While we always welcome your feedback, MotherJones.com will now publish letters to the editor each Friday, instead of every day. Can’t wait to have your say? Get it off your chest and talk it over with other readers in our MotherJones.com discussion groups.

Children Still Hungry
Re: Beyond the Blasts
9/13/01

While up to 15,000 people may have died in New York, double that many children die every day of malnutrition and hunger related diseases. Exactly ten years ago, in September, 1990, the World Summit for Children recorded that some 40,000 children die every day — a trend that continues, albeit somewhat abated, to the present day. Canada recently committed itself to funding verifiable, results-based programs in their battle against child poverty . But it is not enough. A stronger financial commitment to the Global Health Fund is needed from all nations. It is crucial not to put this important issue on the proverbial "back burner," even during this time of crisis.

Steve Rickard
Calgary, Alberta

 

 

Plea for Restraint
Re: Beyond the Blasts
9/13/01

The dreadful attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon buildings should be seen as retaliation for the misery and murder we have so wantonly visited upon too many nations. We have also killed, tortured, maimed people and cultures to satisfy our deires. Our political zealotry, our economic hubris, our military arrogance combined to call retribution down. Restrain those who call for the cessation of civil and human rights, or we will soon be visited by the vengeful again, and again. We must change our approach to the world and nations, disavow the merchants and mechanizers of death and disruption who seek to rule our nation.

(Name Removed at Author’s Request —3/21/11)
 

 

Update
Re: "Latin Music’s Dirty Little Secret "
9/13/01

Just thought you might like an update on my story of Feb. 6, "Latin Music’s Dirty Little Secret." It was announced at a press conference on Sept. 8 that EMI Latin, WEA Latin, and Sony Discos have all agreed to sign the Phonograph Record Labor Agreement. This is a great victory for the AFM’s STAR campaign. Tejano musicians should now get the compensation they deserve. For further information, visit the AFM’s website at www.afm.org.

Peggy Latkovich
 

 

War?
Re: "Beyond the Blasts "
9/13/01

Mr. Bush continues to insist that the terrorist attack was an act of "war" because he can’t defend himself politically from the fact that the largest terrorist attack in world history happened in his backyard, on his watch, and largely as a result of his abusively insensitive foreign policy. So it has to be an "act of war." As a "wartime" president, he cuts off the ability of people to criticize him, and he sets the stage for severe limits on public demonstrations and free speech.

Dennis Burke
Phoenix, AZ

 

 

Support the Sioux
Re: "Burning Questions"
9/13/01

I commend Mr. White Plume for his persistence in this issue and working on a peaceful strategy. The US government has no business on tribal land or continuing to violate established treaties unless both parties have agreed to a revision of any of those treaties.

Nan M. Carlson
Illinois State University

 

 

US vs. free trade
Re: "Sioux vs. DEA, Round Two"
9/10/01

I think all hemp should be re-legalized in the US, whether it contains THC or not. And I think the US government has no right to tell any other nation what they can grow. I would sue the US government for destruction of property and I would use NAFTA agreements to fine them for interfering with free trade.

David Ching
 

 

DEA on a rampage
Re: "Sioux vs. DEA, Round Two"
9/10/01

I think the latest rez raid shows that the DEA remains draconian and irrational (hemp is not a drug, THC is, so they don’t even belong in this fight). What else is new?

The pendulum seems to be slowly swinging toward treatment and away from imprisonment for drug offenses. Seems to me we also need to look into a treatment program for the DEA. Non-drug-crop raids? What next? Surely an all-out frontal assault on morning glories must be on the drawing board. And then there’s the vast cattle conspiracy wherein the cows of the land have long been actively contributing to the perpetuation of psychedelic mushrooms, which grow in cow manure. Surely they must all be seized and shot at first opportunity.

T. Hallman
 

 

US vs. free trade
Re: "Sioux vs. DEA, Round Two"
9/10/01

I think all hemp should be re-legalized in the US, whether it contains THC or not. And I think the US government has no right to tell any other nation what they can grow. I would sue the US government for destruction of property and I would use NAFTA agreements to fine them for interfering with free trade.

David Ching