I've been so focused on domestic policies regarding the immutable (unless you come an' get 'em) right to keep and bear arms I'd stopped watching the rest of the world. You can occasionally get a good bird's eye view of Europe at the International Herald Tribune, so I dropped by to see what was shakin'.

In a word: bullying.

France is being bullied into giving up its independence "for the greater good."

In an article by some socialist, New World Order bloke named John Velocur, I read some of the most unAmerican things I've never seen said about another country's right and choice to remain independent. And, while I don't expect subjects and serfs to think like Americans, I do wonder if this guy is yapping about our country's independence this way, as well -- and if others might be, too.

At issue is France's desire to keep its sovereignty. Everybody in the "European Union" seems to be waiting for France to belly up and swear its independence away for good. But apparently, French President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin have a desire to have France remain "independent in its planning capabilities." Sounds fair enough to me. They are, after all, France. They think like French people, do French things, make French music and very French wines and cheeses. Their culture, heritage, ideals and beliefs are of French origin. They'd like to keep on being what their ancestors have been for quite some time now: French. And they did earn those French borders the hard way like the rest of the world did, didn't they?

But some guy who has achieved bigmouth status over at the Tribune, one of Europe's most prestigious propaganda machines, doesn't think so, and people are reading his thoughts like they mean something. Listen to a couple of the things he's said, and tell me if you, like me, think the guy needs an attitude adjustment.

As background, in case you've not been paying attention to the socialists across the water either, get this: The German foreign minister called last spring for a federal European government headed by a popularly elected president. That's like having the socialists over here calling for a union between Mexico, Canada and the U.S. -- to have a popularly elected leader overseeing the integration of We The People. And this ding dong at the Tribune, Mr. Velocur, calls France's resistance to being part of an out-of-France's-control blob... "French stagnation." He goes on to call France's "reluctance to reinvent itself a problem for all of Europe."

Germany has 33% more people than France, suggesting an obvious winner in that popularity contest. In fact, Mr. Velocur's article is entitled "German Bid for Dominance Resisted by French."  But if France doesn't agree to go for mob rules -- to be dominated by a wholly different people -- Mr. Velocur suggests something is wrong with French leaders.

Expecting a proud nation to subjugate itself to, among others, Germany, is, by American standards, insane. Whacko. What is going on with these people? Doesn't anyone care about sovereignty anymore? I'm not saying France is a pillar of human rights, but they are France, for goodness sake. Let 'em be France.

The only reason I even brought this up has to do with what I expect to be seeing more of over here in our corner of the world: bullying to submit to rule from the United Nations. I thought I'd share how I see this dogpile on France as I expect we Americans will one day soon (NOW!) have to become much more vocal against giving up American sovereignty to the "United Nations."

1. If President Clinton was an American (or a man), he'd pick up the phone, dial French President Chirac, and tell him he has America's full support to tell the European Union bullies to go fly a kite.
   
   
2. Clinton would also call whatever Marxists run the EU and tell them to stop pushing our ally to give up its sovereignty, right now.

But Clinton is a wimp and a sellout, and Bush won't show that kind of stones, either. Far too many of today's politicians dance this "please everybody" polka, politicizing things as vital as the very future of a nation that existed long before Christopher Columbus set sail for our shores.

I wouldn't care if I was the last guy alive and was told at the barrel of a gun to pledge to a United Nations flag. They'd have to shoot me first and put my dead hand over my dead heart to make it happen.  Feel free to use the following image however you see fit. Making it was my therapy after reading Mr. Velocur's tripe.

Yes united nations.
NO "United Nations"!