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Book Review: More Liberty Means Less
Government, by Walter Williams
Reviewed by Steve Strayer I've just had a pleasant surprise. I recently attended a lecture by Walter Williams and bought his latest book, More Liberty Means Less Government. The lecture was so-so, but I don't recall ever encountering so much good sense in such concentrated form on political issues related to race, sex, education, environment, law and several other areas as in this book. It's actually a collection of Williams' newspaper columns, and it provides lots of well reasoned arguments and interesting factual backup presented in an entertaining style. For anyone who might not already know, Walter Williams is an Economics Professor at George Mason University and an outspoken commentator on current political issues. He's one of only two prominent blacks I know of who presents any views other than the standard whiny "America must provide special hand-outs to the poor helpless African-Americans." The other is Thomas Sowell. More Liberty Means Less Government is a paperback, 264 pages, published by Hoover Institution Press in 1999. I think I paid $16 for it. Do What the Bible Says Steve Strayer Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, - "Homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned in any circumstance". The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's a scream! Dear Dr. Laura: Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev. 1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them? I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev. 15:19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians? I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself? A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here? Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die? I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev. 24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private Family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14) I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging. Your devoted disciple and adoring fan. Cheryl Cox Drake University, School of Education 3206 University Avenue Des Moines, IA 50311 cheryl.cox@drake.edu Cheryl Cox didn't reply to my request to print her letter. I decided to use it anyway. — editor
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Letters to the Editor
The following article was forwarded by Sir John the Generous. — editor
Teacher Convicted of Sex Crimes Against Fourth Grader 5/9/02 (San Jose-AP) — A former Palo Alto elementary school teacher has been convicted of sex crimes against a fourth grader for hugging her, kissing her on the head and showering her with gifts. News Forum on Bayinsider: Talk About It! A Santa Clara County jury deliberated for a day and a half before finding Douglas Obujen guilty yesterday of lewd acts on a child under the age of 14 and possession of child pornography. Obujen also was convicted of false imprisonment for hugging the girl while they were alone in a room. Obujen told the San Jose Mercury News last week he was in love with the 10-year-old. He sent her flowers and a Valentine's Day card that read "Feel My Love." Obujen was a teacher at Walter Hays Elementary School in Palo Alto and tutored the girl during the 2000-2001 school year. Obujen is to be sentenced June sixth and faces a maximum of eight years imprisonment. After his release, he has to register as a sex offender. Source: KTVU/Fox2 and Associated Press Frontiersman newsletter I'm a p.o.w. of this uncertain world we live in, I'm still young, and can still make a difference for my self and my sons. I came to read this news letter by a fellow p.o.w., he gave me April 2002 to read, and man the only thing I can say is it's some good reading where I can learn more of what's really going on! ... and I know more people that would love to read the truth. One day we will all live in pure freedom. — Thomas; Vacaville, California
To Sam ... I agreed with all of the articles you printed, we think alike. Thank you. — Freida; Santa Rosa, California
What Can I Do? One of the founding fathers said "Freedom is a sure possession of only those who are strong enough to keep it." We must stand up and take what is ours. Samuel Clemens said "The pen is truly mightier than the sword." We may have to take up arms to take back what is ours. If so, we will know when. Until then, just use your pen. As I sit here in prison, there is a man here with me who, in conjunction with some others, writes a magazine and sends it out to be printed and distributed. We make 63 cents a day for our work here in prison. Surely, you could manage a one page newsletter typed on your PC, printed, then photocopied at a copy house. Better yet, do you have a photocopier at work? Let the machine we are all fighting pay for it. My point is, if he can, you can. Make it a family affair. Just be careful. — Brian; Sterling, Colorado
County Workers Source Unknown. Forwarded by Sir John the Generous A fellow stopped at a rural gas station and, after filling his tank, he paid the bill and bought a soft drink. He stood by his car to drink his cola and he watched a couple of men working with heavy equipment along the roadside. One man would excavate a hole two or three feet deep and then move his machine 25 feet down the road, and start another hole. The other man came along behind and filled in the first hole. While one was digging a new hole, the other was 25 feet behind filling in the old hole. The men worked right past the fellow with the soft drink and went on down the road. I can't stand this, thought the man, tossing the can into a trash container and heading down the road toward the men. "Hold it, hold it," he said to the men. "Can you tell me what's going on here with this digging?" "Well, we work for the county," one of the men said. "But one of you is digging a hole and the other fills it up. You're not accomplishing anything. Aren't you wasting the taxpayers' money?" "You don't understand, mister," one of the men said. "Normally there's three of us — me, Rodney, and Mike. I dig the hole, Rodney operates the crane on his truck loaded with trees, and sticks a tree in each hole. Mike, here, puts the dirt back in the hole. Now just because Rodney's off sick today, that don't mean that Mike and me can't work."
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Buck Hunter Shoots Off His Mouth Dear Buck What do you think of the remarkable success of Tiger Woods? — Sports Buff
Dear Sports Buff Never been there. Never even heard of the place. Anyway, I guess reforestation works. Acknowledgments
— editor
— Patrick, age 10
• When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look
stupid?" don't answer him.
— Michael, age 14
• Never tell your mom her diet isn't working.
— Michael, age 14
• Stay away from prunes.
— Randy, age 9
• Never allow your three-year-old brother in the
same room as your school assignment.
— Traci, age 14
• Puppies still have bad breath even after eating
a tic tac.
— Andrew, age 9
• Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same
time.
— Kyoyo, age 9
Frontiersman Cancellations — If you don't want to keep receiving this newsletter, print REFUSED, RETURN TO SENDER above your name and address, cross out your name and address, and return the newsletter. When I receive it, I'll terminate your subscription. You may also cancel by letter, e-mail, carrier pigeon, or any other method that gets the message to me. Back Issues — Back issues or extra copies of this newsletter are available upon request. Reprint Policy — Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this newsletter in its entirety or to reproduce material from it, provided that the reproduction is accurate and that proper credit is given. Please note that I do not have the authority to give permission to reprint material that I have reprinted from other sources. For that permission, you must go to the original source. I would appreciate receiving a courtesy copy of any document or publication in which you reprint my material. Submissions — I solicit letters, articles, and cartoons for the newsletter, but I don't pay for them. Short items are more likely to be printed. I suggest that letters and articles be shorter than 500 words, but that's flexible depending on space available and the content of the piece. I give credit for all items printed unless the author specifies otherwise. Payment — This newsletter isn't for sale. If you care to make a voluntary contribution, you may do so. The continued existence of the newsletter will depend, in part, on such contributions. I accept cash, U.S. postage stamps, prepaid telephone cards, and so forth. I will accept checks or money orders only by prior arrangement. I don't accept anything that requires me to provide ID or a signature to receive it. In case anybody is curious, I also accept gold, silver, platinum, etc. I'm sure you get the idea. — Sam Aurelius Milam III, editor
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