ONCE UPON a        TIME
                                                                                          ezine at l'atelier bonita
                                                     established since december 2002

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR IMPECCABLE! To the Editor: I admire ALL of your courage and strength it took to maintain your goals of communication!!! Keep up the GREAT work! The value of the information your site provides to people who need it and feel its so important is impeccable. Chase Ohio, USA KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, ONCE UPON A TIME! To the Editor: Hello, how's it going out there :)? I hope you enjoy this gorgeous time of the year. I just wanna tell you that I love rereading your magazine.Keep up the good work! Recuerdos, Luba Bulgaria HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ONCE UPON A TIME! To the Editor: Happy Anniversary, OUAT! *grin*. Cant believe its been a year. *hugs* Jun-Lei, with Max To the Editor: Happy Anniversary to Bonita and OUAT. May there be many more anniversary celebrations. Jo Cardiff, Wales IMAGES, AND A SURPRISE To the Editor: Thank you for publishing the images of demonstrators around the world against the war on Iraq. I would like to share with your readers the following letter which was sent to me recently. Amanda W. Opie Amsterdam, The Netherlands [Washington] The surprise resignation of the forty-third President of the United States, George W. Bush, on the second anniversary of the terrorist attack on America, was hailed by chiefs of state throughout the world. Mr. Bush announced that after, "two years of bloodshed, economic devastation, and spreading fear in America and abroad," he saw no choice but to accept that, "I have held a title which I did not win, and for which I have proven unqualified." The text of the former President's September 11 address to the nation follows: "My fellow Americans: I come to you tonight with a heavy heart. Two years ago today, thousands of innocent Americans were murdered by terrorist maniacs. In the script I've been handed, I'm now supposed to tell you that America is safer today, and that the world is kinder and nicer and happier, because of I'm such a brilliant general in the War on Terror. But who are we kidding? Yesterday, Osama released his new hit video. The terrorists are having a picnic ever since I turned over our foreign policy to Saudi Arabia and Exxon-Mobil. And here's the point in my speech where my handlers would have me tell you about how I've been praying hard, making it sound like I just got off the phone with the Lord. I don't know about you, but I find it pretty darn offensive, downright blasphemous, to drag the Lord's name into every cheap campaign speech and chest-pounding war threat. Osama says he talks to God too. Let's leave Him out of the politics from now on, OK? Look, in my speech this past Sunday, I used the word "democracy" about 11 times when talking about Iraq. It's democracy Florida-style, I suppose. Except we're not fixing the vote this time … we aren't letting these people vote at all. "Iraqis aren't prepared for democracy." That's what Dick Cheney and Saddam Hussein told me. So we're blowing 100 billion bucks we don't have to colonize a country we don't want. Rummy tries to explain it to me each morning -- oil this and oil that -- but I just don't see it. And one of our kids dying there every day - where are their parents, anyway? My dad didn't let that happen - he got me out of the service. Didn't I look neat in that fly-boy suit? And, let me tell you, I just looked at our nation's piggy bank. Uh-oh. When I arrived, the last guy left me $4 trillion and said, "Be careful with all that cash in this neighborhood." Well, I have to level with you, America: it's all gone. The cupboard's bare and this year alone we blew half a trillion more dollars than we have in our bank account. Man, I can't believe I went through all that dough stone sober. And what did we get for it? A Fatherland Security Department that's trying to read the labels on everyone's underpants. Think about it, all this Total Information Awareness KGB stuff: two years ago Americans were the victims - but my government has made Americans the suspects. I don't know about you, but this guy Ashcroft scares the bejeezus out of me. And today I'm told that over nine million Americans are out of work. That's not so bad: I haven't done much work in my lifetime either. But my mama explained to me that not everyone's daddy can lend them an oil well to tide them over. It's like I can't get anything right. The lights are going out in Ohio and the North Pole is melting. I don't get it. I appointed all those regulators that Ken Lay told me to, and I got rid of all the rules that got in the way of patriotic Polluter-Americans …. and what's the upshot? America the Beautiful is looking like she's had a pretty rough night. Won't be long before the whole country smells like Houston. And now the stock market's floating face down in the swimming pool - despite everything I've done for those guys on Wall Street. Even my plan to give every millionaire an extra million seems to have backfired. Greenspam says I've created "business risk." Says I spook investors. But when I asked Greenspam for a solution, all he did was hand me a bag of pretzels. Hey, I can take a hint. OK, I'm over my head on this one. I look back over these last years, and what have I got to show you for it: two years of bloodshed, economic devastation, and spreading fear in America and abroad. When I ran for this office, I said the issue was, "character." And just look at the characters around me. I've gotten all their resignations today. And while I've got some character left, here's my own good-bye note too. Let's face it: I have held a title which I did not win, and for which I have proven unqualified. You know it. And I know it. It's at this point in the speech where I'm supposed to say, "And may God bless America." God better, because Dick Cheney won't. Don't panic: I'm not turning over this sacred office to Mr. Contracts-R-Us. Instead, I've petitioned the United States Supreme Court to pick a President for us. Those guys picked the last one, why not the next one? And so, my fellow Americans, you can take this job and …." Here, Mr. Bush's words became unintelligible. As usual. THE POEM WITHIN To the Editor: I want to thank you for publishing Jeff White's most thoughtful poem. While a powerful nation in the world bombs and destroys, it also harbors leeches within. I wish to share the following - Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 500 employees and has the following statistics: *29 have been accused of spousal abuse *7 have been arrested for fraud *19 have been accused of writing bad checks *117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses *3 have done time for assault *71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit *14 have been arrested on drug! -related charges *8 have been arrested for shoplifting *21 are currently defendants in lawsuits *84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year. Can you guess which organization this is? Give up yet? It's the 535 members of the United States Congress . . . Elliot Davids Baltimore, Maryland, USA BOND AND CHANGE To the Editor: Your articles and letters [to the Editor] reflect the bond between writers and readers, a rarity even on the internet these days. ... As for myself, I've already changed the world, and the changes I make in the world around me hopefully make the chances of revolutionary change that bit higher. Jean-Marc Chassériau Lyon, France EXISTING ANGELS To the Editor: So many thanks for *bringing back* OUaT. Hey! Angels exist, just open your eyes... Alex A. Stockholm, Sweden A BREATH OF FRESH AIR To the Editor: I read with great interest Geert Schuermans' essay [The USA and EU: The Gap Widens] and would like to contribute this song which has been circulating the internet. It is impossible to read anything lucid and non-bias here in Bush country. Schuermans' article is a much-needed breath of fresh air. Bravo, Once Upon A Time Magazine! Richard Foley Dunedin, Florida (EVEN IF WE HAVE NO ALLIES) BOMB IRAQ Sing to the tune: "If You're Happy And You Know It Clap Your Hands" If we cannot find Osama, bomb Iraq. If the markets hurt your Mama, bomb Iraq. If the terrorists are Saudi And the bank takes back your Audi And the TV shows are bawdy, Bomb Iraq. If the corporate scandals growin', bomb Iraq. And your ties to them are showin', bomb Iraq. If the smoking gun ain't smokin' We don't care, and we're not jokin'. That Saddam will soon be croakin', Bomb Iraq. Even if we have no allies, bomb Iraq. From the sand dunes to the valleys, bomb Iraq. So to hell with the inspections; Let's look tough for the elections, Close your mind and take directions, Bomb Iraq. While the globe is slowly warming, bomb Iraq. Yay! the clouds of war are storming, bomb Iraq. If the ozone hole is growing, Some things we prefer not knowing. (Though our ignorance is showing), Bomb Iraq. So here's one for dear old daddy, bomb Iraq, From his favorite little laddy, bomb Iraq. Saying no would look like treason. It's the Hussein hunting season. Even if we have no reason, Bomb Iraq. THANK YOU! To the Editor: A great website! I am really thankful to Jun-Lei who posted the address on Xtratime. Luba Bulgaria CHRISTMAS PRESENT To the Editor: I've just finished reading the first issue of your magazine and what a Christmas present. I can definitely say I enjoyed every second of it! Biancoceleste Denmark HOMEWARD BOUND To the Editor: Welcome Home, OUaT! The West Chelsea clan Gemma Haffner, Joseph Hsu, Kwok, Diana Linn, Flo Mazzi Justin Palley, Rock Pellerini, Miguel Angel Llobos New York City JOE STRUMMER (1952-2002) To the Editor: I came upon your magazine by chance on Christmas eve and thoroughly enjoyed the pictorial history of the Sex Pistols by Bonita and the thought provoking story of punks in San Francisco by Heather M. Borstel. By most of all, thank you for posting the "Adieu" to Joe Strummer on your home page. I heard the news of Strummer's death early on Monday morning when a friend called to tell me. It's so sudden and tragic. I think it'll be a long time for many of us fans, and Joe's friends around the world to get over this. He had so many things going on and planned for the coming year.. Earlier this year, in April I was fortunate to see him 3 times in concert in the States (at the St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn), and then to meet and speak with with him after the shows. I had no idea that it would be my last contact with him, but I'm grateful for that at least. There was not a more sweeter, generous, down to earth person in music. He'll really be missed. I seldom share my feelings about Joe Strummer and the Clash. Somehow your magazine had brought forth these sentiments. Godspeed. El Girrrl Brixton, UK Have a question, comment or a piccie? Send them to the Editor. Once Upon a Time magazine is a non time-sentitive publication in which articles can be submitted perpetually. The author holds all rights to her/his publication(s). You may e-mail submissions to the Editor Other logistics are as follows. 1. Articles: Categories: Essays, reviews (film, book, music, art, others...), commentaries (politics, sports), narratives (prose, short stories), poems / lyrics. Length: not to exceed 3000 words, if possible :-) 2. Images: Original photographs, artwork. File type: JPG, GIF, Flash. Note: if sending text and/or images other than your own, please state source, copyright notice and links. 3. Schedules: Deadline for submission: None. Once Upon a Time is a *perpetual* magazine. 4. Submission Submit to atelierbonita@yahoo.fr

                                                   ONCE UPON      a TIME
                                                                                          ezine at l'atelier bonita
                                                     established since december 2002