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Now for some analysis...I do believe that Blair will stand down in about a year. He is likely to work out an arrangement by which he can depart office on a positive note - i.e., enacting some form of legislation of which he can be proud - and then he'll retire quietly to the back benches.

So apart from Charles Kennedy, it appears to be "all change". Michael Howard is leaving, Tony Blair is leaving...as such, it seems an ideal time to walk away from Free Republic.

It's not my intention to write a magnum opus, but to put it very simply, it is extremely difficult to be a patriotic British person on this board. I thought that the brotherhood as expressed on September 11th and during the War on Terror, and the War in Iraq, would cement the bond between our two countries. However, it appears that this has had the opposite effect in so far as this site is concerned. There is a coterie of irrational, bigoted and downright slanderous individuals who are trying to convince the good people of this board that in spite of all that Britain has done and all the gestures of friendship that we have shown, is just as bad an ally as say, France.

A few of you have been kind enough to assist me in trying to set these people straight. However, I do not sign online to find more heat than light. I am not interested in long, protacted struggles with the ignorant and the bigoted. I have better things to do with my life, and much more enjoyable ways to spend my time than deal with flame wars in the name of my country whose blood sacrifice should put its character and reputation beyond the question of simple minded miscreants. To my horror, I've also found that some of these miscreants were actually former friends of mine who have stabbed my country in the back.

So, enough. It's been a good run of nearly 7 years. But it's time to walk away before I see a site which I have loved, laughed with and enjoyed greatly, degenerate any further into a propaganda outfit against my first, truest love, the country in which I live.

Farewell.

Regards, Ivan

What are you talking about? I don't remember any major flame wars over Britain, so I can't understand the offense, but I think most Freepers here are pretty pro-Britain. It's the weaselly opportunists in Parliament in all three of the major parties that we dislike. Same situation in the U.S., of course...except there are just the two major weasel associations to dislike.

We'll miss you if you do go, sir. I've enjoyed reading your posts, and hope you do determine to check in now and again regardless.

I sincerely hope you will reconsider.

Someone pointed out, about 675 posts back, that there are indeed subtle and malevolent people who come over here from DU specifically, at the invitation of degenerate personalities like Moby and Michael Moore and the late and very unlamented FR poster Eschoir, a liberal Democratic DC lawyer (is there anything lower?) whose numerous avatars once drove JR to seek relief in a court of equity, to make life difficult for posters like you precisely because of your principles and your ability to articulate them.

Please don't be discouraged by all this into withdrawing from the public forum, even a corner of it like FR. On a personal note, I've been glad to see your posts myself and I know the place -- or rather, the virtual space -- will be poorer without your well-spun electrons.

When the adversaries of well-meaning people try to substitute mere cleverness for virtue, voices like yours are needed to point out the difference.

As for critics of Great Britain, which -- truth in advocacy here -- raised up my mother who fortunately for me decided to take a chance on a Yank, a lot of us noticed when the President of Mexico, so recently feted with pomp and circumstance in America's capital as our newest "best friend" (wot, cried the Canadians -- we're chopped liver now?), retired to his ranch while columns of smoke trailed over Manhattan and the Pentagon; but the prime minister of Great Britain stuffed his pockets full of brass knuckles and ran toward trouble instead, and was sitting in the gallery of the House of Representatives when President Bush addressed the nation on the terrorist attacks.

Funny how, when things get ugly, the same old faces always show up.

Behind walls of oak or Leigh-Mallory's big wings, Britain has always been safe from tyrants, and anyone who reaches out a claw for Britain gets to withdraw a bloody stump. That's always been your reasonable policy, mate -- and you know it's ours, too. Will it be stumps all around, then? Right, who's next?

Please reconsider, and stick around, friend. Tony Blair did.

Actually, I will hate to see you go--though you have given me no small amount of grief.

You have been at least an interesting part of the FR mileu.

And, you have a sense of humor and can be some fun.

However, you also, to be honest, have a tendency to flame those who disagree with you--particularly in at least a couple of topic areas.

So, to read that you are put-off by flame wars at your or Britain's expense is a bit . . . convoluted, disingenuous?

Anyway--I wish you well. I still care for the Brits a lot. And, given all the Moslem assaults on your country--I think you are headed for at least as many horrid traumas as we are.

I hope you life somewhere other than London. I believe London is going to be utterly destroyed though I'm not sure whether by manmade or natural disaster. I think more likely the latter but it may be a matter of which hits first.

Since you think such postulations are idiocy--I have no doubt you will ignore this one--until after it occurs.

Be safe, healthy and fulfilled in pursuits of honorable goals.

Cheers.