I have a confession to make. On 9/11/01, after hearing the news and seeing some video, I did nothing. Worse, I actually went to a meeting, where we discussed the disaster and went on to conduct some business.

More shocking to some, since 9/11, I have made almost no changes to my lifestyle in response to the terrorist threat. I avoid a few places because I can’t stand seeing a police force that is indistinguishable from an occupying army, but otherwise, my life went on after 9/11 very much as it goes on after California earthquakes and Florida hurricanes.

I don’t mean to be insensitive or stupid. I know something terrible happened and many people died and many more people suffered very directly in ways that they may never recover from. Nevertheless, just two dozen people killed 3,000 people brutally and dramatically — but that’s it. It pains me, I sympathize, I go on living. I will not turn my life upside-down; I will not destroy anything over this.

There must have been a way to respond to 9/11 that would not have enflamed so much rage and vengence. There must have been a way to express our grief and horror while seeking justice (and punishment) without fueling even more violence. Something great might have come out of tragedy; an endless War on Terror is nothing great.

Since 9/11/01, how many women have been raped, beaten and murdered by their ”loved ones?” Could it be more than 3000 victims of more than two dozen husbands, lovers, boyfriends, fathers, brothers?

Since 9/11, how many children have been beaten, abused and tormented by their parents, guardians, siblings or classmates? How many of those children will manage to survive only to grow up to be violent abusers of others?

It seems that everything did not change after 9/11. Many things are exactly as they have been throughout human history. We are doing nothing to stop the violence that is everywhere in our world. Instead, we are pouring all of our resources into more violence all around the world. Blessed are the peacemakers — if only there were some. mjh

There may be voter

fraud in New Mexico. There certainly is a lot of talk about it, all of it originating with Republicans. Recently, a Republican who claims

‘someone’ registered his 13-year-old brought suit to require ALL newly registered voters to show ID (the true goal is to require ALL

voters — period — to show ID).

There doesn’t seem to be any curiousity, even in our faithful Media, about who registered

little Robbie Republican. Doesn’t that person have some culpability?

Now our Republican US Attorney, David Iglesias, has stepped in

by starting the first-ever fraud watch. Something is wrong, he intones, consistent with the party line.

Why are Republicans so

worried? Well, how many unregistered conservatives do you think there are in New Mexico in comparison to unregistered traitorous commies?

Therefore, every new registration would seem to have better than even odds to belong to a liberal satanist. So, first, let’s scare some

folks (I recommend white hoods). Next, let’s denegrate the process so thoroughly as to discourage some folks. Finally, let’s make sure

we’re on record as denouncing the process so when we lose, we can claim it is only through fraud. These guys invented destroying the

village to save it.

But why do Democrats resist IDs? Well, Republicans imply it’s because they’re cheaters. But imagine a Democrat

and a Republican head for the polls. One passively hands over his ever-present ID to the authorities. The other forgot/lost his. Which

one is a Democrat? One has driver’s license, work ID, NRA card, dozens of credit cards, IDs up the wazoo. The other has nothing. Which

one is a Republican?

Quick: how many of the 2 million Americans in prison today are Republicans? Maybe that explains Republican

support for long sentences AND opposition to restoring voting rights to those who serve their time.

Finally, the judge who said it’s

too late to change the process is also a Republican — and clearly not an activist. Seems like an all-Republican show — everywhere.

Register. Vote. Change things. mjh