Won't you rally round the flag

Won't you rally round the flag, my boys,
Hold your head up high,
It stands for freedom, 
And, I'm here to tell you why!
From the Civil war, that first sad time,
Where this great cry began,
They knew it then, my boys, 
That we can! 

Red stripes that stand for bloodshed,
And I say white for peace,
Stars that stand for glory, 
And states will not cease! 

We can rid the world of tyrants, boys,
Those who'd ban our views,
Banding all together, 
We know we can't lose!!!!!!!

Won't you rally 'round the flag, my boys,
She has served us well,
Symbol of our freedom, 
Over hill and every dell! 

We have taken in oppressed souls, 
Yearning to be free, 
They've come 'cross oceans,
Over land and sea. 

And, as I sing this song, boys,
I'll go on bended knee, 
Pray the Lord to keep you,
Both here and 'oer the sea! 

Won't you rally 'round the flag, my boys,
Know you're in our hearts,
Loving you and this great land,
'Til death do part! 

~ Janet Vittorio Corica ~

Sept. 16, 2001 

From Connie of Jazzl PSP

The Dual Realities of September 11, 2001
By: Bill Thomas

A few miles from our office, an event so incredible, so insidious, and so desperate took place. Friends, neighbors and family members got up, prepared themselves and traveled to their offices in New York City - to spend another day earning their pay. Some came home after hours of seeking an exit, others discovered that they were in hospital rooms, others tried to find ways to cling to life, and some found the very end of life. Yet thousands of miles away, one or more people felt a deep sense of satisfaction with the results of a well executed plan. For only a desire for revenge fueled by unfathomable hatred could implement and motivate others to carry out such a horrible series of actions.

On one hand, we can discuss the differences in theology and philosophy between people of different nationalities. There are arguments to be made for the diversity of political stances. We could take those statements of self-interest [after all politics is only the promulgation of someone's self-interests] and mix them with religious doctrine. History is filled with plenty of examples of that explosive combination - to name more recent instances, look at Northern Ireland, Sudan, The Philippines, etc.

Then there is the racial issue - look at the number of atrocities committed in the quest to maintain racial purity. Economics has been a compelling reason for taking violent action in the past, too. If I believe that my work entitles me to ownership in my place of employment, and if you believe that your capital gives you exclusive rights of ownership, our differences may lead to violence. Social upheavals based on distinctions in class or caste are infamous for producing conflict.

But we must look again at the enormity of violence that has been perpetrated against innocents - what is called, "acts of terrorism". Could there be something else besides politics, religion or philosophy that motivates a terrorist? Is it hate, or revenge, or a feeling of being slighted or wronged by another? Sometimes I think that our world has gotten a little too used to the 'packaging' of our news stories. If I say that I disagree with you politically or socially, or economically, and so on, you think that I mean that I disagree with your stance on a narrow range of topics.

Terrorists do not discuss or want to discuss their position with you - they believe that there is nothing more that can be said on the subject with you. They only see you and I as victims and statistics for their violence. The real problem with our view on terrorism is this: we think that they have some valid, civilized or other redeeming objective for their actions. What we have forgotten is this: this is good or there is evil, and there is no in-between.

Good tries to care, to reach out in hope of making contact and establish a relationship. Good hopes for the best for all concerned, good desires a world where everyone wants and obtains the best out of life. Good sees patience as a virtue, it values the fruits that come from that patience. Good is eager to shine in the light of its actions, good has no fear of the light.

Evil is afraid to care and reach out in the hope of being in contact - fear drives evil and makes the evil person avoid deep, loving relationships. Evil is selfish and self-centered in the extreme. Evil has no hope but it has as its hope, feelings of greed, jealousy, anger and hate. Evil sees patience as a horrible necessity, like an endurance of hell itself. Evil cowers in the light of its actions, evil's greatest fear is the light.

It is as simple as that, there is good in the world and there is evil. The acts that were taken on September 11, 2001, and caused such heartache and suffering, were committed and inspired by evil people. God does not care about our politics, religion, or economics - He does care about good and evil. So evil has won another battle, but good has already won the war.

About the Author 
Bill Thomas is Managing Principal of Syntopic Intelligence. His team provides key skills improvement programs for all types of knowledge workers in the New Economy. The Syntopic Method transforms the expertise, creative talents, and influence of artists, technicians, specialists, analysts, agents, managers, professionals and executives into energized, productive results.

Go to: http://www.syntopic.net/faith_corner.html This is our Prayer corner - download your FREE copy of our mind- map, "How to Pray - effectively, with power". Then go to: http://www.syntopic.net - To get your FREE copy of our 55+ page eBook, "How You can be a more Creative and Innovative Professional" Syntopic programs GUARANTEE 100% ROI 

Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.
Sir Rabindranath Tagore

* Keeping Faith

The bird that sings long before the sun has risen is strong evidence of faith. For that bird trusts the sky will soon lighten, the sun will  rise, and the world will come alive. It is when the bird won't sing at 
such a time that we know it has lost faith in the great continuum of 
things.

Even when things seem darkest for us, we can still sing. Even in our 
grief or loneliness or fear, we can find a voice within us that will 
help us have faith that all things change, all wounds heal, all is eased through the passage of time.

We hear people tell us things get better. They do. Of that we can be certain, for it's as sure as the rising sun. There isn't a day that won't have light. There isn't a night that won't have a rising sun at its end. There isn't a problem that won't have a solution, a teardrop that won't have a smile, a weary soul that won't be energized once again. Tonight we can sing, for we can have faith in the rising sun.

There is hope because there is always change.

From the book: Night Light by Amy E. Dean
copyright 1986 sent by: Jim Brennan

On Monday there were people fighting against praying in schools
On Tuesday you would have been hard pressed to find a school where someone was not praying

On Monday there were people were trying to separate each other by race, sex, color and creed
On Tuesday they were all holding hands

On Monday we thought that we were secure
On Tuesday we learned better

On Monday we were talking about heroes as being athletes
On Tuesday we relearned what hero meant

On Monday people went to work at the World Trade Center as usual
On Tuesday they died

On Monday people were fighting the 10 commandments on government property
On Tuesday the same people all said 'God help us all' while thinking 'Thou shall not kill'

On Monday people argued with their kids about picking up their room
On Tuesday the same people could not get home fast enough to hug their kids

On Monday people picked up McDonalds for dinner
On Tuesday they stayed home

On Monday people were upset that their dry cleaning was not ready on time
On Tuesday they were lining up to give blood for the dying

On Monday politicians argued about budget surpluses
On Tuesday grief stricken they sang 'God Bless America'

On Monday we worried about the traffic and getting to work late
On Tuesday we worried about a plane crashing into our house or place of business

On Monday we were irritated that our rebate checks had not arrived
On Tuesday we saw people celebrating people dying in the USA

On Monday some children had solid families
On Tuesday they were orphans

On Monday the president was going to Florida to read to children
On Tuesday he returned to Washington to protect our children

On Monday we emailed jokes
On Tuesday we did not

It is sadly ironic how it takes horrific events to place things into perspective, but it has. The lessons learned this week, the things we have taken for granted, the things that have been forgotten or overlooked, hopefully will never be forgotten again.

MONDAY VS. TUESDAY

On Monday there were people fighting against praying in schools. 
On Tuesday you would have been hard pressed to find a school where someone was not praying. 

On Monday there were people who were trying to separate each other by race, sex, color, and creed. 
On Tuesday they were all holding hands. 

On Monday we thought that we were secure. 
On Tuesday we learned better. 

On Monday we were talking about heroes as being athletes. 
On Tuesday we relearned what hero meant. 

On Monday people went to work at the World Trade Center as usual. 
On Tuesday they died. 

On Monday people were fighting the 10 commandments on government property. 
On Tuesday the same people all said "God help us all" while thinking "Thou shall not kill". 

On Monday people argued with their kids about picking up their room. 
On Tuesday the same people could not get home fast enough to hug their kids. 

On Monday people picked up McDonalds for dinner. 
On Tuesday they stayed home. 

On Monday people were upset that their dry cleaning was not ready on time. 
On Tuesday they were lining up to give blood for the dying. 

On Monday politicians argued about budget surpluses. 
On Tuesday grief stricken they sang "God Bless America". 

On Monday we worried about the traffic and getting to work late. 
On Tuesday we worried about a plane crashing into your house or place of business. 

On Monday we were irritated that our rebate checks had not arrived. 
On Tuesday we saw people celebrating people dying in the USA. 

On Monday some children had solid families. 
On Tuesday they were orphans. 

On Monday the president was going to Florida to read to children. 
On Tuesday he returned to Washington to protect our children. 

On Monday we e-mailed jokes. 
On Tuesday we did not. 

It is sadly ironic how it takes horrific events to place things into 
perspective, but it has. The lessons learned this week, the things we have taken for granted, the things that have been forgotten or overlooked, hopefully will never be forgotten again. 

On Monday - pray and be thankful. 
On Tuesday - pray and be thankful. 
On Wednesday - pray and be thankful. 
On Thursday - pray and be thankful. 
On Friday - pray and be thankful. 
On Saturday - pray and be thankful. 
On Sunday - pray and be thankful.

From CyberWalker

Question: How can I help the victims of the World Trade Center disaster? 

Answer: I have been asking myself this question since last week. I was flying into New York September 11 for an IBM press conference and our approach took us over the World Trade Center as it burned after the first aircraft hit it. We landed safely at LaGuardia within minutes of the second aircraft impact.
I drove 15 hours to get home to Toronto on Thursday night and have been mulling over how I can help with the cause. (more)

I've discovered several ways, using the Internet as the ultimate tool, and I want to share them with you.

DONATE ON-LINE: The first way is to give money. The Internet is a great way to donate emergency cash to several organizations to help with the relief efforts. However there have been reports of e-mails soliciting donations that are scams.

According to a statement by Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email (CAUCE), an Internet-based advocacy organization: "A typical message claims to be part of an 'Express Relief Fund' or 'Victims Survivor Fund'. One message claims that donations will go to the Red Cross, but the donation link leads to a Web site unconnected with that organization." More information at http://www.cauce.org

The best way to avoid these scams is to use one of the links below or use click-through from a recognized site such as CNN.com, Amazon.com or Yahoo.com. 

Here are some direct links to legitimate agencies taking donations for the disaster relief. The American Red Cross donations page is at: http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html

You can also get information on how to help through www.salvationarmy.ca (1-888-321-3433) or www.redcross.ca (1-800-418-1111). There are good resources for donations and ways to help at http://www.charity.ca and http://www.helping.org/

WEB CONDOLENCES: If you want to send a message of condolence via the Internet visit the Government of Canada web site set up for that purpose. It's at http://commemoration.gc.ca/11sept2001/ or via the Governor General's Web site at http://www.gg.ca 

Or light a virtual candle at ICQ: http://wwwcgi.icq.com/cgi-bin/memorial/candles.pl5

HOAX E-MAIL: Do not send forward the bogus e-mails that have been circulating about the World Trade Center disaster. 

These include any e-mail that refers to Nostrodamus quotes that predicted the terrorist attacks. These e-mails quote supposed passages written by the 16th-century French astrologer. In his prophesies called the Centuries, published in 1555, he wrote a series of quatrains, four-line verses purported to predict events far into the future.

There have been several e-mails supposedly quoting him. One says: "In the City of God there will be a great thunder, Two brothers torn apart by Chaos, while the fortress endures, the great leader will succumb, The third big war will begin when the big city is burning. -Nostradamus 1654."

The first evidence that this is a hoax is that Nostradamus died in 1566, so he couldn't have written this in 1654. The text originated on a Web page written several years ago by a student named Neil Marshall. 

He invented the quatrain to demonstrate that the writings of Nostradamus are vague enough to be interpreted to mean pretty much anything you can read into them. Ironic.

Another e-mail adds the line: "On the 11 day of the 9 month that...two metal birds would crash into two tall statues...in the new city...and the world will end soon after." 

Yet another mentions: "Two steel birds will fall from the sky on the Metropolis." Again, the astrologer never penned this. 

Help put an end to these e-mails but letting the person who forward them to you know that they are hoaxes.

BUY THROUGH EBAY: EBay, the highly successful Internet auction house is also trying to help. It has created "Auction for America," an interactive way for people around the world to help the victims and families of terrorist attacks.

You can buy and sell items on the site through the "Auction for America" category on the site at www.ebay.com eBay sellers can also list items that are earmarked for the "September 11th Fund." 

The Fund, established by the United Way of New York City and the New York Community Trust, is focused on short-term emergency assistance to provide for the urgent needs of people affected by the attacks. 

Once a sale is made, all proceeds from the transaction will be contributed directly to the charity selected by the seller.

EBay, along with Visa USA, MasterCard International and Wells Fargo Bank, have waived all of their customary fees. Ebay says 100 per cent of the money raised by each transaction will go to charity. The eBay Foundation has contributed the first $1 million.

SPEAK OUT: Finally, I want you to use your computer and the Internet to stop the hatred. They are very powerful tools.

Don't tolerate angry attacks against everyday god-loving Muslims or people of Arabic descent.

They are not the perpetrators of these awful crimes. The guilty will be found and dealt with and we will restore peace in the world. 

Use these tools to stomp out hate and venom. Use your intellect, your kind Canadian demeanor and your sense of fairness to confront those that are ignorant. Use email, use Web forums and use Internet chat.

It may seem like a small thing, but as private citizens it's perhaps the most important thing we can do.