letters

Letters to the editor

Lizzie Leigh’s demise

Add me to the list of mourners. I last spent a good afternoon with Elizabeth three years ago, visiting an artist friend of hers recovering from brain cancer. I knew her for years via the Balboa Union Church and the Smithsonian Institution.

Des Preston

Paging Caroline…

Where is Caroline Kennedy? She endorsed Obama over Clinton but she has dropped out. Was she the one who recommended Biden over Hillary for his VP? Step up, Caroline, or we my lose this election to a party which may make me move to Panama.

Kathy Kelly

The ugly new McCain

The evidence is in. With all the shenanigans on display with this 'flawed' ancient candidate, and to have the polls still so close reveals to the world that there is something deeper occurring. Decent Americans are ashamed of it, but by nature most Americans are not surprised of it. The fact is that racist America would rather vote for the defective candidate than bring themselves to vote for a black American. YET, these same ignoramuses sent their kids, under the command of a 'black' general into battle, and die in the name of patriotism....

By now, and Election Day this drama will play out, and we, the world, will witness all the hypocrisy for what it really is.

TJ

Tear gas and Panamanian history

I just read two moving editorials in your newspaper regarding the Day of the Martyrs. Here's a quote from one of them:

"When the Americans resisted the onslaught with tear gas, one grenade landed in a tiny apartment where there was an 18-month-old girl, Maritza Alabarca, who was overcome by the fumes and became the youngest of Panama’s martyrs.... To this day, the US government is in denial about the deaths of both Alabarca and Villareta. The more disgraceful and unscientific claim is that since CS tear gas is by definition non-lethal, then by definition the US Army did not kill little Maritza Alabarca."

"Is the US claim that its soldiers could not have killed little Maritza Alabarca, a baby who was overcome by fumes and died when a tear gas cannister landed in her family's Colon apartment, scientifically credible?" See http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_12/issue_02/news_02.html

The definitive answer to that question is "No, the denials are not scientifically credible.”

On September 28th 2000 Professor Dr. Uwe Heinrich released a study of the use of CS by the FBI at the Branch Davidians' Mount Carmel compound, commissioned by the U.S. Office of the Special Counsel John Danforth. In summary, he concluded that if no gas masks were used and the occupants were trapped, then "...there is a distinct possibility that this kind of CS exposure can significantly contribute to or even cause lethal effects."

I have attached Dr Heinrich's report. See: CS_Effects_Waco.pdf

I respectfully urge your paper to demand justice for little Maritza.

Ron Critchlow

New York, New York

USA

Support and a question

I'm a long time reader, since 1999 when my wife and I arrived here as Missionaries from the US. We established a Baptist Church in Cerro Batea about eight years ago. Being a Republican I don't always agree with your stateside politics but I sure do enjoy reading your paper on the happenings here in Panama and the guts it takes to tell the truth! Even though it may cost us, like the problems your having with this guy in court now! I may be a Republican, but I don't like dishonesty in any form! So if this guy is dishonest I'm pulling for you to win.

Now to the real reason I'm writing: I was wondering is if you might know a Lawyer here in Panama that's familiar with US immigration laws that's honest and knowledgeable. Of course I've gotten the US Embassy recommended list. But the problem is I still don't know who these lawyers are! So any help would be a great help, since you’re a former lawyer. I thought you may know a few "honest" lawyers or a honest one that you could recommend, that won't take me to the laundry also! I basically know what I need, I just need someone who can help me if any complications arise.

My wife and I worked through the Immigration ordeal here till I was able to get my cedula. What an adventure that was! But this is a totally different story since we'll be dealing with INS.

Thanks and any help you could send be would be appreciated!

MB

Editor’s note: While the Mark Boswell alias Rex Freeman cheering section was a rather exclusively right-wing affair, you are not the only Republican who took the better side and I thank you. I am pleased with the job that Miguel Antonio Bernal and his associate José Yangüez did in my defense. However, I don’t believed that either of them are licensed to practice US law, before American immigration authorities or courts. But Bernal --- a law professor, award-winning journalist, regular contributor to The Panama News and Panama City mayoral candidate --- is also the head of the Colegio de Abogados Honor Tribunal. This is more or less Panama’s version of the Bar Association’s disciplinary committee. I’d trust Bernal to make a good recommendation. As to the price of legal services here or in the USA? Worse here than up there, and things are outrageous in the USA. Still, there are reputable lawyers in both countries with whom you may safely shake hands without counting fingers afterwards.

Congrats on the court case results

Good to hear the results of your court case. Hope things take a turn for the better and maybe, just maybe, Boswell alias Rex will find his place with the law.

We are still protesting in the steps of the Supreme Court every morning from 8.00-9.30 AM in opposition to the Supreme Court's decision on one of our lawsuits. We are now on DAY 76.

Ivan

Editor’s note: Ivan is talking about the protests by people in the former Canal Zone against Balbina Herrera’s and the Torrijos administration’s flagrant violations of such zoning laws as we have, so as to destroy parks and wooded areas, increase density in residential areas without taking urban infrastructures into account and make a lot of money for a few of the most irresponsible developers. These demonstrations are, in my opinion, absolutely justified and deserving of more support and participation.

Re Rex Freeman

I am writing to tell you how much I enjoy The Panama News. I am sincerely appreciative of your excellent journalism. I am certain your publishing endeavor will become one of the most important news sources in Panama.

Regarding Rex Freeman, the current issue of The Panama News mentions that he is wanted in Costa Rica. From articles I have read; including his websites, I am under the impression that he resides in Costa Rica. Is he in fact residing in Costa Rica or does he reside in Panama? What is he wanted for in Costa Rica? Does he keep a low profile and/or in hiding?

I wish you continued success and good health.

David LeVaughn

Editor’s note: There are a bunch of complaints filed against Mark Boswell alias Rex Freeman with Costa Rican authorities, and as I understand it there are labor law violations, tax offenses and alleged frauds under investigation. As Boswell alias Freeman has failed to show up to testify before prosecutors at an indagatoria, a warrant has been issued for his arrest. However, I believe that the case is still in an investigative phase and that formal charges have not been filed. The guy didn’t show up in court for the hearings in my case, but sent a ringer couple to make it look to the judge as if he and his wife were there as one would have expected of a legitimate complainant. I hear various rumors about the guy slipping back and forth into and out of Costa Rica, but I have no way of confirming any of those. He certainly can’t go to Costa Rica openly without a high probability of being arrested and taken before a judge.

Another supporter

Congratulations on winning that court case!!!

Tom Bleming

M. Zito letter

I would find M. Zito’s letter mildly amusing if it wasn’t somewhat scary. His version of history conveniently begins, “After 1948 Israel is declared a nation and then she is attacked.” From whom did Israel steal the land to become a nation? This Zito person is obviously a fringe lunatic.

Carlo,

Los Santos

God Bless the World!

Regarding the Pope's visit to Lourdes September 14-15

While at Lourdes recently, Pope Benedict XVI continued a liturgical initiative he started last May when he decreed that all his communicants should kneel and receive Holy Communion on their tongues. This practice was the universal norm before Vatican II but was widely rejected after the Council when bishops began implementing their own theology bent on blurring the authentic church distinction between the priest and laity. The present option or permission of receiving Holy Communion standing and in the hand has largely contributed to a crisis of faith and a loss of the sense of the sacred. The pope is now trying to reverse this trend by calling all Catholics back to a strong sense of their own identity.

St. Thomas Aquinas and Pope John Paul II have both stated that, except in cases of rare necessity, only the priest, who stands as a intermediary between God and the people, should touch the Sacred Host because only his hands are especially anointed for this task at his ordination.

Pope Benedict XVI has also indicated how kneeling is an important expression of Christian culture possessing the capacity to transform our existing culture through a new and deeper knowledge and experience of God.

Most bishops prefer the practice of standing for Holy Communion because they claim it expresses our rising with Christ who liberated us from sin. It is highly presumptuous, however, to assume and act as if we have already received our heavenly reward before we have actually earned it. Though the bishops deny that pride is eminent I believe this is nonetheless the Catholic "sin of presumption" rearing its ugly head. St. Paul (Phil 2; 12) tells us that we should work out our salvation in fear and trembling.

Receiving Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue helps the devotion of the faithful and introduces the sense of mystery of the Mass more easily. There can be no doubt that Pope Benedict XVI, by his courageous liturgical initiative, is sending a strong message to his brother bishops, priests and laity as to the manner in which he would like to see Holy Communion distributed and received at all Masses.

Paul Kokoski

Hamilton, Ontario

Canada