Message To Board

[Mike]

This is a message to the people who have been making impulsive and racist remarks lately. PLEASE think before you speak and exercise discretion as your views do not represent the board as a whole and this is NOT the correct medium to voice some of these passions.

Here's the deal - for all those rejoicing - fuck them. But for all those too ignorant to realize that this is not the work of one race - fuck you too. You don't fucking get it. This is NOT the act of one race, I never saw anyone getting on my case because I was white - when it was one of our own country members creating terrorist acts (Timothy etc etc) So why should I be justified in focusing my anger toward people who happen to be of the same ethnicity. You think there was not ONE Palestinian or Arab in the WTC buildings or on the planes or on the ground or in the FDNY or NYPD? You idiots. Of course there was. And those people were innocent, and those people died as well.

The part you just don't get is this. If you focus your anger on innocent people who happen to share an ethnicity that they never had a choice in, you are justifying the death of our americans yesterday. I was talking to someone this morning who was so enraged that his friends in WTC bldgs died yesterday. He thought it was a good idea to nuke Palistine, and just have them live with the consequences of innocent people dying - since America had to. What he didnt realize and nor do you is this. Take your anger out on innocent Palestinians, nuke their country, kill or hate people that are not involved but happen to be tied ethnically - and you set a standard. You make a statement that America supports acts of anger against those not involved - that we think it is right or just that we kill or hate innocent people - and in turn that sends a message to the world that by the same standard we believe that Oslama was just in killing innocent people for his cause. Just as America would be for killing innocent people in our cause against this terrorist faction. I had someone very close to me die yesterday - if you think for one second that I dont feel the anger that you do - you are wrong. I feel so much anger it hurts. But the reaction that the US exercises MUST be proportionate to the TARGET and NOT the anger we feel. If we turn around and hate our own citizens and nuke a country where the majority of people may very well be innocent, we are telling the world not only that we are no better than the terrorists that have commited this crime - but also that we support and justify the terrorists actions yesterday - having had someone close to me in that carnage - that is NOT a statement I am ready to make. And I will NOT tolerate racism on this board REGARDLESS of what is going on out there. If you feel the need to vent your racist and narrow minded view, fine. But do it by some other medium - do it here I will edit it, do it here again and you are no longer a member of this board.

[Pete235]

BUMP!! I'm not bumping to suck up. I agree 100% with Mike's sentiments.
Pete

[Mike]

Got this email from a candian friend of mine - sent chills down my spine.....shame on the americans like myself who take every day for granted that we spend in quite possibly the world's most incredible countryThis, from a Canadian newspaper, is worth sharing.

************************************************** *
America: The Good Neighbor.


Widespread but only partial news coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator. What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional Record:

"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted
and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.

When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.

The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars
into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans.

I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American planes?

Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or
woman on the moon?

You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios.
You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles.
You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon-not once, but several times-and safely home again. You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at.

Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are
here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking
Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.

When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them.

When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broken.

I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when
someone else raced to the Americans in trouble?

I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco
earthquake.

Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is
damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of those."

Stand proud, America!

************************************************** *

I have been very much opposed to war all my life - I, to this day, believe it to be an absolute last option. I don't like the mention of war when we are not in do or die moments of desperation - I have adamantly objected to joining any service branch for as long as I can remember - today - for the first time in my life - I can honestly say that if my country called upon me to join in a war for justice and freedom and to protect the integrity of the nation that we live in and take for granted, my bags would be packed within the hour.

[Pete235]

Mike,
I'm gald you can feel the love coming down from your nieghbors to the North?

Actually I think this reflects the views of most Canadians. Even though we can be fanatical about our patriotism we hold the U.S.A. in the higest regard. We vacation there, go to school there and patronize the multitude of stores and retail establishments. A larger portion of my business is done in the U.S. (I work in the Seafoiod Industry) and have traveled extensivly in the States. I have made many American friends over the years and I have blood relations in Boston. Sure, we Canuks like to poke fun at our American brothers because they know very little about Canada...but what do we expect? The U.S. does not watch Canadian television but 75% of the broadcast we (Canadians) watch on television originate in the U.S. Not to mention, products, services, automobiles, professional sports, movies and entertainment. We know as much about America as we do about our own counrty. As evidenced by boards like this there is no difference between the way we live our lives...as a matter of fact Canada could even be considered the 51st State!! Don't take that the wrong way...I love my country and I love all of the things that make us unique as a Nation, but I feel very strongly about US-Canadian relations...especially in times like these.

[Mike]

No worries - I didnt take that the wrong way my Canadian brother - I appreciate and applaud your support.

I know you outside this board pete - I have spoken with your wife and of your kids - I appreciate your passion as my neighbor and friend.

[Nathan]

Good post Mike. Canadians are helping out a fair bit from what I've read as are Americans (of course) and I have been reminded how nice it is to be a North American.

[Fast Results]

See, and we think nobody cares for us. Geez that gave me the chills

Fast R

[The Iron Game]

WORD

[EXCESS]

Good post Mike! Everybody needs to join together in support of the victims of this awful tragedy. Leave the racism to the terrorists and the violence to the military.

[Jarhed]

Wow!

Very powerful! Very true!

I hate to say this but a lot of my fellow Americans like to take things to the racist path. Well, that is bullshit. I'm a "non-white" American, but an American just the same. I should be one of the folks whining about the trials given my race over the past few hundred years, but quite honestly, I dont have the time for that crap. Likewise, I dont have the time or the tolerance for anyone who wants to turn this tragedy into another racist vehicle to further their racist views. If there are any racists reading this, please go set yourself on fire now.

Canadians, Brits, etc., I feel as though you all have given us a blanket to keep us warm in this time of need. Thank you so much for your well wishes. I feel ashamed because I was never really aware of the true committment and respect you have had all along for this country, even though I've visited and lived in Europe. You are welcome in my home ANYtime. If you come to this country, and find yourself in need of ANYthing, I promise, I'll be there to help if at all possible.

Thanks Bro's, you make us feel safer knowing we have your support.

[ptbyjason]

I really only have time for one post tonight, but I what Mike said applied more to what I wanted to say than anything else on the board tonight.

Today has been a very interesting day for me as well as many of you I am sure. I noticed I was more aware of everything going on around me more than ever before in my life. I heard sirens around me for about 15 minutes straight today (not unusual because I am in the largest medical center in the world), but for the first time it wasn't something I just ignored. I was distracted for the rest of class until I found out if anything was going on. I don't enjoy the fear that we are all experiencing. It may be over for now, but there is no way of knowing when/if it will happen again.

I also heard stories today of family members of people I knew that were in the pentagon or in NY at the time of this horrible disaster. To see someone suffering because their uncle, friend, cousin, or anyone else related was in NY or the pentagon was hard to stomach. I know that I couldn't understand what they felt, but what I felt bothered me more than anything else ever has.

I have read post and articles of the prophecies. If everything is true, some of the prophecies say the end of the world is 2028. That messes with your head. You think about what you have accomplised in life, how much time you might have, and how you can make the most of it. It makes you re-evaluate the purpose of everything you do in life. You think about your life now and life in the future. I mean if 2028 is the end, do you have kids? Why would you have kids? What is your purpose if you only live to XX years old? This has been on my mind all day.

I decided I would go to the gym to let out some tension. I go there and all the TVs have the news on. You can't help but watch and it just motivated me more and more as I watched. It made me mad as hell that someone could plan such a horrible attack. I have always been anti-violence/anti-war. I always joked around that if you shoot yourself in the foot they couldn't take you in the armed forces. I never understood why my grandfather fought in the Navy. He was proud of it, and I was proud of him. But I never understood what gave him the courage to fight when there was such a great chance of death. Well, I understood for the first time today why he fought. He was willing to risk his life for the sake of everyone else in the country. He was going to do everything he could to make a stand and keep the innocent alive. The guys on the last airplane that crashed it in order to prevent it from crashing into Air Force One of any other target are the first heroes of what may come. They set an example for everyone to follow. I have always opposed fighting in a war until now. Mike, I'm with you man. If it came down to it, I now have a reason to fight. If I was called upon to represent my country, I would stand proud and do everthing I can to protect the freedom that the US has taken for granted.

As a side note. To all those guys in other countries. I feel honored that you have given the US so much support with your statements. It means a lot to know that you care as much as we do.

Let's do everything we can to protect the country we love.