Here comes a little of my standard policy, remedy instead of critics: If the government of the USA really wanted to tackle the drug use of its citizens, it could do several things. But it does not. It goes on to only condemn it, keep it illegal and wage war against it. As the European intruders came into the beautiful continent of north America, and waged war against the original inhabitants, so do the offspring of those European intruders wage war against its own people today. First by  keeping a large group poor, then by allowing only two substances (alcohol and tobacco) to entertain, third by polluting the world more than any other nation on earth. Reasons enough to call the richest, most wasting way of life a sort of war against itself. The changing weather is proof of worldwide pollution of which the USA contributes 25%, although it has only 7% of the worlds population. The war against drugs is a futile exercise, bound to fail, as long  as the demand for those drugs continues. Already more people are in jail in the USA than in any other country on earth, it continues to lock people up for only seeking a little relief from everyday stress and strain. If the highest governing body really wanted to do something sensible about it, it could make a designer drug, that would be so fantastic, so harmless, and so cheap that everybody could enjoy it. Special education about the effects could be put in place, special days could be set aside for the celebration of the mind with that drug. With the use of a better, cheaper and legal substance all other drugs would disappear from the streets at once. To replace all illegal dangerous, impure and expensive substances with one safe, cheap and potent drug is not impossible. But it is not done. The most powerful nation on Earth struggles on like a man in quicksand, by waging war against the multitudes who now try to use, supply and transport the substances that people ask for. Why people ask for it is never asked, what is the reason that these drugs, that makes one step out of reality for a moment are so popular, is not the criterion. That they are asked for is enough. And must be stopped by all means. To take away the reason why the people crave a little stress relief is not even talked about. One wonders if the governing powers are of good will at all. If they are not infected with the self destructive ideas that put man against man, brother against brother and so on. These thoughts go through try brain and I cannot and will not believe that my brain is any different from yours or theirs. Why then do I see  the solution, to make a drug that is better and safer than all others and make it legal and educate about it? This is done in natural communities in South America where the Indians use Yupa (a natural plant substance) once in a while together, to reach an altered state of mind that allows one to know that there is more than everyday feelings and that fuels the mind enough for the rest of the year. They communicate with God when they are in the grip of this substance, they transcend into another dimension and once been there can function for the rest of the year in harmony, love and peace again. Shall the offspring of the European invaders into the Americas ever see the light? Or will they ever combat the reasons that people look for mind blowing experiences?

Here is the remedy for the national problem. Most people claim to be nationals of the country they are born in. Others through marriage with one that is born there, others through being there very long. The ones that believe to be born there do so because their birth certificate says so, or  their parents say so. But nobody can be sure. For, let me tell you: nobody, not one living human being remembers consciously where, when and from whom s-/he was born. Nobody remembers the day, the week, the month, not even the year s-/he was born. Neither can the place of birth be remembered. So this outcry: I am right, because I'm born here, is based upon second hand information, documents and family.

Strangely enough, nobody knows this from the heart for sure. The only thing that one can know for sure, is not when and where one is born exactly, but in general, that one is born on planet Earth, one can be sure. We human animals are all born on this here ball of dirt that hurls through space with an incredible speed around the star we call the Sun once a year, and which turns with a speed of  40.000 km per 24 hours around its own axis. There can be no mistake, we are all global citizens, and we better live up to it. It's high time we realize that. Internet calls the world the global village. That now is too much, The world is big. Almost big enough to hold us all. If we continue to multiply as in the last 50 years soon there will be not enough place for us all. With rigorous birth control, intelligent family planning, we may save some degree of comfort for our children, because we are all together on this planet. We must realize that we here, use 12 times more waste than people in Africa, and that their suffering is the indirect result of our wasting. So Let me hear you scream:I am  right, I am born here. When "here" means the Earth. We should scream that all together, no matter where we are born.

From the book: "Conversations with God, an uncommon dialogue", (available at our Jubilee Library) I quote a short passage, to show my readers that already five years ago, when he published his book in 1997, the author Neale Donald Walsh saw the downfall of the American "dream". I quote from page 88, as "God" speaks and explains:

 "Thoughts do create physical form--and when many people are thinking the same thing, there is a very high likelihood their thoughts will form a reality. (That is why "We'll pray for you" is such a powerful statement. There are enough testimonies to the effectiveness of unified prayer to fill a book.)  It is also true that un-prayerlike thoughts can create "effects." A worldwide consciousness of fear, for instance, or anger, or lack, or insufficiency, can create that experience--across the globe or within a given locale where those collective ideas are strongest.

 The Earth nation you call the United States, for example, has long thought itself to be a nation "under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." It is not a coincidence that this nation rose to become the most prosperous on earth. It is also not surprising that this nation is gradually losing all that it has worked so hard to create--for this nation seems to have lost its vision.

 The terms "under God, indivisible," meant just that--they expressed the Universal Truth of Unity; Oneness: a Matrix very difficult to destroy. But the Matrix has been weakened. Religious freedom has become religious righteousness bordering on religious intolerance. Individual freedom has all but vanished as individual responsibility has disappeared. The notion of individual responsibility has been distorted to mean "every man for himself." This is the new philosophy that imagines itself to be harkening back to the Early American tradition of rugged individualism.

 But the original sense upon which the American vision and the American dream was based, found its deepest meaning and its highest expression in the concept off Brotherly Love.  What made America great was not that every man struggled for his own survival, but that every man accepted individual responsibility for the survival of all.  America was a nation that would not turn its back on the hungry, would never say no to the needy, would open its arms to the weary and the homeless, and would share its abundance with the world.

Yet as America became great, Americans became greedy. Not all, but many. And, as time went on, more and more.

As Americans saw how good it was possible to have it, they sought to have it even better. Yet there was only one way to have more and more and more. Someone else had to have less and less and less. As greed replaced greatness in the American character, there was less room for compassion for the least among the people. The less fortunate were told it was their "own damned fault" if they didn't have more. After all, America was the Land of Opportunity, was it not? No one except the less fortunate found it possible to admit that America's opportunity was limited, institutionally, to those already on the inside track. In general, these have not included many minorities, such as those of certain skin color or gender.

Americans became arrogant internationally as well. As millions starved across the globe, Americans threw away enough food each day to feed entire nations. America was generous with some, yes--but increasingly her foreign policy came to be an extension of her own vested interests. America helped others when it served America to do so. (That is, when it served America's power structure, America's richest elite, or the military machine that protected those elite--and their collective assets.)

America's founding ideal-- Brotherly Love-- had been eroded. Now any talk of being "your brother's keeper" is met with a new brand of Americanism--a sharp mind toward what it takes to hold on to one's own, and a sharp word to any amongst the less fortunate who would dare to ask for their fair share, for their grievances to be redressed.

Each person must take responsibility for herself or himself--that is undeniable true. But America--and your world--can truly work only when every person is willing to stand responsible for all of you as a Whole."

America's lack of seeing and understanding itself has lead to the present situation.

I strongly recomend this and other books by Neale Donald Walsh to those that seek insight and wisdom. N.D.Walsh certainly has reached and is enlightened and his books can help to clearify many questions people have about spirituality and religion.

It is on the news that the USA is going to step up its defenses with a missile defense shield that would protect it from incoming flying bombs. How that must be accomplished is still not clear as any airplane, disguised as a commercial liner could be used as a missile. Missiles could be fitted out with airline transponders, so defense systems would not see them as weapons. That be as it may, imagine the USA succeeds in making the defense system work. Then it would be able to terrorize, attack or threaten the rest of the world without retaliation possible. Why is the USA so afraid? What has it done in the world that it fears attacks? Something that never reached the news lines? Things that upset other countries with the old fashioned ideas of revanche? Why not pursue a policy of peace, and prosperity instead of war, weapons of destruction and human suffering? Is the USA really of goodwill? Is it not upsetting much of the world by flaunting its wasteful way of wealth? Why must an Indonesian work 8 times longer than an American in order to buy a shirt? Why must someone in Congo go without electric light as war goes on in that country with guns made in the USA? And why does a dog in the USA eats better than a child in Afghanistan? While the USA wants to play global policeman it does not help to equalize global suffering. Hypocritical behavior on smoking as an example: ban it at home, export cigarettes abroad, does not vouch for Americas good intentions. It does not look like the USA is going to change its ways anytime soon, based upon the cowboy mentality of killing the locals and exploit the conquered land. Enormous amounts of money are needed to make an umbrella against foreign missiles, billions of dollars; we better prepare for less tourists coming in the next ten years. It is time Sint Maarten politicians look into starting up some education for the fabrication and production of articles that can be exported instead of only chambermaids, casino dealers ,taxi drivers and waiters. If the producing strong economy of the USA is taken away by its costly defense program and the tourists cannot afford to come anymore, they will still be able to buy articles made in Sint Maarten and brought to them: Guavaberry booze, beautiful paintings of beaches and palm trees, and other things that at present are not yet made but should be in the idea box of government. Think of music, jewelry manufacturing, special tropical jewelry, Caribbean and creole style things that do not yet exist. Think ahead of the storms to come, because the past can teach us nothing, as nothing will be the same, ever.

Anyone who has read me, knows that I am against blood spill in all its forms. And that I read the Books of the Dead. The Tibetan I prefer, the Egyptian is too far out for me. It teaches the way to die. To die unprepared must be very uncomfortable. The churches may have a memorial afterwards, called Requiem, but that did not prepare one for dying. The Church likes to scare you with the prospect of hell. The Requiem only helps those that are left behind. To know a way to die is better than not knowing how to die. Especially when all the religions and cultures claim to be best. When shall men understand that everybody is best? We all are best, and because of not sharing the wealth do we get problems. Some too rich, many too poor. That creates jealousy and hate and fear. Not sharing exploiting, grabbing, saving, keeping, it is counter to love, which is giving, sharing, comforting and helpful. The northern world claims to be Christian, but behaves as if the devil himself is in command. Not once does the north even mention sharing, the dealing to find balance, to take away the discomfort that triggered this.  Now 60 countries are more or less unhappy with USA, who has them on the list of terror lovers. Although the old US of A has done its share of terror, or helped leaders that did the deeds, it will not admit that the poverty of the others has anything to do with the richness it enjoys. The reservations with the original  locals, not much different from the camps in Palestine. Now Israel stands model for G.W. Bush, and the madness escalates. I must pray 24 hours now for all those that are going to die. That they may go prepared, knowing for what  reason they must die. To defend the American way of life, kill all poor miserable malcontented activists and hope to stay alive yourself. And claim to revenge the innocent people. I call them ignorant, not innocents. If you through your ignorant innocence not know what is happening in the world, and your government does not tell you that 60 countries are more or less hostile to yours, you may still have to pay the price. As we saw so many did. Nobody saw it coming. Or did they, and let it happen because America needs an

 enemy, and now they have one. After 30 years of war, Afghanistan may be so weak that uncle Sam can take over with its high tech weaponry against outdated arms in the hands of ragged soldiers without uniforms. America very much wants to put oil pipe lines through that most wanted strategic piece of territory. With well armed helicopters against big kites on steel wires. What a tragedy. I say: give every man a car, a fridge, a mobile phone, a TV and a health insurance. All 60 countries inhabitants, even if every American must give back a little of what he has , all those poorer people should be made content, satisfied, so that they will not suicide, but will stay home and watch TV. Nobody is innocent. If you wear name brand shoes, made in a underpaid wage country, you are guilty too. Brand name clothes made by low wage sweatshop workers, do put the wearer in the eyes of the terrorists in the guilty bracket. Call it stupid its the way things work in the tiny heads of the poor. Share the wealth, divert the anger. Make peace, not war.

We are not separate from each other, nor are we separate from God. We are all together and this fact we have to live. Not just agree to this Truth, but we have to Know it, and Feel it and Live it.

Six month after the attack on the WTC in NY city, the meeting in Mexico City of over 50 Heads of State of developing countries this week came up with an awful, shocking, long known Truth. The final statement said:

Until the rich countries share more of their wealth with the poor countries, terrorism will not be beaten.

I see it almost as a desperate declaration of war from the poor to the rich. The primitive response of Might is Right of the USA will surely never stop terrorism.

The things I mentioned three days after the 9-11 attack in my letter titled: What makes one a terrorist, have now become worldwide recognized and accepted. Extremely wasteful big cars that are common transport in the USA and likewise here on our roads , and huge oversized motorbikes, compared to three wheel covered scooters and push bikes in India and Indonesia and Singapore and Thailand and in most Arab countries and in most of Africa, the small compact cars almost everywhere else on the planet, are proof to the strange unequal distribution and abuse of the worlds resources. We are not alone. Because national borders exists on the map, we still are not on another planet, we are not separate from each other. The planet is One, and we all stick to the same Earth with our feet. The wind carries the same air around the globe, we all breath it. The polluting exhaust gasses from the huge overpowered car engines do go into the same air that the people in Chili and Africa and Uzbekistan breath. The ozone depleting pollutants do hurt all people under the sun. We are all together. 50 Heads of State of Developing Nations came together in Mexico City to make this Truth known one more time. And they came up with the ultimate information about the present terrorist threat:

 Terrorism will not be beaten unless the rich countries share more of their wealth with the poor countries. So what else is new.

 Ironically this meeting was in a place where only 40 extremely rich families own an immense country that holds millions of very poor peasant workers.

 My letter about the American Military Academy in Panama some weeks ago was a warning about what happened just now in South America. The car bomb that exploded at the American Embassy in Lima, Peru, while president Bush is visiting there, was a clear sign of the terrorist approach to the USA’s presence in South America. If the USA wants to control and police the rest of the world, it must be prepared to scarify numerous of its soldiers that play the role of watchdog-policemen.

But we are together, all of us people of the world. As long as the United States separates itself from the rest it will be prone to terrorist attacks. How long will it take before the people in the highest positions will understand that ? That we cannot ignore the plight of others? Just as here on Sint Maarten, the government should not and may not ignore the ugly ghetto streets and their sewage problems, so in the wider world do the rich have to consider the plight of the poorer people that live on the same planet. I know that things are getting better slowly, the internet helps a lot, however, in my view it does not go fast enough and I remind you the one and only Law of Laws: Do to Others as you want Them Do to You. For better understanding of my ideas, read any or all books by Neale Donald Walsch and by Boone Shree Rasjneesh, and OSHO. Have a nice day, with lots of sharing.

It is unbelievable that the media are still full of programs that shows the most primitive part of our human  race’s activities, war. In all its forms and ways, the idea to solve a conflict with violence is the most  primitive. For thousands of years nothing has changed. The earliest known history records tell us how wars have been causing misery, pain and suffering .

I wonder how it is possible that people in the highest places of the governments of great nations still cling to the most primitive ways of behavior. When will they come up with the new approach? When will their brains grow up and will they become real human beings? And when will they apply the teachings of Jesus whom they proclaim to follow ???

Maybe not in my lifetime. Still it is my duty as  messenger to tell about the new way. Hopeless as it may sound, a future without war is worked on. A  large group of people pray and think constantly about ways to stop the production of weapons, to counteract the ancient sentiments of revenge, violent  actions and all other things that cause suffering. The people who do these prayers, know how others suffer. On TV we witness the suffering in war zones far away , which is nothing compared to being there.      

If only Bush could be in the next house that is blown apart by an Israeli tank shell . If  Osama Bin Laden could walk next to one of his bombs going off.  If Sharon could live some time in one of the Palestinian refugee camps. If Central Intelligence Agency officer What’s your name could get the electrodes attached to his own genitals, and if my  neighbour himself could get a very hard punch in the face from his wife when he smells of strange perfume. Then maybe we should get a little less violence tomorrow.

It takes a while to brake old habits. How long did women not speak up after being abused? In Switzerland women could vote only recently. Changes come slow, but if you help, they  come sooner.

Pray with us. Pray silent, pray loud, pray singing, while you work, while you eat or walk or sex, pray at all times for peace, if that is the only thing you can do. Think  as if  every day it is Christmas again. Study peace, because war is so primitive, is for undeveloped nitwits. Soldiers are men and boys that have never learned to love, compassion, forgiveness and togetherness.  They are encouraged to develop the basest instincts of  ancient  behavior, the predator, the destroyer, the killer. Not even animals  make war on their own sort. Pray that the soldier will learn to make something, to create, to think , to write and read in stead of destroy. Pray to help your violent neighbour, that he may calm down and become a real person. That the next man in uniform will not abuse his position and harass someone.

And try to use less paper to preserve the forests, use a smaller car to emit less greenhouse gasses, use non-ozone-depleting coolant in your airco, do not double bag a small thing from the shop, try to preserve our earth actively, not with prayer alone. Believe it or not, we are all together on this one and only home, our Earth. Hurting your Earth is ultimately hurting yourself.

I am not very fond of the title, however, 100 days after the terrible terrorist attack,  I finally hear voices speaking my language. Although radio Soualiga has interrupted its BBC transmissions, I follow the English world service on the shortwave and hear that the western world and specifically the USA has to consider what the reasons for the terrorist actions are. What I mentioned in my letter directly two days after the horrible deed is now, 100 days later, public knowledge. A certain American fast food server who knows my identity told me soon after my first reaction on the attack on the WTC that I was no longer welcome in his establishment. It was he who asked me to write about the legalization of marijuana and we used to be on much the same wavelength. Not really though, because as soon as I pointed out to the public that the USA may have done something to anger the people who resort to terrorism, he took it personal and told me to stay away. What I wonder, now that the public is informed by the BBC that America has to reconsider its world politics, is if that particular American will close his establishment to all who work with and for the BBC. And another question that arises is of course, if he is such staunch supporter of his governments policies, what exactly is he doing here? Why then is he not back in Texas??? Or does he try to Americanize our little international island? Imperialism in miniature?

Be that what it may, so very sorry am I to see that it takes so much time before the common man of ordinary wit understands that terrorism has a cause, has a source, a beginning somewhere. And only if the reason for terrorism is eradicated will it stop, not earlier. Every citizen has to realize that and every American in particular has to see that the richest nation on earth is at war with the poorest nation on earth, and that winning that war will not take away the reason for terrorism. Vast amounts of money and development aid, political changes and intellectual insights will have to pass before this scourge is over.

That it may pass fast. That you and I may live to see that day. A world free of terrorism, imagine.

Always on the lookout for a piece of spicy information I found our friendly island mentioned in the Playboy Magazine of this month. I quote Jeffrey Robinson from his story: “The Terrorist Dollar”. On page 74 third column:  “Russian gangsters for example, regularly huddle with Colombians in the islands of the Caribbean. Aruba, St.Vincent and Antigua are the usual venues, but the Dutch section of St.Martin has become popular in recent years. Russian mobsters and Colombian traffickers sail together on cruise ships out of those ports.” Mr. Robinson may have his information from the bellhops in the hotels where these people stay, who knows? I did enjoy the Russian ballet dancers show a few month ago, is there any connection or is it just coincidence? Money smells good, so who cares who brings it? I'm waiting for a Colombian ballet group, see if they dance as good as the Russians... And although I said it once before, I say it here once more: as long as the governments do not make drugs legal, sell them in pharmacies, under medical control, taxed and accounted for, it is those same governments that create the criminals that now do the business that could be in the hands of legal and taxpaying companies. The people that use drugs are not going to stop using them, no matter what. It is the governments that are creating the criminals that they fight hands and teeth, in a war that is totally ridiculous and brings shame to any well thinking citizen who sees that 30 years of war on drugs has not diminished the trade with one percent. The comic strip Doonesbury had its main character say this: “Why are we at war with a nonaddictive drug that kills nobody when we tolerate an addictive drug like tobacco that has slaughtered millions?”

 You tell me; why the war on marijuana users is a most irrational social policy, with only Holland openly defying the USA policy, while the rest of Europe is awakening to the truth. when will St.Maarten/St.Martin grow up mentally and also allow its youth to use a nonaddictive drug that never has killed anybody? Instead of letting tobacco advertisements openly be displayed everywhere?

Here follow a few thoughts on the present madness in the world. Last Sunday the BBC reported that the USA secretary of state declares that Osama Bin Laden is running out of places to hide. Which I find most unlikely. As every army has physicians with it, OBL surely knows the same as the FBI who practices something called: witness protection program. Those criminals who betray their former buddies get a new face by plastic surgery, another name and nobody will ever find them again. Why should OBL not have done the same? It takes only a few weeks to grow a new beard over scars that a good surgeon can make almost invisible. It would not surprise me if OBL will never be found. Next is what I ask the good secretary; did he never hear the saying: “You can kill the man, but you can't kill his ideas”.

Even if ever the evil OBL is found and killed, would that stop terrorism? It is naive to think so, a five year old's level of thinking. The only way to stop terrorism is to share the wealth and luxuries of the rich countries with the poor ragamuffins who now hold a grudge too strong to fight with bombs and bullets. Shower them with TV's, cellphones, fridges, cars and other luxuries. That may turn their attention away from stingers, kalasnikofs and land mines. From the time of Alexander the Great, the travels of Marco Polo, the Russians and English, no nation has ever succeeded in submitting   Afghanistan. It may have its origin in the way the men treat their women. Without any love or respect they perhaps rape their woman folks instead  of making what we call love. The offspring of such union with violence may itself be violent and without any knowledge of love, resulting in soldiers, fighters, bandits, in fact terrorists. If the present powers succeed in forming a new government in Afghanistan, I think it paramount to make sure the women get protection, more say in ruling the place and guarantees against bad treatment. In a few generations we may then have brought peace to that part of the world. Remains the other pockets of discontent    where one needs to  upgrade living standards, until poverty is gone and terrorism will be faded out of fashion.

To stay in Saudi Arabia, will be more and more difficult for the USA. Both sides have great potential. In the hands of fools a sorry event. This Potential of mutual respect could lead to better living standards, also for the masses who live upon the surface of the earth from where oil is extracted. This is to be seriously considered. Womens equality to men could be a condition for withdrawal. Like , give the women same rights as men and the western civilized rich world will retreat somewhat out of your land. A quick calculation explains the wealth that

the oil producing countries are in possession of. For 50 years or more they have sold around 3 millions of barrels of oil per day. For 20 dollar per barrel, that gives over 1 million dollars. Does Fort Knox hold enough gold, if it was asked? They and us. But never we. And that is the problem. I have sat with a turban on my head chatting in a roadside guesthouse in Afghanistan, for true, I was 22 years of age. There was no difference. I had food, sleep, movement, food, sleep, love. Nothing strange or bad with the Afghans.

People have lost their curiosity, their wonder, of seeing things as they are. They compare too much and they know not how good they have it, but they should not flaunt it. He who flaunts his wealth will surely get robbed. That what happens in micro, so happens macro.

The illiterate rate in the USA is high, but very low in Japan. Gunfodder they called the multitudes of men that went in front of enemy guns. But gunfodder cannot solve the present problem, even if the USA has many illiterate soldiers that are willing to die.

Powersharing is more like it, mutual respect and if possible not based upon fear and violence, destruction, but based upon comfort, easy living, love and understanding. To let go of the past is unfortunately not possible, to prevent similar foolish attacks will not be possible.

It is we who have to do it.  Not They and We. If it is us and they, we are lost, you and I, we cannot stop the war of the leaders. Both psychopaths, the lack of intelligence leads to violence. To force people to flee for satanic behavior, is nothing Christian. I do see that both sides are stupid in certain aspects. In the Saudi green flag, the two swords crossed. Conditions I suggest, to set humanitarian rights sure. Granted living standards will do the trick. Stop all military action, ban that to designated areas in big deserts, and organize human relations man to man meetings and exchange niceties. Jokes if possible.

I will take my leave now if you please by explaining what Chamba Chada means. The Little Boy it means. The little boy that sees the nakedness of the Emperor. The Emperor who was naked but thought that he was dressed in the most delicate invisible cloth, made for him by swindlers and conmen. While all people came to the show and watch it, they do not participate like the little boy. See what I mean? Set conditions, split the land equal between the Israelies and the Palestinians, split Jerusalem; its we, not they and us. It must be understood one day; we are together on mother Earth. She breathes a fresh wind with much less Co2 in the upper skies, these days. Men do more bad than good to each another, and that must stop.

Share the fun, and share the pain. And admit that there are other powers out there. Lets make deals,raise the standard of living and comfort, and have fun, not destruction and violence, the most childish of emotions, more befitting a 5 year old than middle aged leaders. See the child make a tower of blocks and then kick it over. How happy is that little boy. He should not mingle when older men meet. Still his clear observation sets us all an example.

The USA has a list with countries that harbor, help, assist or otherwise are in league with terrorists. These countries are more or less hostile to the USA. The list has 60 names. 60 Countries that do not like US policies, does that not put you to think what is really going on? First: every time in the media, the word "innocents" is used, I would replace it with "ignorants". The US government keeps its citizens ignorant of the rest of the world. The internet opens up the world a little, but sitting in front of  a screen in a comfortable home watching poverty on the other side of the globe does not make One a better person. Or helps that poor sucker in the desert. The word is: SHARING. Only sharing the wealth can alleviate the troubles. The wealth of One is the poverty of Another. It must be understood that the world is a ball of material hurling through apace, with a crust of earth on which human beings are crawling like fleas on the skin of a dog. The big words of "globalization" would make one think that we understand a little better that we are on the globe. On the planet. That we are all together. That we are all humans living on this one planet circling the sun. However, it scares people to change their little surroundings and well-known area for the world in its totality. We have seen scared groups defending national values, waging war at neighbours and different ethnic groups. Nowhere do we see a global understanding of each another. Nowhere do we learn that all human beings are one family. A Negro can mate an oriental, a white can mate a North American Indian, an Indonesian can make a baby with a Russian. We can all intermix and function well. Instead we separate, we claim to be better, we discriminate, we behave like fools in the greater scheme of things. Take a trip in a plane and ascend to 10.000 feet, and you will not believe that the fighting, the hate and the atrocities continue down there on the surface of the earth. You will see the curvature of the planet and understand that it is a ball after all. Why can men not unite, why do leaders keep up the silly primitive destruction, fear, hate and war? How long before hum animals become civilized human beings? Some claim to be Christians and shout revenge, others say

that Muslims are terrorists while Moslem hospitality is second to none. Ignorance over and over again. Blame the governments that do not inform the people of what really goes on. Poverty for some is wealth for others. I am not a communist but I can live with only two pairs of shoes, with only the basics for comfort and carefully not wasting one crumb of bread. I have chosen for modesty after having enjoyed wealth and poverty both in my life. And I  have no enemies. Not one.   Sharing is the key.

On Tuesday , 28 august 2001 the Daily Herald was the only paper to report on Prime Minister Patterson's visit to Washington. A report of a commission of inquiry in Jamaica has come to the same conclusions as so many  European countries . Ganja, cannabis, marijuana should be legalized. Patterson finds the recommendations of the commission very persuasive and this autumn his government will make changes within the law.

The USA sees decriminalization incompatible with the 1988  U.N. convention on drugs. And is already threatening Jamaica's  status under the certification process. While the USA ignores ballistic treaties, the Kyoto Protocol, and lately the conference on racism, and the International Criminal Court of Justice as well. I wonder how it dares to point the finger to other countries when itself acts without the consent of the rest of the world. Canada from the north is legalizing cannabis, Jamaica from the south. The classical pincher movement is being executed here, with the USA in the middle.

Sint Maarten should take its place between the modern thinking nations. To show that it has an independent meaning and a strength that defies the bully in the north. The economic benefit of legalizing canna