Tariq Ali (b. 1944) is a historian and novelist. He has written over a dozen books on world history and politics as well as five novels. His most recent book, Bush in Babylon: The Re-colonisation of Iraq, is published by Verso.

Tariq,

In 1947 the historian Arthur Findlay told the truth about colonialism - 'The Curse of Ignorance'. Not only that, he told the truth about the whole history of mankind. Needless to say this history really upset the powerful thought police who control what information people are allowed to receive.

This great freethinking philosopher is so dangerous that I suspect he has not even come to your attention. Thankfully I do not have to spell out to you just how powerful the establishment forces are. People are only just beginning to find out about Thomas Paine after 200 years. It won't take this long for people to find out about Findlay because of the Internet. What you are doing, telling the truth, has all been published in 1947, but suppressed by the brilliant Dr. Goebbels establishment propaganda machine.

Like the great pioneers of subatomic physics (the study of the invisible part of the universe), Sir William Crookes and Sir Oliver Lodge, Arthur Findlay now has the emotive label of "Spiritualist" hung round his neck. He was no more dabbling in the one-god religion of Spiritualism than you are. However, as you know so well, if the lie is big enough and the liars have total control of media and educational outlets with access to unlimited amounts of money, then there is a very good chance of getting away with outrageous lies.

Please pass this information onto your team.

Michael Roll

Tariq Ali: The same old racket in Iraq - To the victors, the spoils: Bush's colonialism will only deepen resistance - an article published in The Guardian (December 13, 2003)

The Most Valuable Englishman Ever - Michael Roll's article about Thomas Paine (1736-1809)
This outstanding tribute to Thomas Paine - "The Most Valuable Englishman Ever" - is taken from Arthur Findlay's suppressed history of humanity, "The Curse of Ignorance".

The Curse of Ignorance by Arthur Findlay (1947), published in two volumes, and details of some of Findlay's other works.

This is the true history of mankind, totally different to the pack of lies taught in a country where the Church and state are established. This passage sums up just how badly the British people have been deceived:

"Such, however, is still [the Church's] influence that this book, which tells the story of the past honestly and fearlessly, will be kept out of our schools and universities by the authorities, and consequently, only in later life will those with enquiring minds discover the truth."

Findlay finishes with a call to the people of the world to throw off the shackles of priestcraft, to make a choice between two paths:

"One is the Secular way (non religious) and the other is the Theological (religious); one is the Democratic and the other the Despotic; one is the sane and the other the insane."