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"I repeat - if we have got it wrong about America's past and present record regarding human rights, please point out where and stop hiding behind 'Anti-Americanism' - it really isn't the case."

How far back do you want to go, Jim? Before the Civil War in the 1860s? If America has such an egregious civil rights record, how do you explain the 1960s and the Civil Rights Movement, Freedom Riders, all that? That was essentially a grass-roots movement. Democracy does work. It involves concerned people—citizens—getting together in an essentially non-bloody revolution and lightin a fire under the political leaders.

This was one of the essential factors in ending the Vietnam War. I remember the peace marches, the passive resistance (learned from Ghandi, whom you may recall, had a few issues with the British government), and the demonstrations. I remember the smell of tear gas. I was there.

I also remember the eeriness of the anti-war demonstration here in Seattle on the eve of the Iraq war. It stated at St. James Catholic Cathedral in downtown Seattle. A candlelight vigil. It left St. James and some 30,000 people, most carrying lighted candles, marched silently from downtown, through the Broadway District on Capitol Hill, and gathered at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral. No singing. No chanting. 30,000 people marching silently. I was there.


The United Nations has not objected, nor has The Hague, and Pakistan, although some political leaders were a bit miffed, has raised no official objection to the U. S. incursion. But YOU. You have a hissy-fit about U. S. Navy Seals going in and taking out the terrorist leader who is responsible for the deaths of AT LEAST 3,000 people (people trapped in the buildings, including the Pentagon, the passengers and crews of for hi-jacked commercial airliners, firefighters and rescue workers who died trying to rescue people, and many New Yorkers who lived or worked in the area from breathing asbestos and other toxic substances released by the destruction of the buildings. And that says nothing about the prior attacks on American embassies abroad, which resulted in many deaths. And when you're called on that, you bring up the Vietnam War and pointing a finger at "Americans" for things the military did which many American citizens themselves have taken the military—and the politicians—to task for. And in some cases, have turfed out of office!

You are a piece of work, Jim!

Now, it would never occur to me to accuse the English in general of being nothing but a bunch of Col. Blimps.

But you, Jim, I could easily make and exception for.

Don Firth