PURPOSE:
I, Hamner C. Williams, published a book in 1997 titled “One Man’s Opinion: Fix America” because I thought there were problems in this country. Why did I publish the book myself? Because after trying to interest ten agents and publishers about the book, I was rejected by all. Having committed to the book and to myself, I published it independently.
The purpose of the book was to re-introduce three words to our English vocabulary: RESPONSIBILITY, EDUCATION, and CONSEQUENCES. The book identified various problems and detailed my opinions regarding ways to correct those problems.
This newsletter is a continuation of the original book premise, which is to encourage people to start thinking for themselves. Also, the newsletter will address domestic and global issues that I feel have received biased coverage. My goal is to offer an alternative opinion on current events and analyze the information. While I strongly believe there is nothing wrong in being pro or con on any subject, I ask that you keep an open mind.
INTRODUCTION:
The
newsletters will address subjects listed in the upper left-hand corner,
with coming topics identified in the upper right corner of each
newsletter. The issues will be free to those who have a copy of the book
or to those who show an interest; Individuals may indicate an interest
in receiving the newsletter by emailing or mailing the author. The
newsletter will have a section for readers to voice an opinion on any
subject, with the understanding that space may be limited.
The articles in this publication will derive from media sources, including newspapers, TV, radio, and magazines. The analysis will focus on both information that has been reported, and also on information that might have been censored for the public. Each news-information medium has an agenda to promote and a viewpoint to project. For example, a news story reported today might be viewed in a totally different context if it was tied into a story reported three months ago. Too, the motivation of a government to act could be related to an unreported diplomatic issue.
What I ask of my readers is to keep an open mind and give some thought to the information you are receiving. What is fact? What is the presenter’s opinion? What “spin” might be inherent in the message? Understand that information can be misleading based on omitted facts or context.
Let me give you an example of questions that are asked and answered truthfully but are misleading:
Question: “Did you accept money in your last campaign from Mr. John Davis of AAAAA Company?”
Answer: “No, I did not accept any money from Mr. Davis.”
The complete answer is that money was accepted from Mr. John Davis’s PAC in the amount of $50,000, the check was signed by Ms. Money.
THE MEDIA:
First, a few questions -- How many independent newspapers are there in the United States? Is the newspaper you read regularly independently owned or is it a subsidiary of a major corporation? How do the media rate their priorities: ratings, subscription volume, and revenue or reporting/making the news? As we move further along, I cite some examples in which the media was driving the story rather than reporting it. In some cases, it appears the media was tied to a special interest group that was driving the story when a story didn’t truly exist.
I have heard over the years about the liberal press but I wonder who is really in control of the media -- is it the reporters or the company owners? I have never seen published information regarding the political contributions of our country’s leading media CEOs, and I wonder if they are directed toward liberal, conservative, democratic or republican causes.
By reputation, reporters are very liberal but what about the editors? Are they liberal or conservative? I would venture that a majority of corporate America is classified as republican rather than democratic. I believe this bias colors the news we receive. I think that if the story will increase ratings or sell more papers that the media reports the story.
I would like to see the media take a stand and not report any story authored by “Anonymous.” If an author is unwilling to be credited than the story shouldn’t be reported. The media should also eliminate the practice of quoting “reliable sources” as a basis for information.
THE LAST CLINTON YEARS:
Now let’s switch gears and talk about the Oval Office. Consider for a moment the final years of the Clinton administration. What was the unemployment percentage in this country in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000? You think that I’m going to give you the answer? Well, I’m not. That is what is wrong with people today – they want everything done and given to them. If you want to know the information, go look it up and than you might remember.
Another question; what was the deficit for the years 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000? What was the overall climate of the economy during the Clinton years? Same answer, go and look it up. But let me ask you this –who is Monica Lewinsky? I am sure everyone can answer that. Why is a man’s personal life more important than the economy, unemployment, and war?
Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen wrote an article titled “Apologies? Clinton enemies have little to say now that the scandals have collapsed” at the end of March of 2000. (His e-mail address is:
cohenr@washpost.com if you are interested.) In the article, he highlights some of the events of the Clinton presidency, starting with Paula Jones who claimed that then-Governor Clinton propositioned her in a hotel room. Is that against the law? I think not. When the case went to court the Judge should have thrown the case out and charged Ms. Jones for court costs and President Clinton’s lawyer fees. The whole case turned out to be blackmail, extortion, and a judge who should have been disbarred for using blackmail from the bench after the case ended.
Other allegations against Clinton were Filegate, Travelgate, FBI reports, Whitewater, Gennifer Flowers, and let’s not forget the statement, “I did not have sex with that woman, Monica Lewinsky.” Do you know the definition of the word sex? Why don’t you look the word up and than try and understand the word foreplay. In my opinion, there was a right-wing conspiracy, a conservative press and there are many people who owe the Clintons an apology. This list would start with the Wall Street Journal, and include Barbara Olson, William Safire, George Will, Peggy Noonan, and others.
Historians will be the ones to write about the Clinton years and President Clinton’s role in history. You know what I think? I think Clinton had his enemies in Arkansas and they followed him to Washington. But his problem was that he and Hilary were too damn smart and because of that they pissed off a lot of people.
WTC 9-11-01
September 11, 2001 was a tragedy that would never have happened if we had been paying attention. What do I mean by paying attention? I can explain with this statement “You hear me but you were not listening”. Information was given to us but we blocked it out saying that it could never happen here.
Example: The SS Cole, in port in Yemen for whatever reason, was attacked by bomb-toting terrorists. We knew that Yemen was not a safe harbor, but we had sailors guarding the ship without ammunition in their weapons. The sailors spotted the boat and tried to warn it away to no avail. If the sailors’ weapons had been loaded, the SS Cole tragedy could have been avoided.
With regard to September 11th, the Israeli Prime Minister had warned the US President, Israel’s intelligence agency told our CIA, and other country’s agencies warned our CIA. Ex-senators Rudman and Hart’s Committee on Terrorism reported a threat to the Senate Intelligence Committee, flight schools in both Florida and Minnesota notified the FBI regarding the strange behavior of a few students who wanted to learn to fly but not learn to take off or land. All of this information pertained to the hijacking of airplanes and airport security and was relayed to US intelligence agencies prior to 9/11/01.
I read this statement in the local paper on February 15, 2002, “U.S. officials say they have uncovered no missed piece of intelligence that would have provided specific warning of the suicide hijacking.” I guess our intelligence agencies wanted the hijackers to call and tell them that they were targeting Flight #1234, departing Your Town at 8:00 a.m.
Who is to blame? Let’s start with the hijackers, the President, the CIA, FBI, INS, the intelligence committees, airlines, American foreign policy, and American arrogance and greed. Now, that tells you how September 11th happened. It looks like another Pearl Harbor: a recession economy, a way to get the American people united and pointed in one direction. Pearl Harbor took about 3,000 lives and September 11, 2001, also took about 3,000 lives. It’s called a shell game or a miss-direction play. Show the American people the American Flag and they will march to hell without wondering why.
Now I have to tell you “Why Afghanistan?” First, they have a tribal government. Second, we gave them the ways and means to fight Russia. Third, who will care?
Lastly, what can we get in return? That’s the true question and answer, for the US stands to gain an oil pipe line across Afghanistan.
If 15 of the 18 hijackers had come from Saudi Arabia, the US still could not retaliate against Saudi Arabia because they have oil. And much of our foreign policy is tied to the oil industry. So what happened? Ten people in a clandestine meeting in a back room picked Afghanistan to be the bad guy.
Did you know that during the war between Russia and Afghanistan the US gave Afghanistan hundreds of our stinger missiles that cost about $10,000 each? Did you know what we will pay any Afghan $150,000 each to get them back?
CURRENT EVENTS:
Taliban prisoners:
Upon reflecting on her imprisonment in Afghanistan, American missionary Ms. Curry said, “We talked about how good God is, and it was the prayers of the people that got us out. And from the White House Rose Garden, her co-prisoner, Ms. Mercer added, “We know we’re here because of the prayers of people all over the country, all over the world.”
What I would like to know is why were these eight aid workers in Afghanistan? Did they not realize that it was illegal to discuss Christianity over there? What was the cost to get these aid workers back home? Was there a ransom paid for their release? Will the American public ever know the full story about these aid workers?
And to think that the two American women harbor no ill will to the Taliban? “We’ve forgiven them,” Ms Mercer said. Should these two women be crediting their prayers or the dollars of the American taxpayer?
Where is Osama Bin Laden?
Let me tell you what I would have done if I were Osama Bin Laden. First, I would have gotten a shave and haircut. Second, I would have taken a bath, bought a three-piece suit and traveled to a country that has air travel to the United States. Then I would have come to the US, purchased a five-bedroom condo overlooking the Potomac River, and moved in with two bodyguards under the auspices of a retired Sheik. They would never find me.
Enron executive:
Cliff Baxter was a man who complained about his company’s operation and resigned in May 2001, to spend more time with his family. He had more than $35 million, a $700,000 home, a wife, two children and a 72-foot yacht. Based on the available information about Mr. J. Clifford Baxter, it does not seem like he was the type to commit suicide. Was this a suicide or was it murder? Baxter was high enough in the Enron Corporation to know where skeletons are buried. Where are Baxter’s wife and the suicide note he allegedly wrote? It will be interesting to find out if the suicide note was written by hand or machine printed. There was also word not long ago that an Anderson employee committed suicide in Colorado. Was that murder? Is this another Watergate?
More of my opinions will be forthcoming in the next issue. I hope I have given you some food for thought until then.
