I urge non-US citizens to forward reports of reactions in other countries that are different to the prevailing bellose reaction of the US establishment.
In particular we must support the brave campaigners for peace and justice in the US by letting them know that their actions may get reported abroad even if they are ignored or belittled in the USA.
I attach a report in the London Observer of a brave demonstration in New York.
Also for the second morning (London time) BBC News 24 has carried a report sent at 3am New York time from one of their senior correspondents, Jeremy Bowen, from New York about the ongoing human reaction.
This is part of the "Diana Effect" - the fact that the demand for 24 hour news feeds a global cycle of mourning. But it may turn to our advantage because gradually, gently and persistently the British interviewers are distinguishing between sadness, grief, anger, and rage, gently asking those in favour of war about the outcomes and exploring the process of closure for those not in favour of war. These reports may get ignored in the US media but they are vital in Britain at least. The Observer report is on its front page and will be seen by every senior person in the British government.
There may be a majority of US opinion wanting retribution, but it is an attainable goal that the demands for justice should be met in a measured and effective way. Even Bush recognises that the US government must give time to "notice" the "coalition".
Also while British media are trained on the US, what about the news from other countries? We need feedback on this. I have just caught a headline that Joschka Fischer, the German foreign minister is warning of the danger of a conflict between the two cultures of the west and of Islam. Very important. Blair will be meeting with Schoeder on Wednesday. This could again be important for shaping perceptions about the limits of acceptable US retaliation.
While professing absolute solidarity it is probably not accidental that Blair said in the House of Commons that terrorists could even get nuclear weapons. Yesterday the deputy at the British foreign office, Peter Hain, noted that terrorism may be fuelled by poverty and that some of the terroristic states were armed by the west. Britain, with all its experience of having to talk with the IRA about Ireland, knows that there cannot be a military victory.They need time and pressure to be able to persuade the US to alter its policy.
Meanwhile from what I pick up from ZDF the main thrust is information plus an expectation of decisive action. But in the German memorial services they may play a bit of John Lennon, in a way they would not in the USA, and later this morning there is a programme, "Mami, kommt jetzt Krieg?" - Mum, is there going to be a war?
Can other non-US citizens give regular update on the way opinion is going in their own country, especially in so far as it analyses US policy and US public opinion.
Observer article on New York demonstration below:
Chris Burford
London
__________________
Peace protesters take to New York streets
Anthony Browne, New York Sunday September 16, 2001 The Observer
New York showed remarkable solidarity against terrorism in the wake of last week's atrocity, but divisions started emerging yesterday over what action should be taken against the perpetrators.
A peace movement began to emerge against the coming war that President George Bush announced would be used to attack 'those who had chosen their own destruction'.
But other Americans shouted down pleas for no revenge to be taken, saying those behind the World Trade Centre and Pentagon outrages should pay for their crimes with their lives. Outside New York, as thousands of people thronged the streets of Manhattan in a candlelit vigil to remember the dead on Friday night, hundreds of protesters waved placards warning against war and racism.
While large numbers of people waved American flags, just as many wandered around with notices strapped to their bodies demanding 'global peace'. When some sections of the crowd sang patriotic songs, others retorted with the Beatles' 'Give Peace a Chance'.
Angry arguments broke out between those supporting President Bush in his push for rapid retaliation, and those insisting that America should not respond. Similar arguments also took place in Central Park, where a public debate on the war was held. One New Yorker in favour of bombing Afghanistan angrily scrawled the word 'Yes' over a huge poster that asked: 'Will more killing really lead to peace?'
Most of the placards at the vigil protested against the rush to war. One said: 'Respect the dead: say no to more killing.' Another set of pre-printed placards read: 'An eye for an eye and the whole world is blind.'
Dozens of people placed hand-painted peace symbols on the ground in Union Square. One peace protester said: 'All this war talk disgusts and frightens me. It will just escalate out of control.' Another argued: 'It used to be that offence was the best form of defence. But that doesn't work against terrorism.'
Other placards warned against racism, in the wake of a spate of attacks agains Muslims and mosques across the country.
One group waved placards saying 'Arab Americans are Fellow Americans', while another protester held a placard saying: 'Racist Patriotism is Cowardice.'
http://www.observer.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,552722,00.html