[syndicate] an open letter to my american friends

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ite misa est

--
OG


Le 3 nov. 04, à 22:45, A Dontigny a écrit :

>
> an open letter to my american friends
>
> to todd, eryck, kaia and all the other progressive minds in the united 
> states of america: do not despair. i know you will spend the next days 
> drowned in the gloating of political pundits and the smirks of 
> conservative co-workers or neighbours but do not despair.
>
> we, who are living outside your country, witness the uphill battle you 
> face now. the young voters did not bother to vote, right-wing 
> christians turned out even more massively for the republicans than 
> they did in 2000 and families who face the daily burden of economic 
> injustices have voted against their class interest.
>
> i want to tell you that you are not alone. even here, in canada, and 
> elsewhere across the world, we are facing the same economic model, the 
> same fanatism, the same war on openmindness and freedom of choice. 
> your battle is the most important battle because of the might of your 
> national army but at the same time, your battle is one of the least 
> important because you have eaten today, your neighbourhood will not be 
> bombed and you can still voice your opposition to what is happening.
>
> please excuse this little admonishment, i just want to make sure you 
> will not stop fighting - even if you will need a small rest after this 
> 9 month long campain.
>
> but, right now, as a friend living in canada, there are two important 
> issues in which i can make a difference and those two issues are the 
> reason why i write this open letter.
>
> firstly, i seriously fear you will be drafted. during the vietnam war, 
> american deserters automatically obtained asylum in canada. that was 
> changed very recently when canada adopted its own clone of the patriot 
> act. currently, two american soldiers who refused to serve in irak and 
> fled to canada are facing administrative courts in toronto. i pledge 
> to you that, even against the laws of my country, i will help you and 
> your friends avoid a draft. we will welcome you with open arms if you 
> wish to escape that terrible fate. you do not have to die for an 
> injust war.
>
> secondly, with supreme court justice rehnquist already ill and others 
> waiting to step down, we know for sure that abortion will be again 
> outlawed and that gays will suffer an increased persecution. these 
> social issues are dealt with very differently here in canada. very 
> soon, gay marriages will be fully legal here. the same pledge i made 
> for deserters applies to young women who will face an unwanted 
> pregnancy: we have good, safe and very affordable clinics here and we 
> will do everything we can to help you a life freed from bigotry and 
> hate.
>
> i am not encouraging you to abandon your country to its fanatic 
> nightmare. you have plenty of resources and opportunitues to fight 
> back and help your fellow citizens live a more fulfilling life. but 
> when you will face difficult individual choices and you will feel 
> despaired, remember that your are not alone and that we are here to 
> help you survive.
>
> with all my friendship and compassion,
>
> a_dontigny, montreal, canada
>
>
>
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