December 2001

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS




December is Universal Human Rights Month!
Tues., Dec. 4     1:003:00
     Board meeting at the office.
Wed., Dec.5     6:30 p.m.
     Neighbor to Neighbor: Plan for the Universal Health Care Symposium.
     The Women's Building, 2nd floor. 3543 18 St. RSVP 415/647-2471.  
Fri., Dec. 79     Annual LaborTech Conference
     Tenth Annual LaborTech Conference at the University of San Fransco.
     Info: 415/282-1908.
Fri., Dec. 7     5:00 
p.m.     
     Women in Black who wear  black to emphasize the need for a 
     Palestinian State. Gather at Montgomery and Market streets.
Tues., Dec. 11     1:00 p.m.
     GPs Health Committee meeting at  the office, 1182 Market St., Room 203.
Sat., Dec. 15     12:303:00 
p.m.
     Gray Panthers PotluckSocial to celebrate the season and elect the 2002
     Board of  Directors. It's time to be with friends and to look forward!
Fri., Feb. 1, 2002     Training program
     Don Bechler will host a training session for those who wish to take 
     part in the Bay Area Symposium on Health Care on Feb. 7. Call 
     him at 415/695-7891 if you wish to participate. 
Feb. 7, 2002     7:00 a.m.4:30 p.m.
     Symposium for public comment on the nine health care proposals
     before the legislature in Sacramento. Applications are in GP office.




Holiday Social and Potluck
Let's put away the cares and troubles of our times and our lives for at least this one 
afternoon and enjoy the company and gustatory efforts of our fellow Gray Panthers. It's important 
that we put the events of the past few months in perspective and keep in mind the meaning of 
this month dedicated to Universal Human Rights.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt  phrased it best  in his Message to Congress, January 6, 1941:
We look forward to a world founded 
upon four essential human freedoms.

The first is freedom of speech and
expressioneverywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person  to worship 
God in his own wayeverywhere in the world.

The third is freedom from want
everywhere in the world.

The fourth is freedom from fear
anywhere in the world.




















Health Meeting
As prologue to our general meeting on November 20, Aroza outlined how the press has 
treated with issues of currrent interest to the Gray Panthers.
 Articles, copies of which are in the office for you to read, include privatization of 
prisons, drilling for oil in the Arctic, and the U.S. involvement in Colombian civil wars. The 
proposal for proportional voting, which we explored a couple of years ago, is again in the news 
and being considered in order to do away with costly (and basically unfair) runoff elections. 
And Bill Moyers' article in the November 19 
Nation examines "Which America Will We Be 
Now?" It emphasizes the need for all citizens to take an active role in the governance of our 
country and Aroza puts a plug in for Gray Panthers to take an active role in the work of the GPs! 
Put some time in at our office and help out!
Health Care Checkup
The Health Care for All Committee of the Gray Panthers planned this meeting to report 
on where we stand and on efforts to gain such benefits in the state and the country.
Our struggles to gain recognition of this national health crisis were preceded by 
Canada's 24-year battle. Wende Chan described that country's efforts that resulted in a system 
that covers everyone equally and yet spends far less money to provide universality, 
portability, comprehensive coverage, access and public administration (UPCAP).
Guest speaker Frances Payne of Neighbor to Neighbor reported on the progress of 
SB480 in Sacramento. Currently nine plans are being considered for universal health care. Of the 
nine, only three are single-payer. She urged all to attend the series of meetings and 
symposia planned by N2N for the next couple of months to discuss and advocate for the various 
plans. The first will be December 5  at the Women's Building, second floor, at 6:30 p.m. On 
February 7, there will be an all-day symposium in Oakland for public comment on the nine plans.
Don Bechler of Health Care for All updated the national movement for single-payer 
by citing the recent victory in Portland, Maine and how this victory related to their state 
legislative battle for single-payer. He pointed out that before the Feb. 7 symposium we need to 
inform ourselves on how to present single-payer against the insurance companies' plans.
GP Gloria Channon stressed that universal health care is a political issue based on 
human rights and that in all upcoming elections we should vote only for those who commit to a 
single-payer system; suggestions from the floor advocated joining with labor unions in their push 
for health care; changing the name to Health Care Is Not a Game; citing seniors being dropped 
by HMOs in California; and advocating to at least five new people using the Health Care for 
All petition. To receive more info about any of the meetings and rallies call: 415/647-2471 to 
reach Frances Payne; 415/695-7891 for Don Bechler; and for the GPs Health 
Committee/Study group, Aroza Simpson at 415/567-5348.
Mitzi Raas adviced on the latest threat to 
your health care. In January HMOs all over California are withdrawing from Medicare, raising premiums, increasing copayments 
and dropping or further limiting drug coverage. Gray Panthers are involved with a coalition 
of senior groups to investigate and protest, and Sen. Speier is planning a hearing. We will be 
there prepared to defend our members and others losing coverage. This is a GPs regional 
activity. We strongly suspect that the threat is a deliberate manipulation by HMOs to force 
Medicare to increase payments to the HMOs. Meanwhile, Medicare recipients are the losers.
In San Francisco, Pacific Care/Secure Horizons is changing its contracts. If you belong 
to Pacific Care/Secure Horizons or any other HMO threatening catastrophic changes, we 
need to know as soon as you hear from them. Call the office at 415/552-8800 and bring in a copy 
of their letter to you. Let us know ASAP if your coverage is threatened! 




















Public Health Laws Under Attack
On the heels of dumping much of the costs of Medicaid back onto the states by taking 
into account only the "rich" in the state and disregarding the "poor," now the administration 
wants to adopt a law allowing public health authorities to take over hospitals, seize drug 
supplies, quarantine people exposed to infectious pathogens, draft doctors to treat them, force 
patients to be vaccinated, and restrain residents from leaving contaminated areas.
A public health "police state?" Watch out! 






Social SecurityA Phony Crisis 
Last May President Bush appointed a commission to "strengthen Social Security." 
Members were equally divided between Democrats and Republicans, eight of each. All indated 
in advance that they favor some form  of private accounts for Social Security. In an interim 
report the panel claimed Social Security is beset by "both a fiscal crisis and a crisis of confidence," 
that only "fundamental restructuring can save it," that in 2016 Social Security will begin 
"running annual cash deficits" and will have to reduce benefits in 2038.
Is all or any of this true? We emphatically say 
no! Here's why:
·     Fiscal crisis. The most conservative criteria, the widely accepted Social Securities 
Trustees Report, projects an income of $868.5  billion and an outgo of $678.4  billion which is a 
surplus of $190.1 billion, and a trust fund balance of $3.1 trillion (if interest is factored in the 
surplus is $5 trillion). They further project that SS will operate in the black at least until 2038five 
years ago that was 2029and that  over the next 75 years the shortfall will be 1.86%. Even in this 
worst case scenario, the shortfall can easily be made up by extending coverage to 
all workers, taxing all earnings (not just the first $81,000) and, at worst, raising the tax by 1%.  
·     Crisis of 
confidence? Not among the one in every six families that gets SS benefits! That 
check comes every month backed by government guarantee. Any crisis in confidence is directed 
and financed by Wall Street and promoted by their media in order to get their hands on some of 
that money and stand to profit from private accounts.




·     Fundamental 
restructuring (read: private accounts). If such accounts were taken from SS 
now the "crisis" year projected above would drop to 2007, benefits would be reduced, 
retirement age of 67 would start in 2011, and the SS tax would rise. SS 
does need some changes to make it more gender equal or eliminating the retirement age. It doesn't  need restructuring that 
takes money from SS funds to enrich the stock market.
Social Security is the 
only retirement income that comes with a 
guarantee of inflation-protected benefits that continue as long as you live, that provides a life insurance policy 
for survivors, that supports the disabled, that assures one a floor for financial security.
So what can we do? When that final report is issued  by that Orwell-named Commission 
 to Strengthen Social Security be ready to bombard your representatives and the media with 
one clear message: Hands Off Social SecurityNo to Privatization! 
Prepare those cards and letters right now, line up the Congressional phone numbers and e-mail addresses, and the 
day that report comes out, go into action! 

The "Patriot Act" in Brief
·     Unlimited FBI wiretaps.
·     Justice Dept. eavesdropping on coversations between lawyers and clients.
·     Racial profiling by the Immigration "approval" Service.
·     Militaryread: kangarooCourt takes over U.S. Justice system.
What's next in the name of antiterrorism?




















This bears repeating:






Do not kill in the name of our son
(Phyllis and Orlando Rodriguez' son Greg is one of the Trade Center victims. They have asked that 
this letter be shared as widely as possible.)
To the NY Times:
Our son Greg is among the many missing from the World Trade Center attack. Since we 
first heard the news, we have shared moments of grief, comfort, hope, despair, fond memories 
with his wife, the two families, our friends and neighbors, his loving colleagues at Cantor 
Fitzgerald/ESpeed, and all the grieving families that daily meet at the Pierre Hotel.
We see our hurt and anger reflected among everybody we meet. We cannot pay 
attention to the daily flow of news about this disaster. But we read enough of the news to sense that 
our government is heading in the direction of violent revenge, with the prospect of sons, 
daughters, parents, friends in distant lands dying, suffering, and nursing further grievances against 
us. It is not the way to go. It will not avenge our son's death. Not in our son's name.
Our son died a victim of an inhuman ideology. Our actions should not serve the 
same purpose. Let us grieve. Let us reflect and pray. Let us think about a rational response that 
brings real peace and justice to our world. But let us not as a nation add to the inhumanity of our times.






Regional Focuses on Action
The quarterly meeting of the northern California Gray Panthers networks was held 
on November 10  in Sacramento  at  the AARP offices (thank you AARP). There were five 
networks in attendance: Marin, Berkeley, Central Contra Costa County, San Francisco and 
Sacramento. Wende, Aroza, Mary Frances and Mitzi represented San Francisco.
Main focus of this meeting was advocacy on national and state levels for health 
and legislative action. On the national stage the Stop Patient Abuse Now (SPAN) campaign 
is developing well. An interesting video describing SPAN's activities was shown, displaying 
our national office in action. Anyone using Priloxec, Synthroid or Buspar is again urged to call 
us. These are among the drugs whose patents are running out and the companies holding 
the patents are trying to extend them to prevent the competition of cheaper generics and 
other companies' products. SPAN plans a class-action suit to block such blatant profiteering.
Joan Lee, Sacramento networkour lobbyist in Sacramentoreported advocating in 
the name of the Gray Panthers of California on energy, health, housing, nursing homes and 
home care. These causes were on our own and in coalition with OWL, CCS, CalPirg, AARP 
and others. During the last legislative session we supported 146 bills, 40 of which were signed 
into law and seven of which were vetoed by the governor. All bills we opposed were 
defeated. These victories are achieved at least in part by lobbying and by letters, petitions and calls 
from our members. We should call our representatives Shelley and Migden and thank 
them especially for AB 1075 (nursing home reform) and AB 489 (predatory lending) which 
they authored. And be alert for the Medicare pullout hearings planned by Senator Speier in January.
The next regional meeting is planned for February 9 in Walnut Creek, hosted by the 
Central Contra Costa County network.






It's time to heed some 50year old advice from
George C. Marshall who said:
"Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine but against hunger, 
poverty, desperation and chaos. Its purpose should be the revival of a working economy in the world."




















War Causes/Background
The chilling destruction of the World Trade Center in New York and other suicidal acts has 
set in motion some equally chilling reactions. We, as citizens of the world, not just the 
United States, must resolve not to cheapen our  humanity  by perpetrating even worse disasters. 
While we must bring to justice those so angry that they are motivated to kill thousands 
in orchestrated acts of terror, we must also resolve to erase  conditions that spawn the anger 
and terror by re-examining our decision-making and reinvesting in education and human rights
An excellent analysis of causes and climate of this latest atrocity may be found in 
Sebastian Juger's book, Fire. A chapter entitled "A Lion inWinter" succinctly describes 
Afghanistan's political and geographic crossroads. The tribal military leader, Ahmed Shah Massoud 
is described as defending the Panjshir Valleyand ousting the Soviet invasion (19791989) 
and then fighting the Taliban. Though the book was published before Massoud's recent 
assasination by the Taliban (September 9, 2001), it gives thoughtful insight into the present quagmire in 
this long-suffering country. A copy of this chapter is available in the Gray Panthers office. 






Subject: Progress?
The paradox of our time in history is that we taller buildings, but sorter tempers; 
wider freeways, we buy more, but enjoy it less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; 
more conveniences, but  less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but 
less judgment; more experts, but fewer solutions; more medicine, but less wellness.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love 
too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've 
added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have 
trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner 
space; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice. 
We have higher incomes, but lower morals; we've become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the times of tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow 
relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more 
kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but  broken homes. 
It is a time when there is much in the show room and nothing in the stockroom; a time 
when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to forward 
this message and make a difference or just hit delete.
This was written by a Columbine High School student and sent to friends across the country 
on March 2, 2001.

The Newsletter of the San Francisco Gray Panthers is published each month, and distributed free of charge to members and friends of this nonprofit organization.

Editorial Board: Rebecca Hirshleifer, Mitzi Raas; Publisher, Astrid M. Spector; Art Director, Fannie Biderman; Proof, Lurilla Harris; Circulation: Harold Greenblatt and Mary Francis Smith. Printed by Graffik Natwicks; Webpage design: Barry Simpkins



	*This bears repeating:*

	Do not kill in the name of our son (Phyllis and Orlando Rodriguez' son Greg is one of the Trade Center victims. They have asked that this letter be shared as widely as possible.) To the NY Times: Our son Greg is among the many missing from the World Trade Center attack. Since we first heard the news, we have shared moments of grief, comfort, hope, despair, fond memories with his wife, the two families, our friends and neighbors, his loving colleagues at Cantor Fitzgerald/ESpeed, and all the grieving families that daily meet at the Pierre Hotel. We see our hurt and anger reflected among everybody we meet. We cannot pay attention to the daily flow of news about this disaster. But we read enough of the news to sense that our government is heading in the direction of violent revenge, with the prospect of sons, daughters, parents, friends in distant lands dying, suffering, and nursing further grievances against us. It is not the way to go. It will not avenge our son's death. Not in our son's name. Our son died a victim of an inhuman ideology. Our actions should not serve the same purpose. Let us grieve. Let us reflect and pray. Let us think about a rational response that brings real peace and justice to our world. But let us not as a nation add to the inhumanity of our times.

	Regional Focuses on Action The quarterly meeting of the northern California Gray Panthers networks was held on November 10 in Sacramento at the AARP offices (thank you AARP). There were five networks in attendance: Marin, Berkeley, Central Contra Costa County, San Francisco and Sacramento. Wende, Aroza, Mary Frances and Mitzi represented San Francisco. Main focus of this meeting was advocacy on national and state levels for health and legislative action. On the national stage the Stop Patient Abuse Now (SPAN) campaign is developing well. An interesting video describing SPAN's activities was shown, displaying our national office in action. Anyone using Priloxec, Synthroid or Buspar is again urged to call us. These are among the drugs whose patents are running out and the companies holding the patents are trying to extend them to prevent the competition of cheaper generics and other companies' products. SPAN plans a class-action suit to block such blatant profiteering. Joan Lee, Sacramento networkour lobbyist in Sacramentoreported advocating in the name of the Gray Panthers of California on energy, health, housing, nursing homes and home care. These causes were on our own and in coalition with OWL, CCS, CalPirg, AARP and others. During the last legislative session we supported 146 bills, 40 of which were signed into law and seven of which were vetoed by the governor. All bills we opposed were defeated. These victories are achieved at least in part by lobbying and by letters, petitions and calls from our members. We should call our representatives Shelley and Migden and thank them especially for AB 1075 (nursing home reform) and AB 489 (predatory lending) which they authored. And be alert for the Medicare pullout hearings planned by Senator Speier in January. The next regional meeting is planned for February 9 in Walnut Creek, hosted by the Central Contra Costa County network.

	It's time to heed some 50year old advice from George C. Marshall who said: "Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. Its purpose should be the revival of a working economy in the world."



	CALENDAR OF EVENTS
	*December is Universal Human Rights Month!* Tues., Dec. 4 1:003:00 Board meeting at the office. Wed., Dec.5 6:30 p.m. Neighbor to Neighbor: Plan for the Universal Health Care Symposium. The Women's Building, 2nd floor. 3543 18 St. RSVP 415/647-2471. Fri., Dec. 79 Annual LaborTech Conference Tenth Annual LaborTech Conference at the University of San Fransco. Info: 415/282-1908. Fri., Dec. 7 5:00 p.m. Women in Black who wear black to emphasize the need for a Palestinian State. Gather at Montgomery and Market streets. Tues., Dec. 11 1:00 p.m. GPs Health Committee meeting at the office, 1182 Market St., Room 203. Sat., Dec. 15 12:303:00 p.m. Gray Panthers PotluckSocial to celebrate the season and elect the 2002 Board of Directors. It's time to be with friends and to look forward! Fri., Feb. 1, 2002 Training program Don Bechler will host a training session for those who wish to take part in the Bay Area Symposium on Health Care on Feb. 7. Call him at 415/695-7891 if you wish to participate. Feb. 7, 2002 7:00 a.m.4:30 p.m. Symposium for public comment on the nine health care proposals before the legislature in Sacramento. Applications are in GP office.
	Holiday Social and Potluck Let's put away the cares and troubles of our times and our lives for at least this one afternoon and enjoy the company and gustatory efforts of our fellow Gray Panthers. It's important that we put the events of the past few months in perspective and keep in mind the meaning of this month dedicated to Universal Human Rights. President Franklin D. Roosevelt phrased it best in his Message to Congress, January 6, 1941: We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expressioneverywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own wayeverywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear anywhere in the world.



	Health Meeting As prologue to our general meeting on November 20, Aroza outlined how the press has treated with issues of currrent interest to the Gray Panthers. Articles, copies of which are in the office for you to read, include privatization of prisons, drilling for oil in the Arctic, and the U.S. involvement in Colombian civil wars. The proposal for proportional voting, which we explored a couple of years ago, is again in the news and being considered in order to do away with costly (and basically unfair) runoff elections. And Bill Moyers' article in the November 19 Nation examines "Which America Will We Be Now?" It emphasizes the need for all citizens to take an active role in the governance of our country and Aroza puts a plug in for Gray Panthers to take an active role in the work of the GPs! Put some time in at our office and help out! Health Care Checkup The Health Care for All Committee of the Gray Panthers planned this meeting to report on where we stand and on efforts to gain such benefits in the state and the country. Our struggles to gain recognition of this national health crisis were preceded by Canada's 24-year battle. Wende Chan described that country's efforts that resulted in a system that covers everyone equally and yet spends far less money to provide universality, portability, comprehensive coverage, access and public administration (UPCAP). Guest speaker Frances Payne of Neighbor to Neighbor reported on the progress of SB480 in Sacramento. Currently nine plans are being considered for universal health care. Of the nine, only three are single-payer. She urged all to attend the series of meetings and symposia planned by N2N for the next couple of months to discuss and advocate for the various plans. The first will be December 5 at the Women's Building, second floor, at 6:30 p.m. On February 7, there will be an all-day symposium in Oakland for public comment on the nine plans. Don Bechler of Health Care for All updated the national movement for single-payer by citing the recent victory in Portland, Maine and how this victory related to their state legislative battle for single-payer. He pointed out that before the Feb. 7 symposium we need to inform ourselves on how to present single-payer against the insurance companies' plans. GP Gloria Channon stressed that universal health care is a political issue based on human rights and that in all upcoming elections we should vote only for those who commit to a single-payer system; suggestions from the floor advocated joining with labor unions in their push for health care; changing the name to Health Care Is Not a Game; citing seniors being dropped by HMOs in California; and advocating to at least five new people using the Health Care for All petition. To receive more info about any of the meetings and rallies call: 415/647-2471 to reach Frances Payne; 415/695-7891 for Don Bechler; and for the GPs Health Committee/Study group, Aroza Simpson at 415/567-5348. Mitzi Raas adviced on the latest threat to your health care. In January HMOs all over California are withdrawing from Medicare, raising premiums, increasing copayments and dropping or further limiting drug coverage. Gray Panthers are involved with a coalition of senior groups to investigate and protest, and Sen. Speier is planning a hearing. We will be there prepared to defend our members and others losing coverage. This is a GPs regional activity. We strongly suspect that the threat is a deliberate manipulation by HMOs to force Medicare to increase payments to the HMOs. Meanwhile, Medicare recipients are the losers. In San Francisco, Pacific Care/Secure Horizons is changing its contracts. If you belong to Pacific Care/Secure Horizons or any other HMO threatening catastrophic changes, we need to know as soon as you hear from them. Call the office at 415/552-8800 and bring in a copy of their letter to you. Let us know ASAP if your coverage is threatened!



	Public Health Laws Under Attack On the heels of dumping much of the costs of Medicaid back onto the states by taking into account only the "rich" in the state and disregarding the "poor," now the administration wants to adopt a law allowing public health authorities to take over hospitals, seize drug supplies, quarantine people exposed to infectious pathogens, draft doctors to treat them, force patients to be vaccinated, and restrain residents from leaving contaminated areas. A public health "police state?" Watch out!

	Social SecurityA Phony Crisis Last May President Bush appointed a commission to "strengthen Social Security." Members were equally divided between Democrats and Republicans, eight of each. All indated in advance that they favor some form of private accounts for Social Security. In an interim report the panel claimed Social Security is beset by "both a fiscal crisis and a crisis of confidence," that only "fundamental restructuring can save it," that in 2016 Social Security will begin "running annual cash deficits" and will have to reduce benefits in 2038. Is all or any of this true? We emphatically say *no!* Here's why: · Fiscal crisis. The most conservative criteria, the widely accepted Social Securities Trustees Report, projects an income of $868.5 billion and an outgo of $678.4 billion which is a surplus of $190.1 billion, and a trust fund balance of $3.1 trillion (if interest is factored in the surplus is $5 trillion). They further project that SS will operate in the black at least until 2038five years ago that was 2029and that over the next 75 years the shortfall will be 1.86%. Even in this worst case scenario, the shortfall can easily be made up by extending coverage to all workers, taxing all earnings (not just the first $81,000) and, at worst, raising the tax by 1%. · Crisis of confidence? Not among the one in every six families that gets SS benefits! That check comes every month backed by government guarantee. Any crisis in confidence is directed and financed by Wall Street and promoted by their media in order to get their hands on some of that money and stand to profit from private accounts.
	· Fundamental restructuring (read: private accounts). If such accounts were taken from SS now the "crisis" year projected above would drop to 2007, benefits would be reduced, retirement age of 67 would start in 2011, and the SS tax would rise. SS does need some changes to make it more gender equal or eliminating the retirement age. It doesn't need restructuring that takes money from SS funds to enrich the stock market. Social Security is the only retirement income that comes with a guarantee of inflation-protected benefits that continue as long as you live, that provides a life insurance policy for survivors, that supports the disabled, that assures one a floor for financial security. So what can we do? When that final report is issued by that Orwell-named Commission to Strengthen Social Security be ready to bombard your representatives and the media with one clear message: *Hands Off Social SecurityNo to Privatization!* Prepare those cards and letters right now, line up the Congressional phone numbers and e-mail addresses, and the day that report comes out, go into action! The "Patriot Act" in Brief · Unlimited FBI wiretaps. · Justice Dept. eavesdropping on coversations between lawyers and clients. · Racial profiling by the Immigration "approval" Service. · Militaryread: kangarooCourt takes over U.S. Justice system. *What's next in the name of antiterrorism?*



	War Causes/Background The chilling destruction of the World Trade Center in New York and other suicidal acts has set in motion some equally chilling reactions. We, as citizens of the world, not just the United States, must resolve not to cheapen our humanity by perpetrating even worse disasters. While we must bring to justice those so angry that they are motivated to kill thousands in orchestrated acts of terror, we must also resolve to erase conditions that spawn the anger and terror by re-examining our decision-making and reinvesting in education and human rights An excellent analysis of causes and climate of this latest atrocity may be found in Sebastian Juger's book, Fire. A chapter entitled "A Lion inWinter" succinctly describes Afghanistan's political and geographic crossroads. The tribal military leader, Ahmed Shah Massoud is described as defending the Panjshir Valleyand ousting the Soviet invasion (19791989) and then fighting the Taliban. Though the book was published before Massoud's recent assasination by the Taliban (September 9, 2001), it gives thoughtful insight into the present quagmire in this long-suffering country. A copy of this chapter is available in the Gray Panthers office.

	Subject: Progress? The paradox of our time in history is that we taller buildings, but sorter tempers; wider freeways, we buy more, but enjoy it less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but fewer solutions; more medicine, but less wellness. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice. We have higher incomes, but lower morals; we've become long on quantity, but short on quality. These are the times of tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes. It is a time when there is much in the show room and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to forward this message and make a difference or just hit delete. This was written by a Columbine High School student and sent to friends across the country on March 2, 2001.