A Tale of Two Vigils
There will be a candlelight vigil tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Benton County Veterans' Memorial (at the National Guard Armory on Kings Boulevard) to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. There will be patriotic music, singalongs, and Mayor Helen Berg will say a few words.
There will also be an hour-long peace vigil in front of the Benton County Courthouse from 5 to 6 p.m., as there has been every single night since October 2001. There won't be any singalongs, and the mayor probably won't show up. But there will be continuing resolve and dedication by people who have spent the past five years putting in their time, day after day, week after week. My visits there have dwindled, but those who continue to show up have my utmost respect.
This does not pertain to Corvallis, but I think it's important enough to mention anyway. A recent Zogby poll has shown that 46% of Americans still believe that there was some link between Saddam Hussein and the terrorist attacks on 9/11. An astonishing 65% of Republicans believe this link existed.
Just for the record, if you believe this link existed, you need to stop watching Fox News. There was no link.
There will also be an hour-long peace vigil in front of the Benton County Courthouse from 5 to 6 p.m., as there has been every single night since October 2001. There won't be any singalongs, and the mayor probably won't show up. But there will be continuing resolve and dedication by people who have spent the past five years putting in their time, day after day, week after week. My visits there have dwindled, but those who continue to show up have my utmost respect.
This does not pertain to Corvallis, but I think it's important enough to mention anyway. A recent Zogby poll has shown that 46% of Americans still believe that there was some link between Saddam Hussein and the terrorist attacks on 9/11. An astonishing 65% of Republicans believe this link existed.
Just for the record, if you believe this link existed, you need to stop watching Fox News. There was no link.
posted by Corvallist at
4:15 AM
7 Comments:
So what rights have been taken away? The biggest erosions of our rights in the last two decades have come from the drug war, campaign finance "reform" and the Kelo eminent domain decision.
By
Anonymous, at 1:01 PM
I wonder why the news has barely mentioned the non-existent link.
America gets dumber... Bush gains more unchecked power... but hey, at least we still have our TV sets. All is well in the good ol USA.
By
crallspace, at 1:23 PM
Montclairist, how can you say rights haven't been taken away? Ever hear of Brandon Mayfield? Sneak and peek searches, wiretapping, even your library records are now up for grabs without you ever knowing.
By
Anonymous, at 3:29 PM
anonymous, I can ask because I am well-versed in our rights and quite zealous about them. While you fret about the unrealized threat of sniffed library lists and the non-threat of overseas wiretaps, the three items I mentioned have truly taken away rights. The right to be safe and secure in your home has been routinely smashed by drug warriors. The right to have a humble home has been weakened by the Kelo decision and the practices that the case was challenging. Genuine free speech of a political nature (especially against incumbent federal candidates) has been directly abridged by so-called reforms.
By
Anonymous, at 4:35 PM
...and I just read the Brandon Mayfield link that you provided. He was held based on incorrect evidence. As your own link shows:
1) he was released within 2 hours of the evidence being certified as wrong;
2) the FBI apologized; and
3) he is availing himself of redress through the courts.
I hope he prevails. I'm hostile to all forms of state overreach. But I don't see a violation of the Constitution there -- in fact, you can see it in action with both his release and subsequent right to seek a remedy.
By
Anonymous, at 4:41 PM
Harry, I also think it's silly for anyone to dwell on the 2000 elections. It's old news, whatever you believe, and beside the point.
But show me a poll that says the majority of democrats believe that way. Oh, right... you can't. Because the people who do believe that are a small percentage.
However, this poll showing how many Republicans believe there was a link between Hussein and 9/11 is scary. There was NOT a link between Hussein and al Qaeda... that's just what you're being spoon-fed. They were not allies. Hussein ran a secular dictatorship, which is completely anathema to al Qaeda's desire for religious governance.
As for the personal dig, maybe you should stick to attacking the argument instead of people. But that's more difficult when you can't prove the argument wrong, right?
By
Corvallist, at 9:55 AM
So you're not insulting me... just people who don't think the way you do? All right. Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing, no?
By
Corvallist, at 4:24 AM
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