Dear Donors and Friends,

I’m in Beirut, Lebanon. I’m glad I waited to send you this message and kick off Spirit of America’s support for Lebanon’s independence: http://www.spiritofamerica.net/projects/96

It makes a huge difference to be here. I’ve spent most of the last 48 hours with the demonstrators here who are struggling for a free, democratic and pluralistic society – one where people from different faiths can live and prosper together. We have seen Muslims and Christians side by side praying together and working for free elections. This is extraordinary. Here is a photo from last night at the demonstrators’ tent city of a Christian Cross and Muslim Crescent together.

The opportunity for Lebanon to transform the Middle East and Arab world is much greater than I thought. It is also more fragile. The people of Lebanon need our help and our support. They are asking for it. Without it, the Syrians and terrorists are likely to win.

We are raising money to support the pro-democracy movement in Lebanon. Their goals are (1) independence (i.e., Syria – a repressive dictatorship out of Lebanon) and (2) free and fair elections. The people of Lebanon want to be free to vote for their own government. You can help by making a contribution here: http://www.spiritofamerica.net/projects/96

If you were moved by the massive demonstrations for freedom in Lebanon (and pictures like the one below), please make a donation.

If you contributed to our work to support democracy and free elections in Iraq, here is a chance to repeat that wonderful success. If you support our troops in Iraq, it will help them to have another free, democratic country in the neighborhood. So please pitch in at: http://www.spiritofamerica.net/projects/96

We are supporting the pro-democracy demonstrators at the “tent city” in Martyrs’ Square. The tent city demonstrators are the center of gravity for Lebanon’s pro-democracy movement. They put together the massive demonstrations with 1.2 million people a few weeks ago. They represent all religions. This is “people power” at its best – peaceful, purposeful and focused on the right goals and ideals.

As go the demonstrators, so goes Lebanon’s independence. And so goes a great opportunity for democratic transformation of the Middle East. They need our help to sustain their struggle.

We are raising support for them (food, shelter, water, etc.) and providing them tools to increase popular support for free elections. We’re also looking into other things to help, like Internet access at tent city so they can communicate easily to the outside world. 100% of all donations go directly to the things that will help the people win independence for Lebanon.

Syria is publicly acting like it is playing nice and withdrawing. Behind the scenes they are destabilizing the country, delaying the elections and intimidating the opposition. They think they can wait things out until America forgets Lebanon. The good guys in Lebanon need our support. So do the good gals. In fact the leader of the tent city demonstrators is a very courageous young woman named Asma.

Please help get the word out and forward this message to your friends. Tell them to go to http://www.spiritofamerica.net/projects/96

Thank you for your support.

Jim Hake and the Spirit of America team