^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

27 JAN 04: Y'ALL WATCH THIS

Nicaragua's Defense Minister received an award Monday, from Fort Benning's Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. Hopefully he received a good taste of the Columbus scene, by stopping at Brito's Market on South Lumpkin Road to buy some imported bananas.

It was no surprise at all to see Jack and Miriam Tidwell on hand to see WHINSEC honor Nicaraguan Defense Minister Jose Guerra. Sometimes I wonder if the Tidwells should save the government money, and run the institute themselves. They seem to love it that much....

Jose Guerra says Nicaragua needs an institute such as WHINSEC to teach military officers "civilian control." Does he really mean what he's saying? Managua must have had non-stop brawls in the streets for decades.

Jose Guerra received a "democracy and human rights award" from WHINSEC as 28 opponents of the institute went on trial in U.S. Federal Court. They marched to the courthouse at dawn from Howard Johnson's - thus proving they're out of touch, because they didn't stop for breakfast at Ruth Ann's.

Federal Judge Mahlon Faircloth sentenced some of the SOA Watch protesters to six months in prison. Others received one year's probation - and they left the courthouse complaining, "Those other guys are going to have all the fun!"

One of the people on trial for illegally crossing onto Fort Benning was a mother of five from California. Lissa Ann Barnes warned her children she might have to go to prison for months - but in the back of her mind, Barnes might consider this an extended vacation.

Another of the SOA Watch defendants was a student at Duke Divinity School in North Carolina. They have a divinity school, at a university where sports teams are called "Blue Devils" ?!?!

Anyway, this Duke Divinity School student read a statement comparing the abuse Latin American people face from SOA Watch/WHINSEC graduates to the torture Jesus endured. After seeing a clip from Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" movie Monday night, perhaps this group will move from closing WHINSEC to banning New Testaments and films about them.

WHINSEC Commandant Richard Downie said the protesters are NOT on trial for opposing the institute. Instead, they're accused of crossing onto a military installation to engage in a protest of ANY sort. So when the Riverdragons play a game on post Thursday night, don't boo the officials or you might get arrested.

Now some other notes from a sleepy, rainy Monday:

+ Georgia Public Broadcasting showed a documentary on the Koinonia movement in Sumter County. But during a segment on integrating First Baptist Church of Americus in 1969, "Worthy of Worship" was sung - a song copyrighted 19 years LATER, in 1988! Is this the only alternative hymn they could find for "Onward Christian Soldiers?"

+ Talbot County residents held a public hearing to oppose a proposed biomedical waste facility. It would be located across the street from the Box Springs Café - which at least would ensure the café restrooms are filled with disinfectant soap.

+ WRBL News offered details of Alabama Governor Bob Riley's plan for more government accountability. One detail shown on the screen said he wants to ban "pass-through PARK." Well, that's one way to keep tourists in the state longer - having them drive around all the parkland.

+ Professional masseuses provided massages inside the Georgia Capitol building! They did it to lobby for a bill which would allow insurance coverage for alternative health treatments. [True/GPB-TV] So when do Victory Drive businesses plan to do this sort of thing inside the Columbus Government Center?

© 2003-04 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.