CENTRAL VIEW for Monday, October 14, 2002

October brings out keepers of odd knowledge KOOKS

Strange things happen in October, the month that ends in fright and leads into the even more frightening month when the few who bother to vote are probably clueless on the important issues of our time.

This observer is heartened by a poster in my office that proclaims: “Those of us who know exactly what to do and how to do it are often annoyed by those of you who haven’t a clue.” Here some October examples of the annoying clueless:

Singer Harry Belafonte, whose time is long past and is unknown to many, launches a personal attack on Secretary of State Colin Powell – whose time is now and in the future. Attacking Powell’s stand on issues would be cricket. But Belafonte’s personal attack on a fellow Black was clearly sour pinot noir. History will favor Powell’s landmark achievements as Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State while scarcely remembering Belfonte who, in terms of Calypso music, will always be a poor second to Bob Marley.

Barbra Steisand, Julia Roberts other Hollywood glitterati, whose personal lives are nothing to write home about and who have no knowledge of foreign and military affairs, pontificate on how the United States should proceed in the war against terrorism. While the First Amendment gives them that right, it is unfortunate that we don’t have an Amendment prohibiting ignorance and stupidity. In keeping with my poster, I find the Leftist Hollywood glitterati annoying.

U.S. Senator Robert Byrd uses his vast knowledge of Senate trivia to delay a vote on a resolution to back our Commander-in-Chief -- should force become necessary to disarm Saddam Hussein. Byrd’s brain couldn’t comprehend that a strong resolution from Congress would be helpful in getting the United Nations to pass a much stronger resolution against Saddam Hussein than the previous 16 resolutions which had no teeth.

Gun control advocates declare the Beltway Sniper is a reason to force all Americans to turn in their guns. They did that in Australia and here is what happened: Twelve months after the Australian government spent over $50 million dollars to destroy 640,381 personal firearms, homicides are up 3.2 percent, assaults are up 8.6 percent, armed (that’s right, armed robberies are up 44 percent. In the state of Victoria, homicides with firearms are up 300 percent.

Why? Because the law-abiding Aussies turned in their personal weapons and the criminal Aussies now have a monopoly on firearms. Duh. Contrast that with some American towns where home protection firearms are mandatory and armed assaults are virtually unheard of.

In Denver, some Native Americans make a big deal out of protesting Columbus Day. First of all, Columbus left Italy shortly after he learned to walk. As an adult, he discovered America as an agent of Spain, not Italy. And, he lived most of his life in Portugal. Moreover, even though some of his remains are entombed in the Cathedral of Seville, he was most likely a Sephardic Jew. If protest is warranted, it should take place in front of the Spanish Consulate. Blaming Italy for Columbus is like blaming Germany for Henry Kissinger.

Former President Jimmy Carter wins the Nobel Peace Prize even though he was wrong on Korea, wrong on Iran, wrong on Panama and is wrong on Iraq. But he was right on Habitat for Humanity. Caddo County peanut farmers know a lot more about the real world than Jimmy Carter.

In the Montana U.S. Senate race, the GOP challenger drops out when the Democrat incumbent smears him with allegations of being gay. Republicans stand on principle and do not replace him as the Democrats, down 14 percent in the polls, replaced the scandal-ridden Senator Robert Torricelli on the New Jersey ballot. But will the voters in Montana and New Jersey vote for the party of principal or the party of expediency? Many will go to the polls without a clue.

William Hamilton, a nationally syndicated columnist and featured commentator for USA Today, is the co-author of The Grand Conspiracy – a novel about a terrorist attack on the water reservoirs in Colorado’s high country.

©2002. William Hamilton.

Dr. Hamilton can be contacted at:

Email: william@central-view.com