Recently, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra traveled to North Korea and helped bridge the gap between that country and the United States in a way that a team of diplomats could never do. Music and sports can communicate to people more than any other means. This recent orchestral trip and Richard Nixon's ping pong diplomacy with China in the 1970's prove this.

People give Ronald Reagan credit for the fall of communism in Russia and the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, when in fact it was something else with the initials "R R": Rock and Roll. The Beatles were more responsible for the citizens of Iron Curtain countries wanting their freedom than Ronnie Raygun. When Chzekoslovakia became free, the new leader Havel invited Lou Reed and Captain Beefheart to his country ,not some politician. Rock and Roll meant freedom to not just young people in the USA and England, but all over the world.

Of course, rock and roll is now as tame as weak kitten and has been American Idolized and it's rebellion now sells products on television in commercials. But, maybe bluegrass can offer the feelings and hopes of freedom to the world. That is, maybe it can before the likes of Alison Krauss and her ilk completely water down Bill Monroe's creation.

The State Department should send The Drovers Old Time Medicine Show to global hotspots such as North Korea and Iraq. They'd have that little North Korean punk Kim JongII sucking like a baby from a moonshine jug and clogging. The United States wouldn't have to worry about him unleashing nuclear weapons on the world. He'd be too busy trying to learn Cousin Ray's bowing technique.

It would work out just fine after Uncle Carl wins the presidential election. He could do double duty visiting these countries as the president of the good 'ol USA and as banjo player for the Drovers Old Time Medicine Show. Why, he'd lure Osama Bin Laden out of his cave with a fiery rendition of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and have that rag head out in the open and then get him in headlock before Grandpa put his head on a stick.

Even if you are card carrying liberal, you had appreciate the writings of William F. Buckley, who passed away this past February. Unlike today's right wing blowhard idiots such as Tucker Carlson, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reiley, and the despicable Ann Coulter, Buckley presented his viewpoint in an erudite manner. He didn't play to the lowest common denominator by trying to out shout the other side, not did he thump his chest like some professional wrestler.

Many of us came to know him through his television show Firing Line and he became a pop culture icon from so many shows such as Saturday Night Live spoofing him. And he angered some fellow conservatives when he came out in support of the legalization of drugs because so much money was wasted on prosecuting drug users and dealers, and that Prohibition had not worked.

Letters To The Editor

FROM THE DESK OF THE MAYOR

Many of political opponents, and not to mention the political radio talk shows, owe me an apology. I was accused of pork barrel politics, and my good name was dragged through the mud. As all of the citizens of this great town now know, I was only wanting to throw a barbeque party for my constituents. THAT is why I made the deal for 1000 pounds of pork.

I hope next year, when I intend to do this again, my opponents remember this.

Allen Jones

Mayor of Prater's Creek