Helvig's Helvitorials

Helvig's Hits & Misses

Published August 21, 2006 - Alan's Hits and Misses (Different sequence) in the Holland Sentinel

Hit: Israel's attack on Hezbollah should be a lesson for all nations who oppose terrorism to follow. Terrorists attacked Israel, killing and kidnapping a number of their citizens. Israel gave ample warning to Hezbollah, calling for the return of their two kidnapped soldiers. Hezbollah refused and Israel kicked the living crap out of them for over a month. Make no mistake about it. This is not just about two young men who were abducted by cowards. This is about a nation standing up to terrorist aggression and taking appropriate action to prevent similar future acts. All countries who harbor terrorists should take a lesson from the people of Lebanon. "If you sleep with terrorists, you just might get blown out of your bed!"

Miss: The bleeding heart liberals in the United Nations and all across this globe who expressed any sympathy for Hezbollah have caused grave damage in the war on terror. Showing sympathy for terrorists is a bad move, no matter how you slice it. The U.N. gave Sheik Hassan Nasrallah a huge victory for Hezbollah by openly criticizing Israel for their actions against this band of cut-throats. This victory extends all terrorists, who now know that if they can make the victim look like the aggressor, the world will turn on them, as many have turned on Israel. Once again, the United Nations has proven to be worthless, when it comes to the war on terror. We need to get the U.N. out of the U.S. and get the U.S. out of the U.N. (Photo is old file)

Hit: I would like to congratulate Al Friend and the Holland Peacemakers for their recent victory. They fought a long and hard battle to place a new peace pole in a Holland city park. On July 5, their efforts paid off when the Holland City Council voted unanimously to allow them to place a new peace pole in Smallenburg Park. This just goes to prove that if you want peace bad enough and if you are willing to fight hard enough, peace can be achieved. We can only hope the Holland Peacemakers will learn and understand that this same rule applies to the real world. Sometimes it takes a long, hard-fought battle to achieve peace, not a piece of wood in a small-town park.

Miss: It is sad that fewer than 20 percent of the Ottawa and Allegan County registered voters made it to the polls to vote on Aug. 8 The primary election can be just as important as the general election for many races. In some cases, the primary is the only election for that race. How is it that 80 percent of the registered voters could allow the other 20 percent to decide their fate regarding road repairs, tax increases and candidates who will represent them in the general election? To the 20 percent I say, "Congratulations and thanks!" To the 80 percent I say, "You had your chance to let your voice be heard, so don't let us hear you complaining about anything that came from this year's primary."

Miss: When did we become so selfish that we think the whole road belongs to us and us alone? I am so tired of having to dodge idiots on the road who believe that since the trash truck is stopped in front of them, they can force me off the road as they go around it. This same act of stupidity applies to drivers with mail trucks, yard debris, bicyclists and any other obstacle in their path. How does it happen? Driver No. 1 comes up behind something in his lane and swerves left of center into oncoming traffic so that he doesn't have to slow down. Driver No. 2 (coming from the opposite direction) has to swerve or stop in order to avoid getting hit head-on by driver No. 1. Let's get this straight: Having an obstacle in your lane does not give you the right to cross left of center into oncoming traffic. Tell a friend!

The Press and the Protestors

Unpublished - The Press and the Protestors
Every day, the press focuses on the death toll in Iraq. Not only do they point out the total number of deaths, but they draw special attention to the number of Americans killed in Iraq. The liberals in the media want everyone to hear and see the negative side of this war and they will do whatever it takes to make things seem as bad as possible. What they won't do is give you comparisons to other death toll statistics so that you can judge for yourself, just how bad things really are.

The anti-war protestors feed on these media reports and publicly denounce this war. They cry out against the injustice of war. They publicly mourn the loss of each life and pride themselves on their own version of humanity. They stage their protests and they rally against our government. Many express hatred for anyone who supports our President or the war itself. In some cases, the protestors even attack our servicemen and women, simply because they are willing to fight for this country.

The average murder rate in America for the past decade is over 17,200 homicides per year. That equates to an average of 47 murders per day in this country. I have yet to see one headline which reads "47 Murdered in America" or "47 Brutally Slain in one Day". Where are the dramatic headlines drawing attention to this human crisis? Where are the protestors on this issue? Where is the outrage in America? Where are the tears for these victims?

There were over 101,500 deaths in America listed as "unintentional fatalities" in 2004. That is an average of 278 so-called "accidental" deaths per day. The highest single category was motor vehicle accidents, with 43,788 deaths. That equates to 120 lives lost in car crashes per day. Where are the headlines for these figures? Where are the anti-death protestors on this issue? How many anti-war protestors have you seen protesting drivers on American highways for their reckless disregard for life?

The press is quick to lump the casualty figures from Iraq together into one headline for dramatic effect. However, you will never see them doing the same right here at home for the non-war casualty figures. Iraq is a country at war, fighting for their freedom and democracy. Islamic extremists and terrorists are killings dozens of Iraqis on a daily basis. Of course their death toll is going to be high. America does not have any combat operations happening on our soil, and yet we kill over 300 people per day.

If the anti-war protestors truly cared about the senseless loss of life, they would protest murder and call for stiffer punishment for killers. They would be members of safety groups right here in America, promoting driver safety and teaching people to avoid deadly situations. They would draw great attention to post "accidental" death tolls by posting them on billboards and in the media. They would work hard to drive down the excessively high "unintentional fatality" rate in America.

My son is a U.S. Marine who has already served two tours in Iraq. I am in no hurry to see him return to the Middle East. Like most Americans, I anxiously await an end to the hostilities in Iraq and in the Middle East. Like most Americans, I would prefer to avoid war whenever possible. However, unlike most Americans, I can see through the fog of the headlines and through the pickets of the protestors. I understand the true depth of the cost of war and I recognize the need to finish the job in the Middle East.

Statistically speaking, an American is more likely to get killed in Washington D.C. or New Orleans than in Iraq. Many Americans believe that war is stupid. However, more Americans die every day from stupidity, than they do from war.

Gun control is not the answer

Unpublished - Gun control is not the answer; a letter by Alan Helvig written shortly after 9/11/01.

I have said it before and will say it again.  Gun control is not the answer to our problems.  Living by established morals, accountability and responsibility are what we need in this country. 

The events of September 11th and again today go to show that guns are not the problem.  People are the problem.  Not one gun was present; not one shot was fired; and yet, our great nation suffered it's worst single attack against human life on September 11th.  Today, a man used a knife on a bus and cost 6 people their lives.  Neither incident involved the use of guns and yet, many people suffered and lives were forever changed. 

The bible clearly established the rules and morals we should be living by.  If we, as a nation, would return to a lifestyle which is governed by the word of God, we might yet survive.  We must be responsible and be willing to hold people accountable for their wrongdoings.  We must abide by the law and be willing to treat criminals as criminals.

Our legal system is supposed to serve as a deterrent against criminal behavior.  Instead, we have taught our children to fear and disrespect the law.  We teach people how to "Get Off" in court.  We have made heroes out of criminals who have gotten away with heinous crimes.  As long as we continue to allow this type of activity to flourish, we will continue to have the problems which destroy our way of life. 

Some criminals may use guns, but guns don't turn people into criminals!  The problem is people.  The problem is attitude.  The problem is a lack of respect for others.  The problem is a lack of respect for the law.  The problem is a lack of respect for God. 

The SOLUTION has been here all along.  The SOLUTION is people.  The SOLUTION is attitude.  The SOLUTION is respect for others.  The SOLUTION is respect for the law.  The SOLUTION is GOD.  Let's work together to SOLVE our problems.

Wake Up Call

Unpublished - Wake Up Call, written by Alan Helvig immediately after the 9/11 attacks

Greetings to all.  In light of recent events, I have had a lot of people asking me about what is going on and what we can expect in the near future.  Having been so close to the fire for so long, as many of you were, I have a pretty good idea of what's coming.  Here is a brief editorial in response to some of the questions.

Who's behind this?  Osama bin Laden maybe the mastermind and the initiator of the attacks on New York and Washington D.C., but he most likely received significant financing and other types of support from countries like Iraq.  They have been planning this for months (over a year) and have been training and preparing for this day.  They had numerous connections here in the States and abroad.  Establishing and funding their support network, learning to fly jets, repeatedly flying on domestic flights to get the routine down, and countless rehearsals were just parts of the prelude to this attack.  This had been so well planned and well executed to the point that our intelligence community was unable to fully interpret the events that were about to unfold.

Why would someone do this to America?  We are the self-proclaimed defenders of democracy throughout the world.  In our quest to defend liberty and provide safety for countless people around the globe, we have made a number of enemies.  We go into other countries and tell their leadership what they can and cannot do on their own soil.  We implement embargoes, setup blockades and use force when necessary to uphold our position.  When confronted with a neighbor vs. neighbor situation, we pick a side to defend and attack the other.  In assuming our global position of authority, we have made ourselves targets for countless factions around the world.

Why us? Why now?  This is nothing new for America or Americans.  It isn't even new on American soil.  Our military lives with the threat of terrorist attacks every time they go abroad.  History has warned us that this day would come.  We were just too naive to see it coming.  Americans have been the targets of terrorism for decades.  Examples:

1970: Murder of American University of Beirut President, Malcolm Kerr, in Beirut, Lebanon.

September 1970: TWA #741 and Pan Am #93 hijacked by the PFLP and flown to Amman, Jordan.

March 1973: U.S. Ambassador Cleo Noel & DCM George Moore murdered in Khartoum, Sudan.

June 1976: U.S. Ambassador, Francis Meloy and two other Americans killed in Lebanon.

1979­1980: U.S. Embassy in Iran seized, embassy officials held hostage for 14 months.

April 1983: U.S. Embassy in Beirut attacked by Hezbollah suicide bomber; 49 killed, 120 wounded.

October 1983: Marine barracks in Beirut car­bombed; 241 U.S. Marines killed, hundreds injured.

June 1984: TWA #847 to Athens hijacked to Beirut; U.S. Navy diver, Robert Stethem murdered.

1980's: Several Americans in Beirut kidnapped and held hostage.

September 1984: William Buckley, CIA station chief in Beirut, kidnapped, tortured and murdered.

September 1984: U.S. embassy annex in East Beirut bombed; 2 Americans killed.

October 1985: Achille Lauro hijacked; Leon Klinghoffer murdered.

September 1986: Pan Am #73 hijacked to Karachi, Pakistan; 17 people killed, 150 wounded.

February 1988: William Higgins kidnapped in Lebanon and murdered.

December 1988: Pan Am #103 bombed over Lockerbie, Scotland; 270 people killed.

February 1993: World Trade Center in New York bombed; six killed, hundreds injured.

March 1995: American employees of the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan killed in response to arrest of World Trade Center bombing suspect.

November 1995: U.S. troops attacked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; five Americans killed.

June 1996: U.S. Marine barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia bombed; 19 Americans killed.

August 1998: U.S. Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania bombed;  223 killed, over 4700 injured.

It is hard for Americans to grasp the reality of what is going on around the world and relate it to what could happen here at home.  We live a sheltered life here and need to become better versed at what these kinds of events mean.

Why wasn't this prevented? Here in America, we have fought for the right to have due process.  We believe that everyone has the right to know everything.  We don't think that authorities should be allowed to search for criminals, terrorists or evidence without a search warrant.  If authorities do perform an "Illegal Search", we let the criminals go free on a "Technicality".  We want our freedom and unlimited liberties, but we don't want to have to pay for them.  We whine about having to wait for security at airports.  We protest the actions of our Government and local authorities.  We believe that people should have the right to burn our Nation's Flag.  We believe that the rights of the one outweigh the rights of the many.  We don't allow our military to walk our streets with weapons.  We fear authority instead of respect it.  We are in the middle of an open debate to allow illegal aliens to become legal citizens.  We think that illegal drugs should be legalized.  We don't treat criminals like criminals.  We attack the police every time they shoot someone.  We allow law suits against individual police officers and put our soldiers on trial for shooting suspects.  We don't honor or respect the law, especially if it means an inconvenience to ourselves.  We think that "Red Light" cameras are a violation of our civil rights, even though we get caught "on tape, in the act".  We allow our convicts to file law suits against law abiding citizens from the confines of their jail cells.  We believe that criminals should have the same rights as regular citizens.  We put our military in harms way without the means to properly defend themselves.  We believe that we can only fire upon our enemy if they first fire upon us.  Why wasn't this prevented?  Because we weren't willing to pay the price for security!  We aren't willing to make the necessary sacrifice!

What happens now?  Here in the country, we will have to allow our Government to heighten security.  We have to allow them to take the steps necessary to protect our citizens.  We have to allow them to exercise force when necessary.  We will have to endure realistic security checks at the airports and in government buildings.  We will need to learn about terrorist security measures and exercise them on a regular basis.  We will have to grow up and make some personal sacrifices.  We have to learn that liberty comes at a price and be willing to pay it.  We will have to gladly change our way of life.  This cannot be something we do for a couple of months, then slip back into the fold.

Anyone who has traveled to cities such as London knows that terrorist threats and heightened security are a part of daily life.  In walking through their airports, you will pass a number of armed soldiers, who are there to protect the facility and the people in it.  Their security checks are far more stringent than ours here in America.  They are not afraid to dig through baggage and check out anything that might pose a threat.  Most people accept these activities and even appreciate them.  Here in America, we would never stand for such a showing of authority.  We get offended every time someone accuses us or suspects us of doing something illegal.  We get offended when people in authority are just doing their jobs.  We get offended by the smallest of issues.

Our Government will need our support and the support of a number of allies to carry out what needs to be done in response to this terrorist attack.  The world needs to know that we will not tolerate this type of activity.  We need to rally behind our president, our leadership and our military.  We need to stand tall as Patriots and be strong as a Nation.  We need to let our military and our local authorities do their jobs without hearing America whine about how they do it.  We need to readdress our legal system and put the rights of the victims and potential victims before the rights of the suspects and the accused.  As a nation, we need to turn to God for guidance.  We need to put our faith in the Lord and allow Him to be our light.

Most of all, we need to reestablish ourselves as "ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL". 

Sincerely,

Alan

Handle a car like a loaded gun

Published August 18, 2003 - A letter to the editor by Alan Helvig

To the Editor: Something has to be done about our driving habits. We are killing way too many people in this area. I cannot believe the number of people killed in car crashes here each year -- in particular, the number of kids killed in car crashes is absolutely unacceptable.

It seems to me that our biggest problem is not people driving while under the influence. Although we have our fair share of those, including the recent tragedy resulting in two deaths, the majority of our crash-related deaths seem to be caused by people who just aren't paying attention to the road. They are running stop signs, making illegal turns, speeding, etc. Automobiles are not toys or playthings. They are weapons that weigh hundreds of pounds. These weapons are capable of doing serious bodily harm and yes, causing death.

When we sit behind the wheel of one of these weapons, it is like holding a loaded gun. Most people wouldn't walk down the street with a loaded gun, carelessly pointing it at others. Many of us do however, carelessly drive around our streets without paying attention to our surroundings or the road conditions.

When I went through driver's education, I was taught to respect the automobile, the road and the other drivers on the road. I watched movies like "Red Asphalt" and learned all the rules of the road. I was taught to be a responsible and a defensive driver.

During my four years in high school, we only lost two kids to car crashes. Here in the Holland area, we lose more than that annually. Today, we seem to think that as long as we aren't drinking and driving, then we are doing OK. We don't seem to be teaching our children to respect their car the way they would respect a loaded gun. We know of people who are driving, even though they have no business being on the road, and yet we do nothing. Something has to be done and it is up to us as individuals to take appropriate action.

Driving is a privilege and a responsibility, not a right. We all have a responsibility to keep each other from harm and to keep our roads safe. If you of know anyone who should not be driving because they are drunk, angry, too old, or whatever, do something about it. Your actions could save the life of someone you love. Let's see if we can go at least 12 months without killing someone on our roads.