Post office shooting: Will they bring back my favorite sign?

There used to be a sign at the local post office that informed people as soon as they entered that firearms were not allowed on Postal Property. What struck me as odd about this was anyone with a gun really going to go back and return it simply because someone place a sign at the door?

Now, I understand the incidents that led up to the existence of the sign in the first place, but such a measure strikes me as largely ineffective and done to make people rest a little more easily rather than actually to stop someone from going on a rampage in the post office.

I hope they do something other than bring that particular sign back to prevent future problems. Making the post office employees a little disgruntled might be a good start, but they are already fairly well paid for people who deal with the public on their level. Of course, I can't suggest lowering their salary so they can't afford guns, which is, of course, how retail outlets curb the very same desire in their employees. Okay, I could, but I'd probably get nasty responses. The woman obviously needs some counseling and perhaps a little more careful screening of postal service applicants is in order.

Hamas's big win

Much like Iran having the nuclear bomb, Hamas having real political power is in itself a scary thought. As hard as it is for many of us to believe the Palestinians giving the terror group real power, it should not surprise us if we look closely at trends in the Middle East.

Isreal and Palestine have fought each other for years, and many Palestinians and indeed other Arabs do not believe the country has a right to exist at all. The peace process is well and good, but it only works if both sides want peace. Right now, all that is being done is mouthing platitudes to placate the Western powers and their interests in the region.

Like it or not, this little drama will not get solved with our continued interference. I fear the only way to end it may be through bloodshed unless the Isreali and Palestinian attitude towards each other changes considerably.

Iran and the Nuclear Bomb

I know I'm not the only one made uneasy by this prospect. I can imagine nothing more dangerous than the type of person who actually would want to use a nuclear bomb for any reason. Of course, with the comments Iran's leader has shown we know his first target is likely to be Isreal.

I know the US has its own version of people who will use religion to justify saying something stupid, of which Pat Robertson seems to be the champion of late, although not far behind him is the Mayor of New Orleans, but we should keep one key difference in mind. It is that the leader of Iran has power that makes him dangerous.

Ariel Sharon

While I think it is sad that the gentleman had a stroke, I do not think keeping him alive will solve the problems they fear his death will cause. Instead, whoever is his second in command needs to take over and prepare for the inevitable.

The situation in the Middle East will be volatile whether or not the current leadership is there. The tensions have been there for far longer than I have been alive and while things could get worse with poor leadership on either side, they're not likely to get better with the absence of one person. After all, the death of Yassir Arafat did not end the problems in Israel.

West Virginia Coal Mine disaster

Although this is not a political topic, my thoughts go out to the families affected by the collapse of the Sago mine, and I'm sure all our prayers are with them.