Brits and Americans have put their lives on the line to help create countries where each person can worship freely, where government is of, by, and for the people, and where children can grow up safely.
The Anglo-American model is based on human dignity, the rule of just law, limits on the power of the state, respect for private property, free speech, and religious tolerance. Fanatics and thugs will try to destroy this inheritance, but it belongs to all the world's people.

Photo: [email protected]

OPPOSING TYRANNY
AT HOME
& ABROAD

2000 'METRIC MARTYRS' TAKE STAND FOR BRITISH FREEDOM AND WAY OF LIFE

Cheeky and mischieveous and always the first to give to charity, Steven Thoburn begins his day at 3 am buying fruit and vegetables to sell at his stands. When the EU declares it is a criminal offense to sell "a pound" of apples or "ounces" of cheese, insisting that all foods be sold in metric weights, Thoburn asserts his right as a freeborn Englishman. Brits have been using pounds and ounces, yards and feet since before Magna Carta, and Americans still do. He wants his customers to have the freedom to choose, and he provides scales and pricing for both metric and pounds.

He becomes a national celebrity after he is arrested selling a pound of bananas to an undercover council trading standards officer, and is dragged before the court. The world's press descend on Sunderland Magistrates' Court for the landmark hearing.

Helping Steven Thoburn (center) is his friend Neil Herron (second from left), a fishmonger who builds a people’s campaign to win back British freedom and end EU interference. "It was never about a pound of bananas and a set of scales," explains Herron. "It was about who governs this country." Steve is convicted, and given a conditional discharge, but the Metric Martyrs continue their battle to uphold British rights.

Photo: www.neilherron.co.uk

When his third child, a son, is born, Steven Thoburn helpfully announces his weight in grammes – all 3,790 of them – telling reporters, "No-one I spoke to had a clue if he was the size of a baby elephant or a small tomato."

Steven dies of a massive heart attack at the age of 39 in 2004. Neil Herron writes, "Steven symbolised the true British spirit of grit and determination and fought passionately for what he truly believed in."

2001-2006 CHALLENGE OF VIOLENT ISLAMISTS DEMANDS BEST FROM THOSE WHO LOVE FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND PEACE

“Slay the pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)” says the Koran, Sura 9:5. All over the world thousands of violent and misguided Islamists are murdering men, women, and children because they are not Muslim. According to their own statements, these violent Islamists want to destroy anyone who believes in representative government, freedom, and rights for women, and establish a worldwide Muslim empire.

Violent Islamists and their supporters have carried out more than 5,580 terror attacks since 9/11/2001 in places as far apart as Thailand and Spain, India and North Carolina, France and Lebanon, Russia and London, Bali and LA. Thousands of men, women, and children from all over the world have been murdered or hurt.

What values do we hold dear and how will we defend and nurture them? That is the first question. If we cannot answer it we will face the second question "to be or not to be." For more, see Defeating Threats to Freedom, Violent Islamists »

The Brits join Americans, Australians, and two dozen Allied nations to free Afghanistan from the Taliban and Iraq from a leader who had defied two dozen U.N. resolutions and murdered hundreds of thousands.
"We could not have made it alone. We needed the perseverance and support of Western democracies for freedom finally to arrive. . .That is why we have been part of the coalition to help democracy emerge in Iraq," write the Czech, Slovak, Polish, and Hungarian Ambassadors in the Wall Street Journal, February 2006.

2001 - 2006 BRITS JOIN AMERICANS AND ALLIES TO LIBERATE AFGHANIS AND IRAQIS

After terrorists attack New York City and Washington, DC , Americans, Brits, Australians, South Koreans, Italians, Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, and Japanese join in a coalition to try to liberate the captive peoples of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Iraq was first established as a country by Brits in the 1920s with a constitutional monarchy modeled on the United Kingdom's bicameral parliament. A 1958 coup and Saddam Hussein had turned Iraq into a tyranny that waged war, invading two of its neighbours, murdered hundreds of thousands of its own citizens, allowed the powerful to rape women, and built prisons for children. In Afghanistan, the Taliban would not allow women to vote, go to school, or hold a job, and the government hid terrorists who had attacked and murdered Western citizens.

Operation Iraqi Freedom overturns those tyrannies. Coalition soldiers train Afghani and Iraqi soldiers to protect their people from terrorists. They help to establish two Constitutions and free elections, and to restore their economies, which had been plundered by Hussein and the Taliban. According to Christopher Hitchens » Coalition soldiers "guarded polling-places, opened schools and clinics, and excavated mass graves. They represent the highest form of the citizen, and every man and woman among them was a volunteer."

For awhile it appeared that British and American hopes for the establishment of freedom and democracy would be realized. Freedom cannot survive in a society divided along tribal and religious lines and with little regard for human life and dignity. It remains a question whether Afghanistan and Iraq can become societies where people flourish in freedom.

Photo Credit: Adam Napier
Most of the world's press has ignored Coalition efforts to protect the men, women, and children of Afghanistan and Iraq. To read more, michaelyon-online »

2004 AS EU GROWS MORE POWERFUL, RESISTANCE GROWS

The EU continues to take control over all aspects of British life, and to slice away at historic freedoms. Britain has lost control of its trade policies, laws, and borders. Thousands of new regulations are depressing business, while EU corruption in the EU increases unchecked.  

In response, free Brits organise resistance to the EU, and carry their message to the polls. The Bruges Group »continues to research, analyse, and publicise frightening EU trends. Norris and Ross McWhirter help to found the Freedom Association » to foster understanding of the economic, constitutional and moral principles that alone sustain a free society. Better Off Out » is mounting a campaign to leave the EU. Eurofacts » offers timely updates on EU developments. For more, see Defeating Threats to Freedom #1 »

Growing from half a dozen people determined to become free of the EU superstate to tens of thousands, the UK Independence Party becomes strong enough to fight Parliamentary by-elections and establishes itself as the UK's fourth party.

Photo: David Abbott

2004-2006 UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY WINS 16% OF VOTE; WORKS WITH ALLIES TO OPPOSE EU

With a unique set of policies on Defence, Crime, Agriculture, Housing, Education, Welfare and Economics all focused on Britain's independence and regeneration, the UK Independence Party » achieves a strategic political breakthrough in 1999 by returning 3 Members to the European Parliament.

In 2004, four Conservative peers in the House of Lords publicly urge Brits to support UKIP in the elections to the European Parliament. The Conservative Party immediately punishes the four: Lord Willoughby de Broke, Baroness Cox, Lord Pearson of Rannoch, and Lord Stevens. In the 2004 European Election UKIP wins enough votes to return 12 MEPs.

UKIP MEP Nigel Farage » and Conservative MEPs Roger Helmer » and Daniel Hannan » provide an ongoing and devastating critique of the EU from inside the belly of the beast. Independent MEP Ashley Mote » decries the 3,000-plus secret EU committees whose anonymous and unelected members draft legislation. He campaigns to return self-government to Brits.

The Brits are not alone. A group of freedom-loving MEPs that includes UKIP and MEPs from France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Eastern Europe is working together to resist EU tryanny. For more about these allies, see the Independence and Democracy Group »

After French voters reject the EU Constitution, the INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE proclaims, 'E.U. Leaders And Voters See Paths Diverge.' Mark Steyn » drily responds, "Traditionally in free societies, when the paths of the leaders and the voters 'diverge', it’s the leaders who depart the scene. But apparently in the EU this is too vulgar and 'Anglo-Saxon', and so the great permanent Eurocracy decided instead to offer up Euro-variations on Bertolt Brecht’s jest about the need to elect a new people." For more on Brits leaving the EU, trading with Europe, and governing themselves, see Defeating Threats to Freedom #1 »

2004 NE VOTERS REJECT REGIONAL ASSEMBLY; NEIL HERRON LAUNCHES LEGAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST TYRANNY

As part of the effort to dismantle England and create a series of regions for the European Union, the Labour Government introduces plans for an elected regional assembly in north-east England. An unelected North-East Assembly, funded by the EU and quite unimpeded by democratic concerns, already exists, and Labour feels sure the voters will respond with gratitude on learning they will be given the right to elect its members. Neil Herron » leads the no campaign, and in November the voters throw out plans for the assembly by an overwhelming margin of four-to-one. They want nothing to do with an EU-sponsored Trojan Horse.

Untroubled by this resounding setback, the unelected North-East Assembly announces that it will set itself up as a limited company, and carry on. During the campaign, Neil Herron had revealed the stunning fact that the unelected assembly was an unincorporated body whose members were personally responsible for all its financial obligations, liabilities amounting to millions of pounds.

Herron, who is becoming a national hero, also points out that according to the 1985 Companies Act setting up such a company would not absolve members of their existing obligations. Indeed, members who had voted for their councils to provide the assembly with funds were in breach of the 1972 Local Government Act, since they had voted to give public money to a body in which they had a financial interest.

It appears that similar breaches of the law have taken place in other English regions with other EU gravy trains. Again, voters interested in freedom might want to visit Herron »

2005 ANCIENT LIBERTIES TRUMP PARKING FINES

Neil Herron and Robin de Crittenden assert that the covenant rights of Magna Carta and the Declaration of Rights are Constitutional rights that belong to all Brits and cannot be lawfully altered or destroyed by Parliament. In the Declaration of Rights the Brits affirmed their ancient rights and liberties and declared that all "fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction [that is, without trial] are illegal and void."

In a quirky move that highlights the freedoms at stake, Neil and Robin fight the imposition of traffic fines since these are imposed without trial. They win in court, forcing the government involved to refund fines to delighted drivers.

Robin de Crittenden has gone forward to the Court of Appeal to contend that according to Magna Carta and the Declaration of Rights his right to trial cannot be dismissed or damaged. He has asked the Court of Appeal to rule that the British government may not lawfully breach the terms of Magna Carta and the Declaration of Rights. This is a crucial right for Brits. To reach Robin and offer support, email him »

2005 THE SPIRIT OF ASSOCIATION IS THE SPIRIT OF LIBERTY; FIGHTING THE WELFARE STATE

No one person can achieve freedom on his or her own. In order to become free, we need others to stand with us. For the Brits, the spirit of helpful association begins in the moots and witenagemots of the Anglo-Saxons, and grows strong in the medieval guilds.

In ensuing centuries the Brits start hospitals, universities, building societies, political parties, schools, clubs, scientific societies, charitable trusts, trade unions, corporations, and even marching bands. Protected by the Common Law, these societies are based on an ethic of helpfulness, fair play, and trust. Their idea of fair play is equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome, for equality of outcome can only be achieved by creating a socialist nightmare.

The Brits' concept of community is personal, effective, and cost-efficient. It is very different from government-mandated community service networks which over-regulate, over-tax, and underperform. The relentless expansion of government-driven, tax-fed organisations kills spontaneous associations. This is tragic since spontaneous associations of men and women are primary sources of freedom and prosperity.

2005 VICAR GOES TO JAIL TO PROTEST UNFAIR COUNCIL TAX

Clutching his toothbrush, the 71-year-old Rev Alfred Ridley is jailed for refusing to pay his council tax. He is the first Brit senior to protest local council taxes, which have risen 76% over ten years and hurt seniors on small, fixed incomes.

Ridley believes in paying for services, but not for tax gouging. "If you don't stick your neck out no one is going to take a blind bit of notice," he observes. He is part of the IsItFair? movement begun by Christine Melsom that sweeps the country.

BRITS DEFEND THE RIGHT NOT TO BE FORCED TO ACCUSE THEMSELVES

A British citizen has the fundamental right not to be forced to accuse himself at trial, but to remain silent. It was won by 16th and 17th century heroes such as John Lambert > and by John Lilburne who defied torture and death. This right has been sacrosanct in criminal law for well over 300 years in Britain.

Idris Francis asserts that the right to silence has been removed for driving offences, and he is fighting to defend this fundamental right against any infringement. He has brought suit in British court, arguing that he has a right to be free from threats and intimidation that force him to accuse himself and the Government has no right to assume they may infringe that freedom whenever they find it convenient to do so.

2006 HOUSE OF COMMONS NARROWLY DEFEATS LABOUR'S RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS HATRED BILL

The House of Commons defeats by just one vote (283 votes to 282) a bill that would destroy the freedom that Brits have died to obtain and defend. The Bill would have prohibited speech or artistic expressions deemed insulting by religious communities. The Labour Government claimed that the bill was “necessary” to make multicultural coexistence possible. In the House debate, William Pitt the Younger was quoted: “Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom; it is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.” Can God be insulted by mere man? Should freedom be destroyed because a person of faith cannot ignore a criticism?

Rowan Atkinson of Blackadder fame and his supporters along with House members from all three parties win a victory for freedom of expression, as well as a victory for Parliament against a petty and hectoring Government.

2006 LAW LORDS FREE PRESS FROM LIBEL SUITS

British laws have so carefully protected individuals from the unwelcome attentions of the press that the romance between reporters and investigative journalism has been jinxed.

Reporters realistically worried that they and their papers would be hauled into court on charges of libel if their reporting was construed as defamatory of a powerful person or corporation. Much reporting is naturally defamatory because the truth is not a liar, but the thought of expensive and exhausting court cases with stiff fines understandably dampens a reporter's investigative ardour.

In this century, an American newspaper chose to fight back. Britain's Law Lords heard the case of Jameel v. The Wall Street Journal, and unanimously overturned two lower-court rulings. They held that if the journalist acted "fairly and responsibly in gathering and publishing the information" and if the information was of public importance, the press would not face libel charges for publishing a defamatory statement whether it is true or false.

The new ruling, which has just been issued, looks promising, but one wonders whether it will cut any mustard with the European Union, which has hounded journalists who tried to report on EU corruption.

Is fear of defamatory proceedings by the EU the reason British newspapers have written so little about the European Union? And isn't their deathly silence likely to continue given that EU laws now trump British law?

2006 ARMY CHIEF SPEAKS BLUNTLY ABOUT IRAQ, BRITAIN, AND SPIRITUAL CRISIS

General Sir Richard Dannatt thinks that the presence of British soldiers in Iraq may be exacerbating violence. Sensible people might also conclude that violent Islamists will continue to try to murder Iraqis in their effort to take over the country once the British force leaves.

The Army Chief also bluntly says, "'When I see the Islamist threat in this country I hope it doesn’t make undue progress because there is a moral and spiritual vacuum in this country.'"

This is the beginning of the reckoning. 
This is only the first sip,
the first foretaste of the bitter cup, 
which will be proffered to us year by year, 
unless by a supreme recovery of moral health
and martial vigour, we rise again
and take our stand for freedom. . . .

Winston Churchill speaking in Parliament in 1938.

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