Guest Blogger John Burns: Dwight D. Eisenhower Stands Alone

John Burns is traveling through Spain and England and wearing his Howard Dean T-Shirt. He just sent in this uplifting report of European reaction to Dean:

The statue of Dwight D. Eisenhower stands alone. The statue is near the corner of the US embassy here in London. The area is cold and mostly lifeless. British security guards eye me from inside the compound with their automatic weapons at the ready. In better times families and workers strolled in front of our embassies. In better times, US Marines proudly provided security for our embassies. Now the area is triple fenced and there are multiple layers of concrete barricades. Tension and fear permeate the ghost town surrounding the embassy.

My wife Karen and I are on day 7 of a 9 day trip to Spain and England. People over here are shocked and angry at George Bush over the Iraq war. Americans are viewed as immoral leaders in pursuit of oil profits and corporate gain. Americans are viewed as a world problem rather than a solution to the problems of the world. Americans are seen as bullies taking what they want by force. Americans are viewed as responsible for creating the terror that makes them and their embassies unwelcome around the world.

We have talked to business people, students, cab drivers, and security guards and the common feelings run deep. Everyone feels America (and their own governments) has let them down. The first hint of that took place a week ago when we touched down at Heathrow airport in London. The customs screener asked me about my Dean Tee shirt. I told her we were sending President Bush back to Crawford Texas. She said Bush should take Tony Blair to Texas with him! The motion was seconded by her fellow customs agent. The stories like this continue on and on and are too many to list.

The highlight of this trip for me was last Saturday in Barcelona, Spain. I was cheered by common Spaniards as I jogged down main street, La Rambla, with My Dean Tee shirt and Dean construction hat. I was viewed as representing a new kind of American. I had tears in eyes as I high five'd through the ecstatic crowd. One lady shouted to me that I was "phenomenal" and shouts of olé rang out as I passed by.

Not everyone here knows who Howard Dean is at this point. However, Vice President Gore's endorsement has been front page news and people here are catching on fast. Without question, the people on the streets are looking for a new kind of American leader and when they sense one, they rejoice.

Our great nation, like the statue of Dwight Eisenhower, should not stand alone. We should stand with our brothers and sisters in Europe, working together, to solve the world's problems. With Howard Dean's leadership, we will once again enjoy the international respect America deserves. Europe, like America, is ripe for Howard Dean.

John Burns
In London, England
Hometown Seattle, WA
December 11, 2003