Column 63 for December 10, 2000

Many people continue to clamor on about our election, and I know I’ve stated my opinion here, but I’m tired of it all. Our judicial system, thank goodness, has seemed up to the task, and as I write this, they are continuing their job admirably. I’m more than happy for all the suits to follow their natural course, and I will respect their decisions. I just don’t want to listen anymore. I may not tune in CNN again until after January 20^th.

A lot of the things said through the media over this past month have troubled me, but I’m a big believer in our concept of freedom of speech, and this brings me to what I want to talk about today.

I have a friend, Milie. Milie is a native of the island of Aruba, a small, self-governing outpost of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, just 15 miles or so off the coast of Venezuela, and is known as "One Happy Island." Milie also happens to be a civil engineering student at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta. I have written about Aruba before, because I spent a week there this August and loved it. Aruba’s primary industry is tourism. I chose Aruba for my vacation chiefly because of the recommendations and help I received from Milie on the Internet, through an Aruba vacationers bulletin board.

Milie, besides being an active participant in this, and other Aruba internet bulletin boards, writes a small newsletter about Aruba, available at: http://www.arubanews.net/jamilie/ She is endlessly proud of her homeland, as she should be. Several things have happened lately, however, in Aruba, and all of us that follow her news appreciate her opinions and candor. Aruba’s national airline has gone bankrupt. The current government has attempted to privatize the telephone system, which has sparked protests. The flow of illegal immigrants from South America has increased the almost non-existent crime rate.

Milie’s candor has brought about a problem. She is receiving subtle threats that her job back in Aruba may be in jeopardy. Her Grandmother’s house was broken into. Her name is being blackened on the island at this moment over the local news, and even at the Ministers Office. Her outstanding Internet web page has been "hacked" and destroyed twice now. The "big wheels" in Aruba want nothing but "happy" news about the island available to potential tourists.

This is not right! Here is a young lady, a patriot, who has possibly done more than anyone over the past year or so to bring new visitors to Aruba, and she is being harassed and "blacklisted" because she is honest, and presents the total picture. She should be awarded a medal instead!

I present Milie’s situation to remind us all of how precious this gift of "freedom of speech" really is, the gift our country’s founders gave us and so many veterans have always protected. Let no one take it away. We all MUST come to respect the opinions of others. Even at election time…

Peace. tomiswho@mindspring.com