Team Captain Gail Greenberg says that it was her idea to display the sign and she did it in response to questions asked by players from other countries.

· “What we were trying to say, not to Americans but to our friends from other countries, was that we understand that they are questioning and critical of what our country is doing these days, and we want you to know that we, too, are critical.”

She described her action as “a moment of levity,” that took place while other member of her Bridge team sang along to “The Star-Spangled Banner” and waved small American flags during the awards ceremony.

Jan Martel (president of the United States Bridge Federation) was quick to point out that “This isn’t a free-speech issue”--but that is exactly what it is. What the United States Bridge Federation is really saying is that it can deny the right of free speech to its members.

Robert S. Wolff, an executive and board member of several bridge organizations, added this:

· “While I believe in the right to free speech, to me that doesn’t give anyone the right to criticize one’s leader at a foreign venue in a totally nonpolitical event,”

Even if that were true, Ms. Greenberg’s sign did not criticize Mr. Bush in any way; but merely stated that they did not vote for him. We have come to a sad point in America history when that becomes a punishable offense in any venue.

· “Freedom to express dissent against our leaders has traditionally been a core American value. Unfortunately, the Bush brand of patriotism, where criticizing Bush means you are a traitor, seems to have penetrated a significant minority of U.S. bridge players.”-- Gail Greenberg, world champion Bridge player and Bu$hWorld traitor

We can’t say they didn’t warn us:

· “[Americans] need to watch what they say, watch what they do. This is not a time for remarks like that; there never is.”--Bush’s first White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, 9/26/01

…and that’s the way it is in Bu$hWorld, November 16th, 2007.

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