The following is a summary of the October 2006, issue of the St. Croix Review:
In the editorial, "The Da Vinci Code and the Structure of the Church" Angus MacDonald reviews the novel and sees it as an illustration of the attempts to undermine the religious basis of society. He looks at the history of Christianity and concludes that today the Christian faith rests in the lives of local congregations who do their best to live good lives.
Herbert London, in "Remembering 9/11" considers what Americans have gone through since the attack, and he sees reasons for optimism in our capacity for self-scrutiny, and our determination to face difficulties; in "Weighing the Scales of Justice in the Israeli-Hezbollah War" he answers criticism of the Israeli air bombardment of Lebanon by pointing out the inhumane tactics used by Hezbollah; in "Predicting a Middle East Future" he sees increasing hostility to Israel from the surrounding Arab states and the UN, and believes a change in Israeli government and military tactics is in store; in "Orwellian Word Games in the Middle East" he examines the usages of "resistance" and "occupation" by journalists and Hezbollah; in "Human Rights at the UN" he looks at a draft resolution by the new "Human Rights Council," manned by tyrants, and notes the irony; in "The Spanish Civil War Redux" he comments on the purposes behind Iran's use of Hezbollah: to probe for the weaknesses of Israel and the U.S.
Arnold Beichman shares what he found surfing on the Internet: a Muslim's instructions on how to locate and kill a Westerner in "Chilling Killing Guide."
Allan Brownfeld, in "History Encourages Efforts towards Muslim-Jewish Understanding" points to historical periods when Jews and Muslims have lived together in harmony, showing that present-day hatreds need not be perpetual; in "Congressional Ethics and Big Government: As One Grows, the Other Declines" he shows how both parties, including the leadership of both parties, abuse the trust placed in them.
Despite the current cease-fire, lasting peace for the Middle East may be unattainable. Tom Travis disagrees-and explains how several countries in the region have proven their ability to work peacefully with one another, in "Peace Through Prosperity: Why Trade Can Bring Peace to the Middle East."
Winkfield F. Twyman Jr. in "Another Black Woman" tries to understand how his sister has fallen behind and he has been more successful, and he believes that temperament and personality, and messages from his community played decisive roles.
In "Free to Choose" Milton Friedman and Larry Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, have a conversation on the free market, India, China, the Middle East, medical care, Social Security, the growth of government and economic growth, inflation, the cause of the Great Depression, monetary policy, education vouchers and public education.
Jiggs Gardner in his 4th installment of "Writers for Conservatives" examines the work of Michael Gilbert who wrote crime fiction. Gilbert was a writer who understood the satisfaction of readers in seeing good triumph over evil, however temporarily.
David J. Bean shows in "George Washington and the Press" that Washington faced difficulties as president at least as bitter as our current president does.
In "Immigration and Destiny" Harry Neuwirth writes that controlling immigration is a responsibility that the government has neglected.
In "Mad Senator Disease-Giving Illegal Immigrants a Helping Hand," John D'Aloia Jr. reveals what is in the Senate's immigration reform bill.
Robert C. Whitten reviews Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot, by Starr Smith.
