We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone in the Cooperstown community, and the visitors, who contributed to and supported the "Empty Bowls" luncheon held Saturday, Feb. 17. The luncheon raised over $2,600 which will be donated to the Cooperstown Food Bank.

The turnout for this benefit was overwhelming. As this was a first-time event, it was hard to anticipate what the response would be and we apologize to anyone who did not get a pottery bowl.

We had over 140 pottery bowls and were shocked when we were sold out in the first half hour of the luncheon. Next year, we will have more bowls, soup and bread and hope everyone will return. Many thanks to all who attended and donated even after the bowls ran out and the soup ran low. We are grateful to you.

We would like to thank the following potters who so graciously donated of their time, talent and work: Sunny Leinhart, Leigh Connor, Maia Ming Fong, Maryann Dietz, Cheryl Wright, Alex Bauer, Jennie Richmond, Alyessa McGoldrick, Jane Johngren, GorgeAnn Ryland, Laura Kilty, Judy Coburn, Jasmine Lonsky, Jessica Denby, Nancy Angerer, Barbara Sullivan, Donna Mackie, Eileen Murphy, and the Cooperstown Middle and High School students Roberta Keiler, MaryAnn Nellis, Kathy Kulig VanLoan, and the Canajoharie High School students.

Also, our heartfelt thanks to Frank Leo and staff of the Tunnicliff Inn for hosting the event. Your location and cooperation helped make this event very successful. We would also like to extend our thanks to the following individuals and businesses who contributed soup, bread and other various items to make this luncheon possible: Wilber Bank, Ace Hardware, the P&C, The General Store, the Cooperstown Crier, The Freeman’s Journal, The Daily Star, Maia Ming Fong Design Consulting, The Stagecoach, Templeton Hall, The Inn at Cooperstown, Mohican Flowers, Foo Kin John Chinese Restaurant, The Bean, Hoffman Lane Bistro, Yum Yum Shack, Nicoletta’s Italian Cafe, Doubleday Cafe, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Kitty Brennan, Stephanie Bauer, the Great American, Schneider’s Bakery, Maureen Murray, and Audrey Murray.

Many thanks also go to the following people who volunteered their time to serve at the luncheon: Angus, Morgan and Kyle Mackie, Celine Seggai, Leslie and Kaitlyn Breiten, Gavin Harris, Laura Resnick, Sunny Leinhart, Leigh Connor, Nicole Wischoff, and MaryAnn Nellis.

Hope to see everyone next year!

Donna Bailey-Mackie

Coordinator

Are we in Iraq?

A great war leaves the country with three armies _ an army of cripples, an army of mourners, and an army of thieves. _ German proverb

In Margaret Mitchell’s epic civil war novel "Gone with the Wind," Rhett Butler tells a room full of Georgians, " ... no matter what rallying cries the orators give ... no matter what noble purposes they assign to war, there is never but one reason for a war. And that is money. All wars are in reality money squabbles. But so few people ever realize it. Their ears are too full of bugles and drums and fine words from the stay at home orators."

But this is only fiction, correct? (As we return to Iraq.)

To this simple country man, America’s imperialist _ neo-colonial _ intervention in Iraq is not in the least an unusual aberration.

It has happened many times under different guises, leaders and political parties from colonial times to the present.

Despite America’s sterling virtues and lofty idealistic visions _ often unwantedly imposed on others _ our nation has historically worshiped at the altar of Mars _ the god of war. As one observer has seriously suggested, America’s "high minded pugnacity is encoded in the national DNA."

How did America’s predatory, aggressive foreign policy come about?

I can only speculate. From our earliest beginnings, the most powerful propelling force has been the search for wealth and opportunity.

To this dream was wedded an ideology that this country was the anointed repository and conveyor of the universal principles of democracy and liberty.

Greed, hubris and moral righteousness became the heart and soul of America’s character and diplomatic tradition.

Today, as the world’s greatest global power, our interests and entitlements are seemingly boundless.

This power has become its own self-feeding perpetual motion machine that relentlessly drives America.

Iraq is just the most recent victim of America’s hubris and insatiable greed cleverly disguised in lofty idealism.

To change our focus will not be easy, but first we must understand what motivates us.

The Russian author Leo Tolstoy has written: "In all history there is no war which was not hatched by the governments, the governments alone, independent of the interests of the people, to whom war is always pernicious even when successful."

But then again, these are but the simple musings of a country man.

Hobart Morris

Brookfield, N.Y.