I THINK I understand Newnham parish councillor J. Chapman's letter and enclosed poem to be a protest about being in the European Economic Community, However I take exception to the jingoistic, misleading and emotive language used in the poem by a Frank McGarry.

I'd like to point out that Brussels although the administrative capital of the EU is the Belgian capital and in the French speaking part of Wallonia.

•That all Belgians are not pro Europe and they are composed of Dutch and German speakers as well as French. The country is divided into Wallonia and Flanders.

•That apart from the tragic "Flanders Fields" of two world wars thousands of "British bones" as well as foreign bones are sadly buried all over the globe. Lest we forget the debt we owe to Polish Hungarian Czech Canadian American Gurkhas and Caribbean fighters to name but a few!

•That "Resting under Flemish" stones in Belgium has nothing to do with being in the E.U. There are many other war graveyards in Holland, France, Luxembourg, Italy etc.

•That apart from "British soldiers" fighting in World War 2 millions of people from all over the world, fought as freedom fighters and in armed forces in the name of liberty equality and brotherhood to destroy the Fascist oppression and racism.

•That "sacrifices" were possibly greater in Europe by occupied countries who lost everything when the Germans marched in and over them.

•The line "Take French or German lessons lightly" as if this somehow takes away our identity! I celebrate the forthcoming addition of learning a foreign language for children when they are around three years old. British people, especially in business, cannot rely on the "everyone speaks English over there" mentality any longer in world trade.

•Britain is in the E.U not just England.

•World War 2 fighters having already overthrown "the fascist blighter", who exactly is Mr. McGarry calling Fascist? Lest we Forget, Belgium and Europe was flattened by Fascists. The European Union is not necessarily composed entirely of pro fascists.

•My father was a fighter pilot (Spitfires) in World War 2. He was a french speaking Belgian who as a youngster was already in the Belgian army when war broke out. He fought in the Resistance in order to escape Belgium to get to G.B. and join the R.A.F. He fought for peace and for freedom. Post war he was always forgiving when meeting people from countries that had been "the enemy".

What is very important is that we do not give way to any form of racism or hatred towards others from any part of our universe.

Fascism is showing its ugly, evil face again in many parts of the world. Let's stop this now as individuals and unite in wishes for world peace and unity.

– S. Dubois, Newnham.