What I see here in England is amazing support for America. One big concern though, is that they feel the Prime Minister has given Bush a blank check to do what he wants without question from this country. Alot of focus has been brought to attention about how this needs to be a worldwide effort. Powell's comment today, "We will not be constrained by the fact that we are working with others as well", was somewhat understandable from my point of view as an American, but I believe it is very unnerving for most in Europe.
Another issue that I am sure is on the minds of those around me, but which I haven't heard a thing of from the newspapers, or on T.V., is racial relations in North England. The Pakistani's have been treated like second class citizens here, (e.g. There is a 5% unemployment rate overall and a 30% Muslim unemployment rate, and it is not that Muslims do not want to work), and as a result I'm sure most of you have heard of all the racial riots that have been taking place in the last few months. No riots or racially motivated crimes have hit the news since the big event on Tuesday and I hope this calm lasts as long as possible.
So many issues are connected to the upcoming events that I certainly feel unqualified to make predictions, make statements of belief, or even ask questions to the public at large that would fuel opinions based purely on emotion or contruibute to the chaos of misinformation. I hope this group understands that I live alone in a foreign country and it is only my comfort with this group that I have the nerve to express my ideas so openly and so untested. Most of me feels that I should shut up and just wait and watch, but that other part of me can't help poking and prodding in a search to define what is happening. I'm very thankful to have this forum to express myself and I'm very thankful that I get to read such thought provoking insights from the Drunkenfish and the Tanque.