Wroking It Out (as posted on the IzzardBoard) -- Eddie Pedantic Gasbag Discussion Group

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Date Posted: 23:42:54 09/12/01 Wed
Author: gumtree - a patriotic American
Subject:

Wroking It Out (as posted on the IzzardBoard)

If I have offended anyone on Mrs. B's Board, no offense was meant - recent events have me torn between righteous indignation and shame.

BZC shared some very good words about grief, loss and healing - we need to do some healing and thinking before striking out in anger. We must rise above the idea of "retribution" - the perpetrators must be brought to trial, and proven guilty - no midnight assassination raids, no bombing runs, no invasion of distant lands to be reduced to sound-bites on CNN. We are about democracy, and freedom, and human rights - not shooting first and doing the paperwork later.

We, America, are the worlds largest weapons dealer - I know, as I support my family on a portion of the proceeds. We will sell anyone, anything, anytime - as long as they promise to not use it. These promises are not often kept - but we still keep selling. The tanks and bulldozers used on Palestinian homes say "Made in USA" on the side - is it any wonder we are viewed as "The Great Satan"? Up until 3 months before the "Desert Storm" fiasco, we were selling arms to Saddam - while we also sold to Iran. Is it any wonder that we are viewed as either stupid or duplicitous?

I am stirred to grief by the senselessness of recent events on our soil, and heartened by the support shown around the world. I am also concerned that we show some wisdom in our actions, in the particulars of the crimial acts visited on us, and in dealing with our own indifference, rather than rash, angry acts that only continue the downward spiral. We must rise above being the same as the bombers and terrorists, and be right, sure and just. With power comes responsibility - we must be sober, and reluctant to strike, as much as the ego may demand otherwise.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of the aircrews, the innocent passengers, the office workers, the military personnel, the tourists, the firemen, the police - who have either suffered or died through the monstrous acts this week. It is my fervent hope that it was for change, rather than a precursor for more tragedy.

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Replies:

Hello Gumtree, so nice to see you after yesterday. I find this time that I have no answers, none at all. I feel this is one of those times in history when we suddenly find all the rules of nations have changed and we are all without map or direction. Why did this happen? How did this happen? What do we do now? What is true and what is fallacy? Inside I feel humble and quiet. I have read so many different reactions from people, some overcome with anger, needing to strike back, some pleading for love and nonviolence, some filled with patriotism, some filled with guilt for the blood on our hands. I feel all of these things and the conflicting emotions and thoughts have stopped me and I realize that I have too many questions and no answers. (NT) -- spoot, 01:53:49 09/13/01 Thu
- The truth lies somewhere in the middle - we must be after justice, but we must be temperate. War is not the answer, just as doing nothing is the opposite extreme. I feel sad for the folks who say "nuke 'em till they glow" and have little tolerance for "brotherhood" with those who slaughter hundreds, if not thousands of innocents for revenge. We need to take a fresh look at what is the wind in their sails, the continuing situation in Palestine. But I ramble - see you! (NT) -- gumtree (just about in bed), 02:07:54 09/13/01 Thu
  - Well Gummy a day later and I have had time to think of this terrible event. It really was an act of war, on their part, a holy war. And what's frightening is that they are suicidal, each warrior deliberately choosing their own death as a weapon. In the face of this how do we make them surrender? I am worried that Dubya and his advisors are thinking John Wayne, just go in there and kick their asses and they will cry uncle when we show them who's boss. Are we thinking that it will be easy to defeat them, with our superior military and superpower might? The Viet Cong weren't cowed by it, and these guys make the Viet cong look like children. and yet we were massacred on our own soil! I hope and pray that America knows that this will be a long and terrible struggle. (NT) -- spoot, 02:50:25 09/14/01 Fri
    - I'm still trying to gather my thoughts on this whole thing, and not doing a very good job I might add. I have a feeling that our government isn't *smart* enough to be at war with them on their level...I have a feeling that they are thinking like my husband, "just carpet bomb them"..that won't work. They are all over not just in one country. I just feel that this evil has shown his face here in this country years ago and we swatted at it like a gnat and now that they have killed thousands of innocent people we are suddenly going, Oh there you are. I don't know. I'm still working it through in my mind...but you are right, I think they are thinking bomb them...but that won't get the evil it's too pervasive and that would make us no better than them. (NT) -- Teri, 07:20:34 09/14/01 Fri
      - I'm with you Teri, as I wrote to BZC in email, I feel like this horrific attack has changed all the signposts, I feel like a blindfolded man dropped down into an unknown place. Nothing is sure, and I cannot see. I feel like we don't know our enemy at all and he knows us inside out. We had better go slow and learn fast! (NT) -- spoot, hugs to you sweetie!, 03:56:10 09/15/01 Sat