The Spirit of Community

Most human beings on the planet lead lives of quiet desperation. They have little sense of being, because they function alone. "It's a dog eat dog world out there." They say. "Join the rat race," we say to our youngsters. Somali refugees at the Kenyan border live in a waste dump wondering where to find potable water.

Similarly, Americans drop the keys to their mansions in the mailbox and sleep in the family car at the nearest Wal*Mart parking lot. They have lost possessions that are beyond the wildest dreams of most of the world population.

Both nationalities consider themselves destitute beyond saving. Both groups have yet to learn to think outside the box.

While sliding into a depression, why does a small town 17 miles north of Pittsburgh stage an art show?

Local Building Owners Open their Doors for Art
The Sewickley Valley Chamber of Commerce, Sewickley Borough and volunteer professionals have come together to effectuate a program for temporary utilization of available storefronts during the Sewickley Fall Gallery Walk.
In the true spirit of cooperation, six property owners are allowing their available retail storefronts to become galleries in support of the visual arts community and the Village of Sewickley. They will open their doors as complete "Art Galleries" during the Fall Gallery Walk, September 25th 5:30 - 9pm. The locations are in the heart of the business district, on Broad and Beaver Streets.

Sweetwater Center for the Arts will fill at least two venues with their talented instructor artwork at the retail spaces on either side of the Sewickley Hotel.
Featured painting instructors are Douglas Brown (watercolor), Deborah McLaren (various media), Joyce Werwie Perry (oil), D. Zoe Shutka (acrylic, drawing) and Ron Thurston (watercolor).

General McChrystal Can Win the Afghan Hearts and Minds

There are 30,000 villages in Afghanistan. Including Blackwater mercenaries, we have about 120,000 troops in the country. Our stated intent was to develop the nation into a viable economy with soldiers able to defend it. Since the US public lacks the patience [and the resources] for ten years of engagement, I suggest a shortcut.
The pay should be equalized among our troops mercenary and not. They should have a unified command under the US Army. The soldiers would become embedded four to a village. They would take on duties as instructors in elementary schooling, in infrastructure building and in military training. Their students would receive a standard wage for participating in schooling, building or military tasks.
While these projects are underway, each village would be responsible for its own defense. There would be little or no Taliban infiltration, because villagers [motivated by the standard wage] can spot them.
Until the program is established, our embedded troops will be in danger. They can call on air support with a twist. The Taliban must kill innocent villagers to get at our kids. This makes all the difference. Americans are with the people rather than invading their land.

Peace with Justice is a Real Stretch

Murder and war are easier. When an employee rocks the boat, take his health insurance from him. His chances for dying increase by 40 percent. Who would prosecute a clean cut businessman or government official for murder and torture?
Most recent articles at OEN bore me to tears. They focus on the blame game. When the other side fails to reveal their latest ploy to overthrow the government, the pundits deplore the activities of their troops. Every Sunday David Gregory fashions a commentary by pestering every sluggard in sight.
Nasty children run the world. They shoot peacemakers, don't they?
The typical suicide bomber earns $9 per day. Limited in job opportunities, he is probably doing the best he can to provide for his family.
In my spare time I developed a peace plan for Afghanistan. It called for embedding four US soldiers in each of the 30,000 Afghan villages. Our people would organize the common defense, advance education and needed infrastructure development. However primitive, my plan is superior to trading shots with insurgents and bombing villages. An OEN editor politely suggested a re-write.

I See 60,000 boots on the Ground for no Useful Purpose

Unless I miss my guess, the Afghans are human beings similar to others I've met on the planet. They need shelter and sources for water and food. Like the peace corps, our kids have absorbed skills we take for granted in the USA. They can impart these to children and young adults. The locals can conduct madrassas at morning mosque and the Americans can conduct classes in the afternoon. Together, they can build a community worth fighting for, a loyalty to the neighbors. Houses become homes. Let the Taliban and the warlords be the outsiders. The Koran teaches peace better than most.
The USA since 1963 has lost her country and has caused nothing but damage in Asia. At long last she should learn that Asians are human beings who want a better life for their children. Is that too much to want?

The DoD Knows Nothing About War

The DoD has lost three Asian land wars to Third World ragamuffins. Osama bin Laden supposedly attacked the Pentagon, but the US military hasn't been able to lay a glove on him.
As much as I respect the Peace Corps, they would lose their heads in Afghanistan.
Once the Americans get a foothold in a country the tendency is to hang on there for a long time. My plan calls for soldiers to become a positive part of a village. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong in defending the village against outsiders. During combat bonds form stronger than any other types. If the troops must be in Afghanistan, they would do well to be a productive force.