[JPI] Rally

[Fredrics Howard J]

Chris Menzel <cmenzel at tamu.edu> said:

> > Brazos Valley
> > RALLY FOR PEACE
> > and against US preemptive military action in Iraq.
> 
> George Welch, Danita Noland and the other organizers (someone name
> them!) deserve huge thanks for the great job they did putting the rally
> together!
> 
> -chris

Dear friends, 

I'm surprised that you weren't all killed there in BCS -- a potentially scary place for this 
sort of pubic dissent.  

As I spend this year on leave in London, I must report that there has been a very active 
anti-war movement with vigorous public protests having taken place and a number of 
others scheduled for the very near future.  Many people here are extremely opposed to 
US action and its counterpart of support from the Blair government.  

The climate for expression of concern and dissent seems much more open and 
unfettered here than back in the States. With the latest administration moves to have 
the CIA target "terrorists', there's no telling who is safe from harms way from this point 
forward. Anyone can be branded as such.   Not to mention the federal lists of 
potentially dangerous passengers who are chosen from amongs leftists and 
intellectuals (vaguely naziesque, isn't it?) to be targeted for additional airport searches.  
Once on the list, just try getting off.  No can do.

The time has come, I'm afraid, to consider abandoning a sinking ship.  Apply for 
political asylum!  While much of the world might not take us seriously at this point, it's 
good to start by increasing the numbers of applicants -- makes it more likely that other 
governments will shift their positions and place american progressives on the roles of 
eligible refugees. For soon, I fear it will be too late to escape if we don't take action 
now.  Just as some Jews refused to believe that their country would brand them as 
undesirables, not worthy of basic human rights, so too may we find that progressives 
will end up in the same boat as unfortunate victims of a fascist regime.  Let us not make 
the same mistakes that many of my relatives in Europe made.  Although incredible, a 
repeat of Nazi crimes, albeit in different form, may be just around the corner.

Cheers to all,
Howard Fredrics







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