The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Young soldiers sometimes cite a particular military weapon and pose the question: Is that a defensive weapon or an offensive weapon? Almost invariably, the answer is: It depends on the intent of the user. Whether artificial... — Updated 3/27/2024

The United States recognized the state of Israel 11 minutes after formation of the state was announced in 1948. We have maintained a very close relationship since the founding. Israel is now receiving widespread criticism for its m... — Updated 3/13/2024

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all originated in the greater Middle East. The most fundamental believers of each of these religions treat women as second-class citizens. Why? During most of the time that humans have existed,... — Updated 2/28/2024

Commercial companies, non-profits, government agencies, and military organizations evaluate their performance periodically. The U.S. Constitution requires that the President of the United States “… shall from time to time give to... — Updated 2/1/2024

It is the season of giving, forgiving, renewal, and hope. If you could give a gift to America, what gift would you give? We all appreciate our country, and we are grateful for all that it offers. But we also know that there are... — Updated 12/27/2023

At the close of World War II in Europe, the Allied Forces closed on Berlin from the west, and the Russians closed from the east. Control of Berlin became an issue. In 1948, the Russians blockaded Berlin, disallowing the U.S.... — Updated 11/29/2023

The behavior of individuals and nations sometimes challenges our belief that we are a civilized species. When we feel dismayed by what is happening, it is time to remember the good things we do. Americans donated $484 billion to... — Updated 11/21/2023

Immigration has been one of America’s long running problems. Historically, climate irregularities have induced famine, civil conflict, and migration. If scientists are correct about the climate change in our future, the world will... — Updated 10/25/2023

Elon Musk used his privately owned (satellite) communication relay system called “Star Link” to prevent a Ukrainian marine drone attack on Russian ships. Musk’s stated reasoning was that destruction of Russian ships in the Black... — Updated 9/27/2023

Observers sense American discontent with a rapidly changing world. A recently cited indicator is a suddenly popular song called “Rich Men North of Richmond.” Citizens seeking public office need to be wealthy or sell their all... — Updated 8/30/2023

We are all different. If we were not, it would be impossible to recognize people we know, including our close friends and relatives. Sometimes we don’t like people who are different, whose beliefs differ from ours, or whose b... — Updated 7/26/2023

That shaking you feel is not an earthquake. It is our country’s founders rolling in their graves. Here in Florida, on the front burner of the next presidential election, politics is all about how we use the bathroom. At M... — Updated 6/21/2023

It seems to be our human nature to blame someone when events take a turn that we don’t like. When deadly contagious disease struck the ancient Greeks and Romans, they thought that humans had displeased the gods, and the gods w... — Updated 4/26/2023

Our Constitutional First Amendment guaranteeing freedom of speech is a fundamental requirement for a successful democracy. But false statements produce consequences that threaten our democracy and the well-being of our society.... — Updated 3/29/2023

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was developed during the Great Depression that occurred in the 1930s. It was a federal government program that established electricity for a seven-state area, and it bolstered the free... — Updated 3/15/2023

The U.S. national debt is now $30.4 trillion dollars. The government has spent that much more money than it has collected in tax revenue. Per person, it means that every U.S. citizen, including diapered infants, owes $95,000... — Updated 2/1/2023

The former Soviet Union (USSR) had an immense stockpile of nuclear weapons and radioactive material distributed in several places in Russia and the 15 countries that formed the USSR. Some of those nuclear weapons and materials... — Updated 1/4/2023

We recognize and honor physical bravery, but we seldom recognize moral courage. Both physical bravery and moral courage benefit society. We should give those who exhibit exceptional moral courage the recognition that they deserve.... — Updated 12/7/2022

A century ago, people in the Western world were excited about the future. The automobile was coming online, and the Wright brothers put an internal combustion engine on their flying machine and were performing demonstrations... — Updated 10/26/2022

In the early part of the 20th century, some people developed the notion that they could improve society by preventing undesirable people from reproducing. They called their idea eugenics, which means the good gene. The concept was... — Updated 8/31/2022

Congress has gradually surrendered its law-making role to the President, to the Supreme Court, and to the state governments. That isn’t working well. Early in the American experience the founders of our government realized that 1... — Updated 7/27/2022

Some of us grew up reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in school every day. The words “one nation, indivisible” are a potent memory. Are those words history? The thirteen colonies declared their independence from England on July 4,... — Updated 6/15/2022

I recently had one of those annual medical examinations. While waiting for the doctor, I was required to provide answers on a questionnaire. “Have you ever had this or that medical issue?” Finally, the questionnaire posed a set... — Updated 3/2/2022

Europeans have invaded Russia twice. Napoleon invaded Russia with a force of close to half a million troops. He advanced to Moscow, but the Russian government had relocated. The brutal Russian winter arrived, and Napoleon’s army f... — Updated 2/23/2022

I try to avoid questionable sources of information, but I came across some gossip on Elf Net that I am obliged to pass along to you. It seems that Santa will be delivering by robot this year, and some really bad grinch is... — Updated 12/15/2021