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Speak your mind, Katie. You certainly don't deserve to be scolded or preached to by the know-it-alls around here. Keep up the spunk. You just paid your dues..
-------------------- Mark Jordan Houston, Texas Posts: 273 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: Dec 1998
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I said I'm NOT going to continue to post on this subject and I meant it! Rosemary is NOT going to "try ANYone on for size". She's been properly chastized for stepping in when he opinion wasn't asked for. JUST LIKE YOU, Jordan. You have something to say to me, try EMAIL, sucker.
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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This thread went way off topic and it was painful to see it degenerate into bitter lashing out at each other. I think some of us need to re-read the Open Letter that started this topic and remember that the right of expressing our views and opinions and respecting each other's rights to those opinions is what our country is all about.
I think we are all aware that disasters of this caliber bring out the best in folks. In this most recent, and most horrific disaster, one of the best things to come out of it is a banding together in shared grief and a renewed sense of patriotism, sadly lacking in the last few decades. Our country is far from perfect, we certainly have had many occasions to hang our heads in shame, but we have had even more reasons to hold our heads high in pride. I am also overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and show of empathy from our neighbors around the globe. The editorials from Canada have been particularly touching and have done much to bolster our morale as a nation.
Sadly, I've noticed that tragedies also bring out the worst in people. I don't mean just those who are trying to take advantage and make a buck off the disaster, but regular folks like us. A disaster such as this is a huge mental shock and it takes much more out of a person than mere physical pain. We are horrified, scared, grief-stricken, helpless, and oh, so angry! We fluctuate from showing our grief and compassion to lashing out at the trivial. We want nothing more than for things to be the way they were before, but know that they never will be again. The loss of security, the feelings of utter helplessness and frustration, these leave an indelible mark on our souls and will change the way we view the world and each other.
LE, I very often agree with your opinions. I enjoy your posts even when I don't agree with your views. You are articulate, intelligent, and well-informed. There is no difference between the self-righteous hatred of a Muslim and the self-righteous hatred of an American, HOWEVER, I do not confuse our reaction to the attack on America as self-righteous hatred. I don't believe you meant it that way either, but were trying to point out how we got to this position in the first place. There is a fine line between meddling and interceeding for humane reasons and we often are guilty of the first. I still wouldn't categorize it as self-righteous hatred, but more like self-preservation, at least that's how our government sees it.
Katie, I can't speak for Pierre, but I think I understand a little of where he is coming from. I visited with a friend this past weekend who was formerly in Special Forces. I suspect he and Pierre have shared many like experiences that this attack have brought back screaming to their consciousness. His stories were actually worse than those I heard from a Viet Nam vet and I shudder to think of anyone going through those kinds of experiences. I could see the change in my friend Stu. He was angry and frustrated that he could not sign back up for Special Forces as he is now 43. I have to admit that when I saw the news report on the WTC tragedy my first thought was we should bomb the hell out of the whole middle east. It was a gut reaction out of fear, anger, and despair. How do you fight terrorism? It is going to take cooperation from the very countries the terrorists are hiding in, otherwise we are going to see a long, drawn out and very bloody war. Frankly, that idea terrifies the hell out of me, but it is something we need to prepare ourselves for and hopefully it will not further divide our country. My oldest boy is serving in the Navy and is somewhere out near the Middle East. I hadn't heard from him since before last Tuesday. Thankfully, he got word to a friend who was able to call me this morning and assure me of his well-being. You can see that I have a big reason to want to avoid warfare. On the other hand, I am VERY proud of my son for wanting to serve his country. My 20 year old also informed me that he would join up if it comes to war. And this from the kid who always swore he'd high tail it to Canada if a draft ever came about. I tell you all this so that you can get an idea of what Pierre meant by "paying your dues". He means that until you have had the experiences that enable you to feel first hand the true horror and understand the magnitude of the situation, you cannot fully understand those who have and your idealism is almost like a slap in the face to those who have faced the ugliness and horror of war. Personally, I am glad for your youthful idealism, for that is what it is before the home-hitting tragedies tear away at it. I try to hold on to as much of my idealism as I can, and believe me it's hard, because without it I face the dange of become embittered and hopeless.
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Thankyou Kelli for getting this thread back on topic... I never meant for this lil "dispute" to draw away from the original idea behind the post... unfortunately it did.
Please, Mark... and anyone else name calling: Thanks for the thought, but it really isn't needed... I can stick up for myself. And I can understand where Pierre is coming from.. I never directed an attack in that direction at all, or if it was viewed that way, then that was not the way that it was meant to be taken. Nor did I mean to "lecture" anyone. I am sorry if Pierre views me as "just a child who don't know nut'n" but that is HIS view, and as with me, and LE, and CJ too, that is his right to say that. However, if Pierre seeks to belittle me by saying those things, then I fear that he has failed. Sorry Pierre.
I don't mean to burn bridges, Pierre, and I am not going to apologise for anything that I have said, because I am not sorry for any of it. However, I hope that you can see where I was coming from too. I hope that you will find it in yourself to come back to the bb, after this topic, if this topic, ever blows over. The bb will be less, without you.
-------------------- From Kat Johnston (previously Katie Wright, for those who can remember that far back)
Posts: 530 | From: Brisbane, Australia | Registered: Feb 1999
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