Recent Noteworthy Events Abound

Since I'm still recovering from Spring Break (no, I didn't actually do anything, but I'm not back in productive mode yet), I simply wish to comment briefly on a few topics I've been thinking about lately.

The terrorist attacks in Spain last week prove the War on Terror is far from over. America's greatest sympathies are with the victims and their families. The fact that the attack was carried out exactly two and a half years after 9/11 is obviously symbolic, proving international terrorism still poses a threat to civilization.

Unfortunately, even terror attacks were not enough to convince many of the Spanish people of the nature of the enemy we face. They handed Al Qeada a win by allowing the terror group to topple the Spanish government, ushering in the anti-war Socialist Party. It appears the Spanish have not learned appeasement doesn't work. One would think they would remember European appeasers of the past, such as the hapless Neville Chamberlain. Regrettably, they seem to have forgotten those lessons. I fear they may get another wakeup call, just as Chamberlain's Britain did 65 years ago.

In another sad occurrence, Russia continues its move away from democracy, and back down the road to authoritarianism. Vladimir Putin was overwhelmingly reelected, actually bribing young voters with concert tickets to come to the polls. None of Putin's opponents received significant press coverage. Every day, the dream of a free and open Russia slips further and further away. The Russian people had better do something soon, or else they might find themselves waiting in long lines yet again.

Last week I returned to Knoxville to visit the 9/11 exhibit at the East Tennessee History Center. It is a very solemn tribute to a day none of us can ever forget. I certainly recommend visiting it if you get a chance.

One of John Kerry's many campaign promises is that he will crack down on companies guilty of "outsourcing." Though it's blasphemy to the media to say so, outsourcing has many advantages. John Kerry, of all people, should understand this. After all, his wife's company, H.J. Heinz Co. (makers of Heinz Ketchup), operates 57 factories in foreign countries, and only 22 in the U.S. I wonder if the senator plans to crack down on them?

While on the subject of John Kerry, his wife made a brilliant and articulate statement about President Bush while campaigning for her husband in California: "What has been most damaging, I think - to all of us - about many of the actions of this administration has been the cynicism with which they have perpetuated their positions and with which they have used us to trap us and to, in a sense, terrorize us, because they paralyze us. And you know what? That is un-American, in my book." What do you think the media reaction would be if Laura Bush made a similar statement about Senator Kerry, or "questioned his patriotism"?

Congress recently voted overwhelmingly to increase the power of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), allowing them to levy fines of up to $500,000. I'm not a big fan of the FCC, and though I'm also not a big fan of Howard Stern, using the power of government to silence him is not in keeping with the ideals of the First Amendment. It would have been one thing if a group of concerned citizens had utilized methods such as protests and boycotts to fight Stern, but using the power of government creates a dangerous precedent that could someday be used to silence political speech as well. Defenders of the First Amendment should keep a close eye on the FCC.

Nuclear energy has been unfairly maligned. Americans would be wise to consider using it more often. It's much cleaner than coal or oil. Yes, it has the potential to be dangerous, but so do all energy sources. To put things in perspective, consider this: Over the past 40 years, more people have died in Ted Kennedy's car than in American nuclear power plants. Some of you probably wonder if I'd be comfortable living near a plant. I grew up 20 miles from Oak Ridge. Nothing scares me.

Doesn't the statue of Europa at McClung Plaza violate the separation of church and state? After all, it is our tax dollars being used to subsidize a statue of a Greek goddess. The university should be sensitive to the religious beliefs of non-pagans who attend the university, and should not be attempting to impose that religion upon us. Quick, Someone call the ACLU or Americans United for the Separation of Church and State!

John Brown is a senior in political science and history at the University of Tennessee @ Knoxville. Contact him at johnnyb325@aol.com, or visit www.johnnorrisbrown.com. This column originally appeared in the March 18, 2004 edition of The Daily Beacon, available here.