Fireworks are exploding in neighborhoods all over England today.

Most folk are either celebrating burning Catholics in effigy or that someone had a pretty good go at blowing up parliament, depending on their perspective.

But there is plenty to celebrate for those of us who are perhaps a mite less cynical than we were yesterday.

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

Yes, we can!

The current Iraq policy isn’t particularly popular here in Britain. Almost everyone I’ve spoken with has disapproved of the invasion, though there is no consensus on the best strategy at this point. There is a sense of a potential threat of terrorism, however. And there is quite a bit of debate about the relationship between the relatively large Muslim community and the rest of Britain.

I’ve been reading a biography of Gertrude Bell, an Englishwoman who was instrumental in the creation of the modern nation of Iraq after World War I. She is a fascinating woman and her role in the political milieu of the time is quite remarkable.

I highly recommend this book, not only to learn about the life of an exceptional woman, but as a source of insight and context for the current situation in the Middle East. Interestingly, Churchill and others were quite explicit about the need to maintain the British access to the recently discovered oil reserves in the area since the Navy had just converted their ships from coal to oil power. Gertrude Bell was a strong advocate for spreading the best of British culture, especially beneficent government and self-determination, while respecting local traditions and culture.  I imagine we could use someone like her now.