This week the Democratic Party successfully launched a great ship of hope from Boston harbor. And while the winds of change that would guide it grow mightier, it is by no means certain that it will reach its destination come this November.

As the election draws nearer, the many millions of us aboard this great ship should expect to be told and told again by the powers that be to be frightened of our voyage. They will dare us to imagine what terrors lie in wait within the seas of change. They will manufacture a dense fog of fear, and then claim only they can protect us from the unspeakable dangers that only they can see within it.

Over the next few weeks and months, the powers that be will seek to reinstate the primacy of fear, and transform our hope into despair. Lest we remain hopeful, color-coded threat charts and warnings of imminent unknowable events will be broadcast again and again to remind us to become fearful. With increasing urgency, we will be directed to proceed in an orderly fashion, duct tape and plastic sheeting in hand, to our muster stations so to abandon our great ship of hope for their shores of safety.

Well, I haven't been checking my mail much lately, and it sure isn't because of the Democratic Convention. I would rather jump off a two-story building into a open train car filled with razorblades. Anyhow, I have a few minutes and some troubling thoughts occurred to me. I thought maybe someone would comment on them.

All those progressives the last time who ripped up Gore, who said he was about as bad as Bush, where are they? Harvey Wasserman, Bob Fitrakis, Jim Hightower, Michael Moore, Howard Zinn, Chomsky, etc, etc, etc.

Even the Columbus Free Press is noticeably absent from criticizing Kerry. Case in point: The Summer issue of the 2000 Free Press contained several articles supporting Nader or criticizing Bush and Gore. The Autumn issue of 2000 had Nader on the cover and contained article after article in support of Nader.

Contrast that with the July-August edition of the Free Press, 2004. The Norman Solomon of the Autumn 2000 Free Press was anti-Gore, pro-Nader, in an article entitled "Paying Homage to the two-party system." In the July-August 2004 edition of the Free Press, Solomon criticizes Nader for

I spoke with Greg Quinlan, founder of the "Pro-Family" Network yesterday when he was on "Open Line: with Fred Anderle". There is nothing "pro-family" about his views. This self-avowed "former" gay man appeals, not to the best, but the worst, in his drive to get an amendment on the ballot that would ban the legal recognition of any relationship but the marriage of a man and a woman. He and others of his ilk, appeal to the prejudices, misconceptions and fears that people have towards same-gender couples.

This amendment would exclude not only same-gender couples, but also cohabitating different gender couples. And, while it would not prohibit companies from offering benefits to domestic partners, it would cause significant hardship in court disputes arising from these benefits as it would prohibit the courts from even recognizing these relationships.

"Pro-Family"...I think not. Pro-fear, Pro-ignorance, Pro-intolerance are more appropriate to Mr. Quinlan and his merry band.

I picked up a copy of your magazine in a local coffee shop and found many of the articles to be outstanding. Keep up the good work.

However, I was more than nonplussed to see Irish Northern Aid listed in your "Organize" section, and as a PEACE GROUP nonetheless. Perhaps it is your magazine's policy to accept any listings (though I doubt you would accept a listing from a neo-nazi organization). Perhaps the editors took Irish Northern Aids claims to be a peace group at face value.

You should know that Irish Northern Aid's activities have little to do with promoting peace. The professed objective of their fundraising is to support the families of Irish Republican prisoners. This goal might legitimately be considered a "humanitarian" one, but there is plenty of evidence that over the last quarter century, Irish Northern Aid has used charitable donations to purchase weapons for the IRA. The IRA are also known as the PROVOS, and you might note that the contact email provided for your Irish Northern Aid listing is "provo@columbus.rr.com." There is little attempt to hide this.

While Greens participate in demonstrations against Kerry during the Democratic Convention in Boston, party members are organizing the August 28 event; Green presidential candidate David Cobb will be featured.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party members are organizing a major event to coincide with the Republican National Convention and anti-Bush protests in New York City.

Titled 'A Green World Is Possible: A Festival of Non-Violence, Ecology, Democracy, Social and Economic Justice,' the rally will take place in Washington Square on Saturday, August 28.

"We believe that holding our event separate from the myriad of other anti-Republican activities will enable us to keep our message positive and ensure the safety of our membership," said Charles Shaw, co-chair of the Peace Action Committee of the Green Party of the United States. "We're committed to providing a safe environment in which our members and allies can exercise their right to speak out on important issues."

The program will feature live music and speakers, including Green presidential candidate David Cobb and running mate Pat LaMarche; New