Shrine Skit - The Sheridan Press

Opinion THE
SHERIDAN Press Friday,
Rioting in France
retreat from reality
and hard decisions
that reality requires
Riots that began on the outskirts of Paris have
spread into the center of the French capital and to other
communities in other parts of the country.
Thousands of cars have been set on fire and the police
and even medical personnel have been shot at.
Like many other riots, whether in France or elsewhere,
this one started over an incident that just happened
and was then seized upon to rally resentments
and unleash violence. Two local boys in a predominantly
Muslim neighborhood tried to escape the police
by hiding in a facility that transmitted electricity —
and accidently electrocuted themselves.
This was the spark that ignited volatile emotions.
But those emotions were there,
ready to be ignited, for a long
time.
A substantial Muslim population
lives in France but is not
really of France. Much of that
population lives in social isolation
in housing projects
away from the center of Paris,
as unknown to many Parisians
as to tourists.
Like housing projects in
Thomas
Sowell
Columnist
America, many of these are
centers of social degeneration,
lawlessness and violence.
Three years ago, profound
British social critic Theodore
Dalrymple wrote of “burned-out and eviscerated carcasses
of cars everywhere” in these projects, among
other signs of social degeneration. This was in an
essay titled “The Barbarians at the Gates of Paris” that
is reprinted in his insightful book, “Our Culture,
What’s Left of It.”
While Dr. Dalrymple called this Muslim underclass
“barbarians,” a French minister who called the rioters
“scum” provoked instant outrage against himself,
including criticism from at least one member of his
own government. This squeamishness in word and
deed, and the accompanying refusal to face blatant
realities is also a major part of the background for the
breakdown of law and order and the social degeneration
that follows.
None of this is peculiar to France. It is a symptom
of a common retreat from reality, and from the hard
decisions that reality requires, not only in Europe but
also in European offshoot societies like Canada,
Australia, New Zealand — and the United States of
America.
European countries especially have thrown their
doors open to a large influx of Moslem immigrants
who have no intention of becoming part of the cultures
of the countries to which they immigrate but to recreate
their own cultures in those countries.
In the name of tolerance, these countries have
imported intolerance, of which growing antisemitism
in Europe is just one example. In the name of respecting
all cultures, Western nations have welcomed people
who respect neither the cultures nor the rights of
the population among whom they have settled.
During the last election, some campus Republicans
who were holding a rally for President Bush at San
Francisco State University were harassed by Middle
Eastern students, including a woman who walked up
to one of these Americans and slapped his face. They
knew they could do this with impunity.
In Michigan, a Muslim community loudly sounds
their calls to prayer several times a day, without regard
to whether that sound bothers the original inhabitants
of the community.
The Dutch were shocked when one of their filmmakers
was assassinated by a Muslim extremist for
daring to have views at variance with what the extremists
would tolerate.
No one should have been shocked. There are people
who will not stop until they get stopped — and
much of the media, the political classes, and the cultural
elites of the West cannot bring themselves to
even criticize, much less stop, the dangers or degeneracy
among groups viewed sympathetically as underdogs.
Not all Muslims, nor necessarily a majority of
Moslems, are either a cultural or a physical danger.
But even “moderate” Muslim organizations in the
West who deplore violence and try to discourage it
nevertheless encourage their followers to remain foreigners
rather than become part of the countries they
live in.
So do our own intelligentsia and political and cultural
elites. Balkanization has been glorified as “diversity”
and diversity has become too sacred to defile
with anything so gross as hard facts. But reality is not
optional. Our survival may in the long run be as menaced
by degeneration within — from many sources
and in many ways — as was that of the Roman
Empire.
To find out more about Thomas Sowell and read
features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and
cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at
www.creators.com.
Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover
Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305.
His Web Site is www.tsowell.com.
COPYRIGHT 2005 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC
Letters
Would like to see rebate for
Wyomingites over 18 years old
Editor:
In Saturday’s paper (Nov. 5), Patrick Murphy wrote an
in-depth editorial on the subject of a rebate for Wyoming
residents as proposed by Rep. David Miller of Riverton.
This $2,000 rebate would come as a result of the budget
surplus generated from our abundant energy resources.
This is very similar to a proposal I suggested back in
September to Rep. Rosie Berger of Big Horn. However,
my proposal contained certain criteria for receiving such a
rebate.
Even though we are an energy-producing state, we will
still feel the effects of higher energy costs for gasoline and
home heating.
I proposed that a $1,000-$2,000 rebate be given to
every citizen over 18 years of age. (Children are not paying
those heating bills.)
In addition to this criterion, a stipulation should be
made concerning residency. For example, a one-year
proof of residency like that required by Game and Fish for
a state game license might be a requirement in order to
receive this rebate.
Some term is necessary in order to eliminate people
moving into the state for a few months just to receive the
rebate.
As a concerned citizen of Wyoming, I would want my
government to continue to be fiscally responsible with our
budget surpluses.
That is why my proposal, which puts limitations on
who receives the rebate, would make the amount much
less than the forecast $1 billion.
As we all know, such talk of rebates is purely hypothetical
unless the Legislature enacts a change in our
state’s constitution. However, if you are interested in the
possibility of a rebate, contact your representative about it
before the budget session in February.
Even a one-time rebate would be a boost to the morale
and pocketbook of most citizens of Wyoming.
Jay M. Manthei
Sheridan
“I don’t know of course,” I said to Willie, “but if
the reports are right, the police just needed to keep
him bottled up so he couldn’t hurt anybody and wait
him out.”
“That seems reasonable,” Willie grumped. “But
iffen the guy was shootin’
’round, that’s a different story.”
“Well,” I said, “they used
some tear gas to try to get him
out. And that didn’t work.”
“Likely made him mad,”
Willie grumped. “That’s nasty
stuff. But I don’t know that he
was hurtin’ anybody but his
self. So what was the push ta
C.L.
Tibbets
Columnist
make him come out?
“Sure, he shot up some windows
an’ some pots an’ pans.
Not too big a loss as compared
ta a life. An’ he talked
to a number of folks what was tryin’ ta get him ta surrender.
Near as I know, he didn’t threaten any o’
them.”
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Today’s Iraq compared
to state of England in 1942
Editor:
The Iraqi people recently voted and passed a
constitution.
As Winston Churchill said on Nov. 10, 1942, as
England, much as Iraq is now, was fighting for its
democratic life, “Now this is not the end. It is not
even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the
end of the beginning.”
One would hope so.
And what is Iraq’s future? Churchill himself in a
1939 radio broadcast wondered about Russia: “I
cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a
riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”
To me this statement sums up Iraq’s future in
spite of assertions of confidence from our leaders.
But how shall we pay for this war? In September
your guest columnist Daniel Kline said, “Lower taxes
and you have economic growth; raise taxes and
everything shrinks.”
And the economic growth Kline so stoutly
defends comes from gifts to the rich, the very rich,
who have had to share less of their exorbitant
wealth through lower taxes and thus stimulate the
economy and through their increased wealth lower
the deficit.
Makes sense to me, I think. It’s like a car seller
saying to you, “We’re going to cut your payments
about 15 percent, and, by the way, don’t worry
about the interest, because the Chinese and Japanese
are loaning us lots of money.”
It was a question last election of two candidates:
one who would spend money on his war and not
raise taxes, and the other candidate who would perhaps
raise taxes and then spend the money on
“social programs.” Simple choice for Wyoming.
But in 2000 with a Republican Congress and a
Democratic president, the U.S. government budget
was balanced. Remember?
Willie & Sunshine
“He was breaking the law,” I said. “Probably a
number of them.”
“Ain’t no doubt ’bout that,” Willie agreed. “But the
cure fer that was purty hard. An’ I’d surely hate ta be
shot at ever’ time I broke a law. They’d be lots o’
shootin’ fer folks breakin’ the law speedin’.”
“This is more serious than a speeding violation,” I
answered. “The man was armed and shooting. He
might have just been a lousy shot, but he was shooting”
“Could be,” Willie agreed again. “But generally iffen
ya got a gun, ya kin figger which end is dangerous,
an’ iffen he was shootin’ at me, there would be a tendency
ta shoot back. But the question is still what was
the rush?
MALLARD FILMORE by Bruce Tinsley
4
November 11, 2005
The year 2004, according to Harper’s Index, was
ranked first “among the most fiscally reckless years
in U.S. history, according to the comptroller general.”
It comes down to the legacy we are leaving those
Americans who follow. George Bush has had about
five years to deliver deficit reduction with his tax
breaks aimed mostly at his rich compatriots.
Someday our country will have to pay its debts,
won’t it? How? And at the same time keep those
services which government, believe it or not, does
better than the private sector — build highways,
provide Social Security, perhaps even health care,
defend the country, put out fires, and help hurricane
victims — those kinds of things.
Well, what do you think? Or do you care? OK, let
our children, grandchildren and their grandchildren pay
off the deficit and curse us, rightly.
William (Mick) Anderson
Sheridan
Asks citizens to donate
extra Halloween candy
Editor:
In my experience the people in Sheridan County
have shown themselves to be loving parents as well as
generous, caring and concerned community members.
Therefore, I am asking the community to donate
“extra” Halloween candy to Sister Delores for the little
children she teaches on the Lame Deer reservation. The
candy is given to the children at Christmastime.
Please bring donated candy to Holy Name Catholic
School, 121 S. Connor St. Sister Delores will pick it up
on her day off. May God bless you and your family for
your generosity.
Toni Wendt
Holy Name School Principal
I’d hate to be shot every time I broke the law
“Accordin’ ta some o’ the witnesses, the building
was completely surrounded. He was still talkin’ to
some people, so why the rush?”
“Maybe things changed ,” I offered. “Things do
change, you know.”
“Yeah,” Willie replied, “but I’m seein’ this rush-tacapture
thin’ all over the country. Someplace —
Montana, I think — a high-speed chase wound up with
either the officer or the suspect gettin’ killed.
“Jest a couple weeks ago one of our officers rolled
his patrol car givin’ chase, rolled his police car an’
broke his shoulder. Ya read about it regular where a
high-speed chase gets somebody hurt or killed.
“Some chases is justified, but high speed is dangerous
to ever’one in the area. An’ it don’t make much
sense ta bruise up the neighborhood for an’ offense that
is less dangerous than the cost o’ the chase.
“This deal cost a life, an’ I don’t think it should
have.”
Willie tried his coffee and found it cold.
“Thin’ is,” he said sourly, “this is sup’osta be a
serve-protect fer all o’ us. So far it looks like this guy
come up short.”
That may be hard to argue with.