Articles written by Gary Betts

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About me - Gary Betts

I'm a Canadian living in London, Ontario. I have written several short stories and two novelettes, but never tried to publish them. I have had letters-to-the-editor published in The Londoner, the London Free Press, the Toronto Sun, the New York Times, the

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Sciences > Sciences (Other) Top ten greatest inventions of all time: 1 of 35
This is my list of the top-ten greatest inventions of all time:1) Agriculture would be my number-one pick. It enabled mankind to settle in one place to grow crops and domesticate animals. Farming led to the formation of settlements and eventually cities. 2) The plow has to be one of the greatest inventions ever. Agriculture w... More..
Relationships & Family > Siblings The relationship between brothers and sisters: 2 of 58
Parents must be very careful of how they raise their children. A seemingly innocent decision could have repercussions lasting a lifetime for the children. My family had four children; three boys and a girl. The oldest was my brother and he was treated very well by my parents because he was the first born. The youngest was als... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Political Issues Racial inequality or oppression: Do they truly exist in today's society?: 2 of 50
Racial inequality in the United States is alive and well. White people, whether they believe it or not, still think of themselves as superior to the blacks. This started early in American history with black slaves and has carried on to this day as if it were a genetic flaw. And this notion is only reinforced with todays news.... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Christian Doctrine & Issues How could a loving God send people to hell: 4 of 99
God loves everyone on Earth. That is why he would never send people to eternal damnation in the fiery pit of hell. As a matter of my personal belief, there is no hell. God would not do that to us. Hell is just a product of early Jewish and Christians leaders to keep their followers in line. "You will go to hell if you don't c... More..
Politics, News & Issues > War & Peace Reasons for wars: 2 of 37
Giving the reasons for war covering several centuries in our world is a daunting and unrealistic task. I would like to, instead, focus on the United States in its relatively short history. And instead of detailing the many reasons for American war, I would like to simply point out if these wars were necessary (N) or unnecessa... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Political & Economic Theory Is there a solution to the mortgage foreclosure crisis?: 2 of 33
There is a solution to the American financial crisis, but Bush's $1 trillion bailout of American and foreign financial institutions is not the answer. It is only a short-term bandaid solution. That $1 trillion price tag, which includes the Congressional $700 billion bailout plus the $200 billion already paid on Fannie Mae and... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Racism Getting it right about Islam today: Jihadists vs. peaceful Muslims: 2 of 29
I have just finished reading an article under this title which paints Islam as a violent religion. I quote its last line, "The true Islam is not peaceful, nor is the true Muslim." This is totally wrong, but I think it is the prevailing view about Islam by many Westerners. It is a belief not founded on Islam itself, but by the... More..
Sciences > Atmosphere & Weather The causes of global climate change: 2 of 24
In the rush to jump on the man-made global-warming bandwagon, most people are ignoring a more powerful influence on our environment - the solar cycles from the Sun. Solar cycles occur approximately every 11 years when the Sun undergoes a period of increased magnetic and sun-spot activity called the solar maximum, followed by ... More..
Sports & Recreation > Hockey Reflections on being a Toronto Maple Leafs fan: 1 of 12
I have been a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs since the late 1950's as a young lad living in Toronto's east end near the Scarborough Bluffs. I can remember watching them on black and white TV. During the 1960's, the Leafs were a thrill to watch; season after season. The game started at 8pm, but they weren't on TV until 9pm. I ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > War in Iraq Should the United States pull troops out of Iraq and surrounding countries?: 4 of 47
In the last 50 years, the United States has made a practice of cutting-and-running when the fighting gets too tough. And, I fear, the war in Iraq will be no different.Just look at the Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba in 1961 by U.S. backed and financed Cuban exiles. It failed because the U.S. cut-and-ran. They did not follow thro... More..