Harry Janssen

Dear Miss Hunter,

I've read part of your story, while visiting The Four Winds website. I'm 56 years old and living in The Netherlands, also practicing law. I think you must know that most Europeans watching the US closely and shake their heads.

What's going on in your country, meaning what your present administration tries to pull off, is beyond everything.

For my job I have to deal with a lot of American people here and they all are telling me lately that they feel like outlaws in Europe, because of Mr.Bush policy.

We always admired you as a great nation, with great people, caring people.

We still have an advantage; we may openly attack our political leaders, if we feel they are going the wrong way. That's why we can't believe what's going on right now in your country and why most Americans keep silence.

It is therefore that I admire so much what you are doing: fighting the beast!!!

I have the same fight here in the Netherlands every day with my clients, because our prime minister is just a puppy of Mr.Bush If we lose our moral and ethics, we lose everything.

My warmest sympathy to you,

Harry Janssen

Dear Mr. Janssen,

It is a pleasure to meet you, even if by way of email. I worked in Germany and while I was in college I had a friend from The Netherlands. I understand what Americans abroad must be going through.

Americans individually are not all bad people. I think a recent poll showed that something like 70% were opposed to the policies in Iraq, for example. Its just that our leaders do not want to listen.

Like you, I wonder when the bulk of people will speak out. It is happening slowly – even at an event I attended a few months ago, the American Bar Association President started to find President Bush’s policies troubling. That is encouraging, but we need more vociferous debate.

I can only hope that the people who are as angry as I have become will vote on election day for a change and that I will be part of that change.

Best wishes,

Rachel