Reply #1: Europe needs to maintain the solidary clause...and make the

[deminflorida]

visa issue a sticking point with Washington. Poland has contributed, and Bush is dissing them.

This is absolute bull-shit and all Polish Americans should write their elected representatives.

The EU needs to stand up for it's member states period. If that means shoving this visa issue down Washington's throat, then so be it.

Tampa has one of the largest Polish-American Populations in the U.S out-side of Chicago, New York/New Jersey. The loss of 27 electoral votes in November should get their asses moving in Washington.

"I also might remind everyone in Florida that Poland was as important to our independence as was France during our revolution.

Statue of Revolutionary War Hero
BG Thaddeus Kosciuszko
Dedicated July 4, 2002 in St. Petersburg
A statue of the Polish Revolutionary War Hero was dedicated the morning of July 4, 2002 in Williams Park, downtown St. Petersburg. The statue was sponsored by the American Institute of Polish Culture which raised $120,000 to pay for its cost. The Clearwater Chapter, SAR was in contact with Wallace West of the Institute since inception of the project. Mr. West was a speaker at one of our meetings and the Chapter made a donation towards the project. The Chapter Color Guard marched in the dedication ceremony and with the St. Petersburg Chapter laid a wreath in General Kosciuszko's honor.

Clearwater Chapter contributed a memorial brick placed at the foot of the statue.

General Kosciuszko was one of two Polish generals and heros of the American Revolution. and gained recognition for significant contributions in the battles of Saratoga and West Point, New York. His is the first statue of a Revolutionary War hero in the State of Florida."

Everyone on this board should EMail the Polish American Societies and remind them them that their own people are being mis-treated by the Bush Administration.

Here's a list of societies and support groups:

http://www.ampolinstitute.org/
http://www.polish.org/
A more complete list of Florida Polish American Sites is here:

http://www.apacouncil.org/state/fl/index.php

Also...remember there are 429,691 Polish Americans in Florida as of 2000. Roughly 2.7% of Florida's population....The Majority have voted in the past conservative....

IT's Time to push the Apple Cart over. Convince these Polish Americans we have their interests on the fore-front as Democrats and Florida will fall like a rock to the horror of the GOP.