President Bush is scheduled to visit Britain this week. It¹s an excellent opportunity to compare the imperial challenge once faced by Britain, with the one now being faced by the U.S.

Lucky Brits, Unlucky U.S.

Great Britain once ruled an empire huge
That covered great swaths of the globe,
Though its army was small, it kept others in thrall,
And no one dared be anglophobe.

We know now today that the key to Brits¹ sway
Over peoples widespread and diverse,
Was that subjected folk, had not fully awoke,
To the thought that Brit rule was a curse.

America¹s woe, the tough road it must hoe,
The reality in which it must operate,
Is it makes freedom offers and opens fat coffers
To natives who just won¹t cooperate.
(Naughty, naughty natives)

©2003

For more political verse: http://www.beltwaybard.com

Thank you for helping to “welcome” my dictator to the UK (you are welcome to KEEP HIM). Unfortunately he will likely be isolated from the protests – he is here. Within a few days we will be having our own (though much smaller) protest. #2 Warmonger Dick Cheney is coming to Buffalo, New York for a $2,000 per plate fund raiser.

…why does Blair do the bidding of this madman???

Warm regards,

Roy Flanigan
Niagara Falls, NY

My name is Barbara Chin. I am an American, & am writing to you from Cincinnati, Ohio, one of the most segregated & conservative enclaves in the States. Our city is renowned for racial disharmony and there are precious few people here who are actually conscious of the unconscionable acts taken by President Bush. It is this sense of futility that spurs me to write thanking you for your peace efforts & asking you to work tirelessly in the next week to ensure a dynamic response to Bush’s visit to London. You can’t imagine how hard it is here to actually wake people up to what’s really going on. Many people now have misgivings, but they fight to remain in their dreams of John Wayne, while discounting our peace efforts as unpatriotic.

An unprecedented response now in London would do more good than any effort the peace movement has managed thus far in the States. A strong level of concern in Britain at this precise moment will cause the average American much pause when many are beginning to fear we Americans just might not be the good guys anymore. Only England can reach & teach America in this time of crisis & it is a time of crisis for America.

I want to make this clear…by protesting Bush’s visit this week, the average British citizen also shows your care & support for the ideals that were once American, but that have been assaulted as surely as the Iraqi people have. For money, for oil, for power, for greed. History will not be kind to Bush. By peacefully protesting this week, the people of Britain show a regard for Human Life that history will document and I ask for the wisdom of British Political Leaders to step forward in “calling” America on it when they are really wrong. We all teach our children not to go along with their friends when they are doing wrong. We teach them to recognize and stand up for what is really right no matter your good friend says. Britain must be proud to become the voice of goodness in recognizing the shrill and selfish mantra of Bush’s Regime.

I also ask for real wisdom in your protests. To enlist real change, your peace message must be heard by Middle America. The rhetoric they’ve become accustomed to impairs -they are currently very sensitive to criticism and respond best to facts. To those of you with any power in any media, please work towards getting positive coverage of London’s protests to the American Public in every venue possible. Thank-you again for all your efforts, Peace be with all of us,

Barbara Chin

FYI only…..Chair for Cincinnati Community Outreach Howard Dean for President
Wish I could be in London this week! Good Luck & THANK-YOU!

Dear Comrade

More than 250 Iranian asylum seekers are in protest against racist anti asylum laws has been taken by belgian government towards them. 30 of them have been in hunger strike since 20 days a go. In solidarity an online petition has been created to collect signatures to support those are in strike. It takes just couple of clicks! . Please sign it and send it to other comrades.

http://www.petitiononline.com/IRSY/petition.html

Comradely

Behzad Javaheri

I am a journalist at the New Statesman, and I am writing a piece about the protests and demonstrations expected to take place against George Bush's state visit from November 19-21.

I would like to know what you are planning, where it will take place, and how many people you are expecting to take part.

You can reply to this e-address, or phone me in the office.
I appreciate your help.

Yours,
Paul Rowland.