Chicago Tribune, Oct. 3

Almost exactly three years ago, the U.S. and its allies began bombing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. At the time, Americans heard a drumbeat of ominous predictions of military catastrophe. Some self-anointed experts feared that America would be mired in an unwinnable war against an enemy that hid in caves and moved easily among Afghan civilians. …

In 2001, Afghanistan offered a glimpse back in time. Here was a place virtually untouched by the modern world. …

This was a country where the Taliban not only destroyed towering, centuries-old statues of Buddha but celebrated the desecration. It was a place as isolated and backward as any on Earth. …

From this rubble and darkness has emerged a country, still fragile and often violent to be sure. But it is a country that, more than any other, now symbolizes the power of democracy to shape the dreams and destiny of a people. …

An election will not guarantee the survival of Afghan society. But without elections, there is no chance at all. This Saturday, millions of voters will flock to polls, regardless of the dangers. They will exercise their most fundamental right in a country where democracy was barely imagined for decades. With that, they will join more than 100 other countries around the world that have discovered the power and majesty of democracy in the last century.

Twinkies under attack
The Columbian, Vancouver, Wash., Sept. 30

We have been made aware that the Twinkie has been placed on the Endangered Carbohydrates List. The listing includes a variety of high-carb, sugar-loaded victims of the current low-carb diet craze.

The maker of Twinkies, Interstate Bakeries Corp., vows Twinkie survival, however. Its Endangered Carbohydrate Act of sorts includes a Chapter 11 reorganization and the installation of new management. The company and outside food analysts blame the endangered status of baked goods on the high-protein ways of today’s consumers. …

The government, which aids faltering airlines and subsidizes rail travel, may even want to consider a Twinkie bailout. After all, our economy and well-being depends on the freedom to eat fat-inducing foods. And the Twinkie is a heavenly, though unwholesome, slice of Americana. It was created as a Depression-era treat, bringing happiness to the masses.

Adding Twinkie the Kid to the unemployment rolls also would be unfortunate. He is just 33 years old and still good with his lasso, but his three creme-filling birthmarks have made it difficult for him to find other work.

If still unconvinced that the Twinkie is worth saving, consider that when Twinkies suffer, many industries suffer. Five-hundred million Twinkies are made each year. That takes 8 million pounds of sugar, 7 million pounds of flour and 1 million eggs.

Brazil takes on smoking
La Nacion, Buenos Aires, on smoking bans, Oct. 5

Upholding its commitment to the fight against smoking, in September the National Ministry of Health established a National Registry of Tobacco Smoke-Free Businesses. The move brought a highly favorable response: in just three days, 100 companies signed the registry.

The ministry will bear the burden of certifying and accrediting the condition of every business, and the complete list will be available on the Internet. The certification could lower the cost of work-hazard insurance and deter lawsuits from people sickened by the effects of smoke in the workplace. …

Tobacco smoke in enclosed spaces, such as bars or restaurants, contains up to 50 times more cancerous particles than come from vehicles in rush-hour traffic. … Let us hope, then, that our social conscience grows with respect to the grave consequences caused by cigarettes and that the number of smoke-free businesses continues to rise.

Caring for the moral life
Reforma, Mexico City, Oct. 4

Considering the evident problems that the institution of marriage suffers in modern society, one could ask why homosexuals want to live under the rules of this type of contract. One could think that one of the benefits of being different would be living without the trappings of traditional institutions. But the interesting thing is that many homosexuals are specifically looking for the “bonds” of marriage. In many cases, this is because many homosexuals want to emphasize that they have a long-term commitment as a couple. …

It would be impossible, of course, to get those who promote gay marriage and those who oppose it to agree. But … the government should not involve itself in the moral decisions of individuals. … There are too many important services that the government should be responsible for and doesn’t fulfill to put it in charge of caring for the moral life of people.