We’re battle worn. The past two years of campaigns were no less hostile than Hurricane Sandy. Election pundits tell us we’re a nation divided and stuck in this place. All the while, the critical mass of the big government crowd has taken control. We’ve been told this day would come, and it has.

We’re battle worn. The past two years of campaigns were no less hostile than Hurricane Sandy. Election pundits tell us we’re a nation divided and stuck in this place. All the while, the critical mass of the big government crowd has taken control. We’ve been told this day would come, and it has.

Dear Editor: In her latest display of indomitable ignorance, Linda Turley-Hansen quotes (Nov. 23, AFN) from the "ancient Greek prophet... Zoroaster." That phrase contains two gross errors. Unlike the religiously-motivated Jews and Persians, the ancient Greeks produced philosophers, not prophets. And, of course, Zoroaster was not Greek; he was Persian. Linda's error is typical of political reactionaries. She's too lazy to look up "Zoroaster" on the Internet or in the encyclopedia. Even worse, she probably doesn't care. Big Brother's slogan, "ignorance is strength," is the guiding principle of contemporary "conservatives." It fuels the idiotic campaigns against the teaching of evolution, often prevented through intimidation of biology teachers in the Bible Belt states. It inspires the blatant lies about President Bush's economic record (Clinton's record was far superior: 3.6 percent average GDP growth vs. Bush's anemic 2.9 percent; Clinton's 16 percent reduction in federal debt as percent of GDP vs. Bush's 12 percent increase). Fox News and Rush Limbaugh will never confuse you with these incontrovertible facts. I eagerly await Linda's next column. Perhaps she'll enlighten us about the Hebrew prophets' contribution to geometrical proofs, or the Spanish Inquisitors' heritage of civil rights. C.W. Griffin

Dear Editor: In her latest display of indomitable ignorance, Linda Turley-Hansen quotes (Nov. 23, AFN) from the "ancient Greek prophet... Zoroaster." That phrase contains two gross errors. Unlike the religiously-motivated Jews and Persians, the ancient Greeks produced philosophers, not prophets. And, of course, Zoroaster was not Greek; he was Persian. Linda's error is typical of political reactionaries. She's too lazy to look up "Zoroaster" on the Internet or in the encyclopedia. Even worse, she probably doesn't care. Big Brother's slogan, "ignorance is strength," is the guiding principle of contemporary "conservatives." It fuels the idiotic campaigns against the teaching of evolution, often prevented through intimidation of biology teachers in the Bible Belt states. It inspires the blatant lies about President Bush's economic record (Clinton's record was far superior: 3.6 percent average GDP growth vs. Bush's anemic 2.9 percent; Clinton's 16 percent reduction in federal debt as percent of GDP vs. Bush's 12 percent increase). Fox News and Rush Limbaugh will never confuse you with these incontrovertible facts. I eagerly await Linda's next column. Perhaps she'll enlighten us about the Hebrew prophets' contribution to geometrical proofs, or the Spanish Inquisitors' heritage of civil rights. C.W. Griffin

As we consider New Year’s resolutions, I gladly share a story of Violet Jerome, a family friend who knew the secrets of keeping the Christmas Spirit alive, year round. Come to think of it, with our nation trapped in moral chaos, her story needs to be shared across the land.

In regard to Linda Turley-Hansen’s guest column, April 15, I am disappointed that Ms. Turley-Hansen chose to “pile on” without the “professional mode of assessing both candidates” or, in this case, a fair assessment of what Hilary Rosen said after she proclaimed that Romney’s wife “has actually never worked a day in her life,” which was, “She’s never really dealt with the kinds of economic issues that a majority of the women in this country are facing, in terms of how do we feed our kids, how do we send them to school, and why do we worry about their future.” Rosen’s ideas are true.

I was highly offended by your choice to utilize Linda Turley-Hansen's guest commentary in your Sept. 11 edition. I usually find her offensive, but her "10 years later, we remain under attack" commentary tops them all. She states we remained safe during the Bush administration, but it was during his watch that critical recommendations and warnings (from former Clinton staffers) were ignored, followed soon after by the 9/11 attack. She forgets to mention that under Bush, we attacked a country that had nothing to do with 9/11 (adrenalin had to be used well?). I would also like to know in what way is President Obama not "loyal to America."

With Biden and Ryan’s debate behind us, the nation is still asking, “What happened to Obama?” in his first debate and can he fix it in the next round?

You’ve seen ‘em. Those low-cut jeans the girls wear, which barely cover the pubic place. There’s a tiny zipper and then the usual grommet-like closure, which draws the eye right to the spot where polite boys never look.

Okay, I don’t live in Legislative District 18, but that doesn’t mean I’m not deeply affected by the possible recall of our Senate president and the contemptible, outsider intrusion into our state. Don’t kid yourself, District 18 voters: There are those who want to force a major shift in Arizona’s political base and away from policies of citizen protection. And, they are using you.

Let’s get my views of the gay and lesbian community out of the way first, to clear the runway for the topic of gays and the Boy Scout program. Yes, some of my “best friends and relatives are gay.” They are lovely people. But, I cannot support gay marriage, yet passionately support civil unions and government benefits that go with.

It’s very rare that I’m motivated to write a follow up column, but the dangers generated by alcohol’s sacred position in our society demands more attention. Nothing is better to use as comparison than the uproar about the private ownership of guns and the dangers of both.

Of course only law enforcement and military should be allowed the possession of assault rifles. And, of course, alcohol should never be served to drivers. Never. And, illegal drugs should be kept away from everyone. Period. Anything that kills should be hidden from the mentally ill, the angry, the bullies, the too-young-to-know-any-better.

‘Tis the season in which family problems become magnified. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, thank your lucky heritage. Mixed up in our holiday cheer is nearly always increased strain in relationships. It’s eerie. It begins to build soon after Halloween, kind of like a dust devil that stirs up emotional junk.

Dependency a form of enslavement

You’ve seen ‘em. Those low-cut jeans the girls wear, which barely cover the pubic place. There’s a tiny zipper and then the usual grommet-like closure, which draws the eye right to the spot where polite boys never look.

So-called comedian Bill Maher is the poster boy for the brutish. He reminds me of a series of classmates during my school years. They were trash-talking bullies, encouraged by peers who would laugh, but always with unease.