Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb (Churchill).

Monday, May 09, 2005

Welcome George W. Bush!!or not.

Last Saturday morning I was at the local hairdresser at my parents’ place in the south of the Netherlands. I asked the hairdresser what she thought of the arrival of the President of the U.S.A. to the little village of Margraten. Throughout the conversation she told me that her parents live in Margraten, and that most people can not be bothered with the visit and find it overdone. Interestingly enough, because Bush’s official reason for visiting was to respect the soldiers for their contribution to VE-day (Victory in Europe) and the close relationship of the local people with the US cemetery.

15.000 soldiers, 2.700 local police officers, 700 of Bush personal Presidential guard are called upon to oversee no dramatic course of events.
On Sunday morning, despite Mothersday, my father and I went to pay homage to those who gave their lives 60 years ago for our freedom at the US cemetery. Together with the Dutch queen and prime minister and Georgie boy. 12 minutes George and off he goes to Russia.

In the mean time in Houston, Texas……..parlementarians are discussing the sexiness of cheerleaders, trying to restrict their sexual suggestive behavior…..the world remains a place full of amusement, whether in Margraten or in Houston!