Sent out today on the socialist listserv at UNC-Chapel Hill:

From: Chase Foster [email withheld by Lockerroom]
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2004 12:01 PM
To: Progressive Students and Faculty
Subject: [progress] Power transfer tonight at Weaver St.!

A commemoration ceremony honoring the new Iraqi democracy will take place tonight at Weaver St. at 7pm in a surprise move, one day behind schedule. You’ll get to see power garishly transfer right before your eyes, and we can all trade stories about our favourite acts of American liberation…

So, join your friends and family for fun and food (did you notice? – that’s four alliterated f’s!) and learn how you can help Iraq stay democratic: by signing up for the armed forces yourself or supporting a petition that would require all families that make less than $25,000 a year to enlist at least one family member.

I might attend. If so, I’ll be the one carrying the “Bush ‘Lied’ ? Saddam’s Fried” sign.

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Meanwhile, coincidentally also at UNC-Chapel Hill, assistant professor (and Iraqi expatriate) Dr. Maha Alattar received the following email from “a colleague named Basma Fakri”:

“We’re all holding our breaths now, but surely we will cry out loud with joy soon. The patience, tolerance and the price Iraqis are paying should prevail in the near bright future of our beloved Iraq. Just hang in there and God may help us survive this difficult new birth. It’s the beginning of a new era.”