The world is going topsy turvy. Lately I have been speaking a lot about the contamination of psychology by law. More and more laws are being passed defining how people need to behave, and requiring adults who deal with children to enforce these laws. The assumption, which few seem to have the guts to challenge, is that whatever is legal is automatically psychologically the best for us. The underlying reason, I believe, is that we are afraid of getting in trouble.

The US is now at war with Iraq. Let us hope that whatever happens, it turns out for the best for both countries and the world as a whole.

Many mental health organizations and experts have an interest in maintaining the public's fear of the "epidemic of children's violence." They continue to talk about this epidemic despite the fact that government statistics show there is no such epidemic. We have been experiencing a steady decline in children's violence over recent years, even taking into account the occasional mass murder that gets plastered all over our newspapers and TV screen for days at a time.

In my seminars on Anger Control, I explain how agriculture unleashed the explosion in human population by freeing us from the food limitations we experienced as hunter/gatherers. Since the Earth cannot sustain unlimited human population growth, wars, epidemics, contraception and abortion are some of the ways in which our population is controlled.

For whatever reason, I've been barraged lately by people asking why I don't treat bullies -- why do I focus only on helping victims? I decided to devote most of the space in the current newsletter to this issue.

Politics and Mental Health
I take my seminar evaluations very seriously, especially the negative ones. Even though I dread reading them, they are the ones that teach me the most.

One seminar participant wrote that she lost respect for me because I spoke of politics - terrorism in particular. I thought to myself, "Maybe I should take her advice. Why risk alienating people by mentioning political issues?"

At my seminars, I give a mini-lecture on humor. I explain that the modern world is in the process of outlawing humor, and we don't even realize it because our experts in human behavior never learned the first thing about it (humor). They don't realize that humor involves putting people (oneself or others) down. Compliments are not funny; insults are funny. Humor by nature is not politically correct.

It's often said that if you want someone to remain your friend, don't discuss politics or religion. It's good advice. The problem is that when the country is in a critical situation, people naturally discuss politics more often. Like with the situation in Iraq.

First of all, I'd like to wish a Happy Fourth of July to everyone celebrating American Independence Day.

We often hear the expression, "the power of love." There have been songs written by that name. Unfortunately, there is a far stronger power in the world: "the power of hate."

I believe it is a great tragedy that citizens of democratic countries are not educated about the true brilliance and power of the right to Freedom of Speech. Many people don't understand why it is best to let people say whatever they want - even if it hurts people feelings - as long as the words don't directly cause physical harm to body or possessions. (Freedom of Speech is the Constitutional version of the "Sticks and Stones" slogan.)