Letters to the Editor, June 13, 2004

A global concert for Palestine "Bono! We appeal to you, and to all the music world, to speak out now say: 'STOP THE OCCUPATION!'"

So begins an online appeal - addressed to Bono, leader of the rock
group U2 that asks the music world to organize a global "Concert for
Palestine".

The appeal - now open for endorsement at
http://www.concert4palestine.org has been launched by Gazzella, an Italian NGO that helps rehabilitate Palestinian children wounded in Israeli ground and air attacks on Palestinian cities and villages.

"We wondered why the music world has never held a global concert for
the Palestinians," said Gazzella president Marina Rossanda, listing the
many "humanitarian" events held in the past - from the historic Concert for
Bangladesh (1971) and Live Aid for Ethiopia (1985) to the Freedom Tibet
Concert (1997) and the recent 46664 concert to fight AIDS.

"We're sure a concert for Palestine would find widespread support among
young people around the world - and also among many musicians, starting
with Bono himself." (Over the years, Bono has campaigned for numerous
causes, including Amnesty International and the Jubilee 2000 project to end
Third World debt.)

The appeal is available at http://www.concert4palestine.org
in English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, and will
soon be published on the site in Arabic and Hebrew.

Futher information:

It is very obvious to many educated Americans that the Palestinians are (the victims). It is also shameful that (people forget that) the bloodline of the Palestinians have occupied the land for thousands of years while Israel having been there only fifty-six years.

It has been drilled into the heads of the western people for many years that Israel is “right” and the rest of the middle east are “aggressors.” I hope the people of the world, especially us here in the United States, soon realize that Israel has become the thorn in the side of the peace process. I certainly believe that the U.S. should end its military support of Israel, yet maintain a “normal” relationship with them. I believe this to be fair as it is with our other allies.

Our support of them has created many problems throughout the world, and has gained the U.S. many enemies. The people of America do not want enemies, we want peace for all; especially the defeated. God bless this world, may there be a peaceful resolution.

Water level of the Euphrates?

Has the water level of the Euphrates diminished recently from the past?

Thanks,

Robert Turbo

Editor: I don't know. But I know that there's a Biblical prophecy about that. I hope some readers can answer your question.

Sorry about all that killing - till the next time:

A Peaceful Atheist Lashing at Warmongering Believers

Dear Editor,

This evening I heard on the BBC World Service, of a religious organisation called 'Americans United' offering a public apology for the appalling affair of Abu Ghraib, I was so surprised to find religious people, and American ones especially, behaving decently and apologising (albeit after considerable delay) that I was moved to write and congratulate them, and to express my delight in being proven wrong.

Although I have written elsewhere, and months ago, to point out that I was once bumped into accidentally by one Mr. Anthony Blair (A British prime minister) and being the gentleman he is, he apologised to me with the word- 'Sorry', and I mused that this well brought up fellow who had so promptly apologised to me for the trivial matter of nudging me with his elbow, had not responded similarly to the people of Iraq:-

'Sorry people of Iraq for killing all those thousands of your people, someone told me you had weapons of mass destruction, and I foolishly believed them.'

As a devout atheist of pessimistic and prognosticating disposition, and far too many years than is good for me, I have consistently predicted the very worst and most bestial behaviour by faithists and godders, and have always been proven right- until now, and partially.

At this time it may be churlish to ask why the powerful U.S. 'faith lobby' did not (as I) anticipate- even expect, the now standard horrific treatment by U.S. agents of defenceless captives. Why it has been inactive/ unconcerned/ ineffective, to prevent the evil actions of that truly satanic state; Israel, over the past half century.

So I shall not pose such disquieting questions, nor shall I make any predictions regarding the forthcoming obliteration of Middle East states under the next president and U.K. prime minister- after all, THESE wars- like all past and future wars will be 'justified-now' when they happen.

No doubt, as ever, one's god of choice forbids war- except THIS one. While one's conscience or constitution absolutely rejects the use of torture and maiming- except, of course in THIS circumstance and for THESE ends.

No. Instead, I shall bask in the rare luxury of being wrong about believists, because it will not happen again:

The religionists will revert to type being at best, ineffectual, or at worst mass murderers, but then, this is a prediction. I may be proven wrong again.

The believers may at last, begin to listen to that much vaunted conscience they claim to possess. (and which they deny of unbelievers such as I) Perhaps some may start to read their holy books to find therein, commands from their god such as: 'Thou shalt not kill' And enquire whether their God is not an insurance company lawyer intent on heaping exception clause upon clause to permit THIS killing or THAT torture, or whether his 'ALL' really meant 'ALL'.

Wow! I can almost taste it! Peace on earth, universal contentment, prosperity. The tactical atom bombs, laser blinders and thermo weapons earmarked for the next Middle East war, dismantled; while those millions of Americans will be spared the horror of retaliation in the great man-made plague to come.

Now I really am getting carried away, but perhaps- well I could be wrong. Couldn't I?

Yours in hope and peace,

John Bayldon, UK.