From Carol of Paint Shop Pro Addicts
Carol is from Saskatoon, SK, Canada 

We Will NOT Be Diminished!
© By Jo McNamara 2001

On September 11, I spent the day alternating between intense anger that made me clench my fists and enormous sadness that made me cry.

On September 11, thousands of innocent people lost their lives due to terrorist attacks that made sense only to the animals who perpetrated those attacks.

I, along with millions of people all over the world, watched in mindless horror as the day unfolded. As we heard that four planes had been hijacked and had crashed. Two into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon and one into the ground.

We heard stories of people jumping out of the windows of the World Trade Center. They chose not to be burned alive, but rather to fall to their deaths. We heard of a man on a cell phone, locked in the bathroom of one of the hijacked planes. "We are being hijacked!" A sound and then the phone goes dead.

So many gruesome stories, one after another. So many, your mind goes numb because you can't comprehend this monstrous massacre of so many lives in such a short period of time.

At first you feel utter horror, then agonizing sadness and then the white-hot anger. How dare anyone do this to my country; how dare anyone do this to my fellow Americans; how dare anyone do this to any human being!

When President Bush came on the television to speak for the first time from Sarasota, Florida, I was relieved to see the anger in his eyes, even though his words were calm and measured. I knew then that the United States would not hesitate in retaliatory action.

As the Japanese discovered when they bombed Pearl Harbor, you do NOT invade our soil; you do NOT kill Americans and think you can get away with it. We WILL annihilate you.

What occurred on September 11 can only be considered an Act of War. And as with our entry into World WAR II, we as American citizens will do whatever we have to do. Our government WILL hunt down those responsible and make sure that justice is served. "THIS IS THE UNITED STATES AND WE WILL NOT BE DIMINISHED!"

Our lives as Americans changed on September 11. We have lost our innocence. I don't think that we'll ever feel quite the same when we board a plane. If you work in a high-rise office building, will you feel as secure today?

The day that Timothy McVeigh was executed, the Orlando Sentinel published a two-page spread. On it were the photographs of everyone killed in the Oklahoma Bombing. The caption reads, "Lives Disappeared In An Instant." Looking at each individual photograph, I came to fully understand that these were unique human beings…not just numbers.

I put it on the wall near my desk to remind me that there are other things far more important than the Internet. It also reminds me that I could lose those I love in an instant. Sadly, I will be putting another part of the newspaper on my wall today.

Jo McNamara is an Asian-American. She was born in Hiroshima, Japan. "May we say a prayer for the cherished lives lost on September 11. And may we say many prayers for those in unspeakable grief." 

A NOTE OF THANKS TO THE TERRORISTS
From: EricFuller2001

To those silly little cowardly creatures who so shamefully attacked my country yesterday, where ever you are skulking and hiding in fear, too small and gutless to even take responsibility for your act - I have only one thing to say to you:

Thank you.

I think you should listen to the words to my anthem. Then maybe you'll understand.

"Oh say you can see,
by the dawn's early light,
what so proudly we hailed,
at the twilight's last gleaming.

Whose broad stripes and bright stars,
through the perilous fight,
o'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming.

And the rockets red glare,
the bombs bursting in air,
gave proof through the night,
that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star spangled banner yet wave,
o'er the land of the free,
and the home of the brave."

Those words were written by Francis Scott Key almost 2 centuries ago, as he sat and watched a long ago enemy attack the shores of my country. He watched our proud flag fly through the night, lit only by the lights from the muskets
and cannon, torn and ripped by bullets, stained with the blood of our patriots.

In the morning when he arose, the flag still flew. Over the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

I should let you know - in that war, our capital was attacked, too. And our famous buildings and monuments. But do you know what? We WON that war. Against an enemy far braver and far smarter than you. We WON that war. And the next. And the next. And the next. And the next.

And we will win this one, too.

Not that I ever expect you to come out of your caves and holes and actually face us. You are too small for that. No one will ever write a song about battles with you, because you are too afraid and too full of cowardice to actually face us in a battle.

No, you prefer women and innocent children. At work, at home, going about their lives .... I am quite sure you would never think to actually FIGHT like men. Your people must be OH so proud of you!

Nevertheless - I must thank you.

By your actions, you have PROVED once again that which we Americans sometimes have a little trouble proving on our own. You have shown the world what we truly are ... and the world can now only sit back in awe and wonder at our pride, they can only marvel at our unity, and they can only worship our righteous strength.

You made a very big mistake, which you could have avoided if only you have read a few history books. You see - as so many have learned before you - although America is a big country with many kinds of people, although we often fight and bicker amongst ourselves, although we have problems galore here at home and abroad - you failed to note that when faced with a threat from outside, the United States of America has time and time again become one unified force the like of which has never been seen elsewhere in the history of all humanity.

When threatened, my countrymen come together always in one voice. With one spirit. With one soul. 300 million proud voices, full of righteous anger, come together to say one thing. We are AMERICA, We are FREEDOM, and LIBERTY and HONOR and COURAGE and before such virtues and such strength and such
unity of purpose, NO evil can stand.

It has admittedly been awhile since my people have come together in that legendary unit which is our hallmark as a nation. The last time, over 60 years ago, our people did nothing less than save the world itself. And those enemies of peace and freedom felt our mighty wrath in a way they have never forgotten!

You really should have at least listened to our anthem! Are these the goals you sought to accomplish? Did you intend to bring us together, to unite us regardless of color or race or religion? Did you intend to awaken that fabled "sleeping giant"?

I really don't think so. You see, again the bombs may be bursting and the rockets may be flying .... but this morning, I saw my flag flying again. That banner still flies over my home, over the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Yes - you hurt me. In these last days, I have cried many tears. But unfortunately for you, they were not tears of pain. They were tears of pride and joy. I have NEVER been so proud to be an American. An American .... there's another word you failed to understand. Do you even know what an American is?

An American is not only the people of this country, who live within our borders. As a matter of fact, sometimes those within my borders don't even act as "American" as they should .... although they are TODAY, thanks to you!

No, you failed to see that an American is ANYONE, ANYWHERE, of any race or religion or color or creed, who believes in FREEDOM, who respects his fellow man and worships both his God and the sanctity of all life. ANYONE anywhere
who stands up for FREEDOM and HONOR and LIBERTY and DEMOCRACY is an American.

... but you seem to have missed that idea! That man who stood before the tank in Tianammen Square in 1989? He was an American, regardless of what his passport might say. Those who defeated Apartheid in South Africa ... everyone of the them is an American, regardless of their color or language.

We are everywhere. We are in Britain fighting for peace in Ireland, we are in the Middle East fighting for peace between the Arabs and Jews, we are everywhere that people are fighting for what is RIGHT, where people are opposing oppression and persecution. Those are ALL AMERICANS.

Did you really mean to attack ALL of those people? I really don't think so, and I pity you for the righteous anger soon to rain down upon you. You have proven to the world that not only are we MIGHTY, not only are we POWERFUL, not only are we UNIFIED .... but most dangerous of all to you .... you have
proven that we are RIGHT.

One last thank you. When I woke up this morning, those broad stripes and bright stars were flying over a BETTER country than the one you attacked. We are now stronger, we are more unified, we are a closer family of those who love freedom .... and we are more RIGHT than ever in our history

Where I live, I had to wait hours to donate money to relief agencies, because too many other people wanted to as well. Think about that ... my people are so unified right now that I had to wait HOURS to GIVE money away. I had to wait even longer to give blood. Do you know that because of you, in one day all of the United States flags have sold out of local stores? That national chains report over 100% increases in flag sales? Was THIS your goal??

Although I might have trouble buying a flag - because the pride in my nation is so very high thanks to YOU - I do know that there is now and forever an eternal answer to the question at the end of that anthem you should have listened to:

"Oh Say Does That Star Spangled Banner Yet Wave,
O'er the Land of the Free,
and the Home of the Brave"???

The answer is yes, forever yes, thank God Almighty yes. It flies over that land, a land that is now freer and stronger and more brave than it was yesterday. For that, we thank you.

God Bless America. 

Falwell, Robertson hit some sour notes in chorus of national unity 

Editorial
MODESTO BEE; MODESTO, CALIFORNIA
September 18, 2001 


At a time when the Rev. Jerry Falwell and television evangelist Pat Robertson could have added their powerful voices to those who are trying to make sense out of Tuesday's terrorist attacks, they disappointingly chose a divisive course. 

Falwell and Robertson contended that God, angry with the United States for allowing homosexuality, abortion and other "sins," permitted the terrorists to successfully hijack four airplanes and crash them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Falwell and Robertson made the remarks Thursday on Robertson's "700 Club" television program. 

Falwell put it this way: "The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked," according to various media reports. Speaking of "the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians," Falwell said: "I point the finger at you and say 'You made this happen.'" Robertson nodded. "Well, I totally concur." 

Falwell did apologize on Monday, calling his rhetoric poorly timed, insensitive and divisive. While the apology is welcome, Falwell's initial statement continues to reverberate. He cannot undo what he has done. 

The remarks came at a time when the rest of the nation was trying to deal with its collective grief from Tuesday's tragic events. 

It's clear that they are out of touch with a nation that believes in the best of all of its people. America has shown its true colors since Tuesday's tragedy. So have Falwell and Robertson. 

Positive Pause -- The True Power

It was so minor that it seemed almost a "toss away" item, much like a good deal of the media repetitious reporting that began to pile up in the days following the World Trade Center destruction.

Mid-Town Manhattan. Two days after the devastation. A Red Cross center is set up and business is overwhelming. Long lines of people are patiently waiting to donate blood, to volunteer assistance, to give crates of food, supplies, clothing. Many simply offer sums of money. Anything to help.

The Media stepped back with their cameras and panoramically took in the mass of activity. They are grandly impressed by the truckloads of goods being carted in from major corporations. They faun over the legions of diamond merchants, stockbrokers, marketing managers and executives pitching in to help. It is all good.

Eventually, the cameras find their way to the Director of this Red Cross center. They ask her, amidst all the excitement, for her thoughts…what had impressed her most.

Her response was most telling…

In the midst of all this grand and great giving, she told of a street person; a transient, who stood in line and eventually, worked his way up to her desk. Nameless and faceless, Tattered, dirty and disheveled, the man had obviously been homeless for many years. He shuffled up to the desk and  turned out his threadbare pockets, laying down the few coins he had in his meager existence.

"I just wanted to do something to help. Please, I want to donate this to help those people."

Tearfully, he turned and quietly shuffled out.
Nothing else was said.
Nothing else needed to be said.

What makes America great lies not in those giant pinnacles of finance, the industrial might of our factories, the sophistication of the technology,  the enormous prosperity, the immense power of the military or the sheer size of the land mass.

The true power of America is in the humanity of its people. People willing to be supremely selfless…people willing to give the very last of everything they have in order to help another, no matter what the situation or circumstance. When the lowest destitute in society will give all they have to assist those once touched by wealth and greatness, but are suddenly brought low by tragedy, the world witnesses the true spirit of this land. For it is found not in the grandiose, but in the average, ordinary  and everyday; in a anonymous, self-sacrificing and universal generosity, love and humbleness. It is often hidden, but it still can be found everywhere, even in the most ragged and frayed fabric of our culture.

God Bless America!

Positive Pause © Scott Ringwelski
Correspondence: Rocketeer@2by2.net