April Showers: Bring on Those May Flowers…

Shortly after the aforementioned May flowers bloom, June draws near. June is the deadline for the U.S. invasion force to turn over governance of Iraq to the citizens of that country. Despite American meddling, it does appear that huge strides have been made toward rapprochement between the various ethnic and religious groups that make up the complex society of Iraq. But will democracy work in Iraq? If the recent Iranian elections are any indication, the answer to that question is a wildly mixed bag of yes and no. Mostly, I fear, the latter.

In Iran, a substantial minority of reformers favor substituting civil law for religious law. This substantial minority would prefer to be ruled by the will of the people rather than the will of the religious elite. The important thing about this substantial minority? Not the fact that these reformers are trying to improve the social and economic lot of Iranian citizens; nor the fact that these reformers are trying to bring Iran gently into membership in the world community; nor the fact that these reformers recognize the religious basis of Iranian society and wish to weave Islamic tradition into a richer tapestry of cultural values that uplifts individual rights, women’s rights and public participation in governance. Oh yes, these are all important things. But what is THE important thing about this substantial minority?

It is a minority.

And in any society ruled by fundamentalist religion, minorities don’t count. Either you believe or you don’t. Either you’re with us or against us. You’re one of us or you’re one of them.

Given such an equation, this reporter will always be proud to say, “I’m one of them.”

For dissent is the definition of democracy. Will dissent be accepted in the Middle East? Will its voice, crying out for liberty and compassion, be heard by those who wish to rule (not to govern), to dictate (not to listen), to impose (not to share)? Can such a thing be accomplished in Iraq? In two months? By June? Let us hope and/or pray so.

Will democracy work in the Middle East?

It hasn’t done so well here in America. From the military coup of November 1963 to the court-appointed presidency of 2000, the legacy of democracy in the United States is somewhat suspect. Public opinion in this country is bought and paid for by Big Oil, Pernicious Pharmaceuticals, and other various and sundry Monolithic Corporations, all of which refuse to be accountable for their actions unless we make them so. But we can make them so.

We can insist that greed be subjugated, power be harnessed and religion restrained. That is the nature of democracy, and that is what the Bush cadre and their fundamentalist power-hungry cronies do not understand. But we can make them understand.

Here’s something this reporter doesn’t understand (and that’s a long list!): What’s up with the Rules for Watershed Development? The vast volume of Thou Shalts and Thou Shalt Nots regarding development in and around our precious watershed seems to grow thicker by the minute. They’re even debating the makeup of driveways: are the materials “impervious” or “pervious.” Who? Or what? This is a big deal!? Hell, the Rules for Watershed Development are now thick as a book. What kind of book, you ask? Why, a cookbook, of course: How to Serve Our Watershed to Developers. A tasty read for real estate speculators; not so palatable to those of us who value lakes, streams, fish and wildlife. To drink or not to drink, that is the question.

Dedicated reader(s) may recall my detailed description of a mysterious non-encounter (together with my wife Donna, brother Mike, and sister-in-law Diana) with the town of Granger in eastern Washington. While visiting the Yakima Valley’s Wine Country and looking for Granger, we never actually found the town. Like the current “economic recovery,” we kept seeing signs for it, but Granger itself never materialized.

Well, lo and behold the good citizen(s) of Granger have come forward and made their presence known. Alice Koerner, the clerk/treasurer for the town of Granger was kind enough to send me a personal note, a Visitor’s Guide to Yakima Valley (Washington’s Wine Country), and a spiffy lapel pin depicting a prehistoric landscape complete with dinosaurs, bearing the motto, “Town of Granger, WA…Where the Dinosaurs Roam.” Writes Alice, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and yes Mr. Thuney, there is a town of Granger.” She concludes, “I would personally like to invite Mr. Thuney to visit the town of Granger, best known for its resident dinosaurs.” Well, being as I enjoy the company of my own kind, I might just take you up on that, Alice.

A bit of advice to you, dear reader(s): be a good sport and go visit Granger.

You should have no trouble finding it.

Look between the raindrops.

Or go ask Alice.

For more information about the chimerical town of Granger, email tog@televar.com.

To contact Matthew, add spice to this casserole, or request free samples from his upcoming book, “Original Recipes: The Tastiest Tidbits From ‘Thuney Casserole’ and Other Early Entrees,” please write to P.O. Box 28983, Bellingham, WA 98228; or email mdthuney@email.msn.com. §