They are at it again
A report in the The New York Times in the (Saturday, May 22, 2004) morning will reflect that the Saudis have agreed to increase oil production by 500,000 barrels a day. They deny they are trying to help President Bush in his re-election efforts, as Bob Woodard recently reported they had promised to do. Strange.
#187 (04-36)
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Fast service response
One reader wrote: They (The Post & Courier) probably wrote the letters themselves.
#186 (04-35)
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Fast service
On Thursday, The Post & Courier ran a story on Wednesday's "he said, she said" argument between SC State Senator John Kuhn and Jenny Sanford, the Governor's wife. Today, Friday, there are two letters to the editor supporting Mrs. Sanford and criticizing Senator Kuhn in The Post & Courier. Does anyone wonder, as I do, how these letters got into the paper so quickly? Were the letters hand carried in? Were they faxed or e-mailed? Were there also phone calls? Was there pressure from the Governor's office? Is The Post & Courier expressing a preference for the Sanfords over Kuhn? Is The Post & Courier attempting to influence the impending Republican primary? Just wondering. (Oh, by the way, one of Senator Kuhn's opponents is running TV ads with a picture of him and the Governor side by side.)
#185 (04-34)
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Saturday, May 15

William favored in South
William was the No. 1 choice for a baby boy's name in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee in 2003, according to the Social Security administration. In later years the boy can be then called "Billy Bob or Billy Jim" or if he turns out light in the loafers, "Billy Jean."
184 (04-33)
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Thursday, May 13

Take the high road
We won the war but failed (to date) to secure the peace. In short order we knocked off Afghanistan and Iraq, neither of which was in our league. It was as if the Los Angeles Lakers took on a couple of third-ranked colleges and whipped those good.

Now, in Iraq we are faced with insurgency and guerrilla warfare and a horrendous prisoner abuse scandal. History proves that the hit and run tactics of guerrillas can go on for years, as witness 20th Century events in the Philippines, Vietnam and Chechnya.

In a few short days since the details started coming out on the prisoner abuses in Iraq, we are hearing rumors and suggestions that a small number of our troops in earlier wars may also have committed atrocious violations of Geneva Convention rules for the handling of prisoners. We are reminded that others have done far worse. We are also reminded of the terrible senseless horrors of 9/11, and that terrorists – who do not follow any rules of combat but improvise as they go along – attacked the United States in the first place. These rumors, suggestions and reminders imply, “It has all been done before and besides they asked for it.” How wrong is such thinking?

If we have not learned anything in the last 60 years, then what have we gained? Just because something was done sixty years or less ago does not make it correct or right today. Abominations committed by anyone in World War II, Korea or Vietnam – in the heat of battle or otherwise - do not excuse or justify similar or worse actions today in the War on Terrorism.

Restoring order and bringing peace to Iraq are the only legitimate American goals in that faraway place. The only way to do to do this is to take the high road and not slip into the gutter with our enemies in thought, word or deed.
#183 (04-32)
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Wednesday, May 5

The Hat Lady

My wife, Mary, wearing her own creation to the Hat Day tea in North Charleston, April 23, 2004. Mary took a common straw hat (purchased at local grocery store for $1.98) and painted it to match her jacket. She decorated the creation with a ribbon in the back and three butterflies, visible under the brim. The hat received several favorable comments at the tea and since.
(#182 (04-31)
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Tuesday, May 4

Something is wrong here
You can get a license for a firearm in South Carolina after 8 hours training but under legislation pending in the state Senate you will require 350 hours of training before you can braid hair. I feel safer already.
#181 (04-30)
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Sunday, May 2

No. 1 in South Carolina
Many thanks to all who voted and propelled this website to the No. 1 position in South Carolina. You can see it all at Top NC & SC Sites
#180 (04-29)
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