I respect your right to disagree with me, and to think what ever it is you wish to think......or say whatever it is you wish to say.
I'm not surprised that you don't extend the same respect to others.
Considering some of my forefathers passed the Statue of Liberty on the steam trampers from Europe on their way to Ellis Island, I think I'm quite aware or the meaning of liberty.
In case you really don't know what the poem inscribed on the tablet "Lady Liberty" holds in her left hand, resting solidly against her left hip, I posted it here for you.
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses
yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your
teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed,
to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
— Emma Lazarus, 1883, written to help raise funds for construction of the pedestal.
It's a beautiful description of what America stands for. One my forefathers heard all the way from Europe.
I'm sorry some liberals don't believe these great words extend beyond our shores....or even to some citizens born right here in America....the millions of immigrants, refugees and others who have found democracy and freedom in America do.
I'm sure you'll be glad to hear that they also overwhelmingly understand in Australia. Liberal ideas are dying there too.
M
Howard's double victory sends cheer to Bush and Blair
By Helen O'Neill in Sydney
11 October 2004
An Australian government is close to having complete legislative control for the first time in nearly three decades today, after voters delivered a positive verdict on John Howard's support for the war in Iraq. The result means that troops from Australia, a leading member of George Bush's "coalition of the willing", will remain in Iraq for the foreseeable future.
Mr Howard, beginning his fourth term as Prime Minister with a likely majority of 86 seats to Labor's 61 in the 150-seat lower house, this morning looked likely to also secure effective control of the Senate, the first time since 1976 that a government has been in a position to get legislation through both houses without winning the support of independents or other parties.
At worst, the governing coalition will have 38 of the 76 seats in the Senate, and may well win the clinching 39th in Queensland. It will also be able to rely on the vote of the evangelical-based Family First party, which appears to have won the sixth Victorian seat, on almost all issues.
President Bush took time out of his own electoral campaign to congratulate his "good friend" Mr Howard on a historic fourth-term victory. Mr Bush, who is facing heavy criticism in the United States after last week's damning weapons report, was reportedly relieved by the result, telephoning Mr Howard almost immediately. Tony Blair also called Mr Howard with congratulations.
The triumph returned the Howard-led coalition of Liberals and the rural National Party to power with their second increased majority in two elections. It puts Mr Howard two months shy of becoming Australia's second-longest serving prime minister and dramatically changes Australia's political landscape.
The Greens became Australia's third political force, replacing the Democrats by increasing their share to 7 per cent, a two-point rise on 2001.
Mr Howard, who avoided discussing the war in Iraq before the vote, emphasised Australia's "stand against terrorism" in his victory speech on Saturday night. While campaigning, he had shrugged off suggestions that he has made Australia "less safe" by becoming involved in the invasion of Iraq, where 900 Australian troops remain deployed. The opposition leader, Mark Latham, had pledged to have them home by Christmas.
Mr Howard is now expected to turn his attention closer to home. He wants to talk soon to the Indonesian president-elect, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Australia is on the hit list of al-Qa'ida's south-east Asian arm, Jemaah Islamiyah, and Mr Howard's support for tackling terrorist threats with pre-emptive military strikes in neighbouring nations has left many in the region nervous.
Today, Mr Howard will set out his agenda for the coming three-year term. Control of both houses of parliament will allow him to push through several stalled bills, including one getting rid of unfair dismissal laws. The big question, one the 65-year-old leader is unlikely to address, is how long he will remain in office.
10 October 2004 16:20
news.independent.co.uk |
