9/11 Memes

Osama Bin Laden, your time is short

We’d rather you die, than come to court.

Why are you hiding if it was in God’s name?

Your just a punk with a turban; a pathetic shame.

I have a question, about your theory and laws;   “How come you never die for the cause?”

Is it because you’re a coward who counts on others? Well here in America, we stand by our brothers.

As is usual, you failed in your mission; If you expected pure chaos, you can keep on wishing.

Americans are now focused and stronger than ever;  Your death has become our next endeavor.

What you tried to kill, doesn’t live in our walls; It’s not in buildings or shopping malls.

If all of our structures came crashing down; It would still be there, safe and sound.

Because pride and courage can’t be destroyed; Even if the towers leave a deep void.

We’ll band together and fill the holes We’ll bury our dead and bless their souls.

But then our energy will focus on you; And you’ll feel the wrath of the Red, White and Blue.

So slither and hide like a snake in the grass; Because America’s coming to kick your ass!!!

Keep this email going. PASS IT ON

Subject: LETTER FROM THE WHITE HOUSE

From: The White House
To: Albert Gore

Dear Al:

We found some more votes. You won.  When do you want to take over?

Sincerely,
George W. Bush

Subject: If Taliban won the war

Subject: Meet me in the Stairwell

How will you apply this to your life today?

“No one knows about the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father….Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:36,42

Meet me in the Stairwell

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You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news, September 11, 2001. Neither will I. I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say “Good-Bye”. I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, “Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK… I am ready to go”. I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized that he wasn’t coming home that night. I was in the stairwell on the 23rd floor when a women cried out to me for help. “I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!” I said. “Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me ! now.” I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered. I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there. Comforting and assuring them that their Faith has saved them. I was in Texas, Kansas, Mississippi, London, Quebec, Seattle. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me? I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though they did NOT all know Me. Some met me for the first time on the 100th floor. Some sought me out in their last breath. Some couldn’t hear me calling to them through the smoke and flames.

“Come to Me… This way…. Take my hand.” Some choose, for the final time, to ignore me. But I WAS THERE. Most of you were not in the TOWERS that day. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me? Would you have heard My call to follow me? September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are “ready to go”. I will be in the stairwell of your final moments. Meet me there.

Subject: WOMAN Power!

Take all American women who are within five years of menopause - train us for a few weeks, outfit us with automatic weapons, grenades, gas masks, moisturizer with SPF15, Prozac, hormones, chocolate, and canned tuna.

Drop us (parachuted, preferably) across the landscape of Afghanistan, and let us do what comes naturally.Think about it. Our anger quotient alone, even when doing standard stuff like grocery shopping and paying bills, is formidable enough to make even armed men in turbans tremble.

We’ve had our children, we would gladly suffer or die to protect them and their future. We’d like to get away from our husbands, if they haven’t left already. And for those of us who are single, the prospect of finding a good man with whom to share life is about as likely as being struck by lightning. We have nothing to lose.

We’ve survived the water diet, the protein diet, the carbohydrate diet, and the grapefruit diet in gyms and saunas across America and never lost a pound. We can easily survive months in the hostile terrain of Afghanistan with no food at all!

We’ve spent years tracking down our husbands or lovers in bars, hardware stores, or sporting events…finding bin Laden in some cave will be no problem.

Uniting all the warring tribes of Afghanistan in a new government? Oh, please ... we’ve planned the seating arrangements for in-laws and extended families at Thanksgiving dinners for years ... we understand tribal warfare.

Between us, we’ve divorced enough husbands to know every trick there is for how they hide, launder, or cover up bank accounts and money sources.

We know how to find that money and we know how to seize it ... with or without the government’s help!

Let us go and fight. The Taliban hates women. Imagine their terror as we crawl like ants with hot-flashes over their godforsaken terrain.

Subject: Who Am I?

I am no one special.

I’m the little boy that gives up his favorite teddy bear so that a stranger may be comforted.

I’m the single mother who has been trying to teach her child to sleep in their own bed, who holds them tight long into the night, thanking God it wasn’t her child that died.

I’m the old man, angry and resentful that his military doesn’t want him because of his age.

I’m the teenage girl that spends hours cutting ribbons for others to wear as a symbol of remembrance.

I’m the young man who doesn’t understand why his father was running up the stairs as the building fell, trying to save just one more person, instead of saving himself.

I’m the old woman who will never see her grandchild again.

I’m the little girl, playing with her doll, who can’t understand when someone screams hateful things at her because of where her family is from.

I’m the police officer, trying to keep idiotic reporters safe, when his wife is still among the missing.

I’m the fire fighter that called in sick that day, only to discover that someone else died in his place.

I’m the man who survived the falling building only to learn that his sister and baby niece were in the plane.

I’m the secretary, angered by the seemingly callous response of those around her.

I’m a spelunker, who is climbing down into the remains of a building, hoping to find someone still alive.

I’m the dog handler, searching for bodies, that has to comfort my animal when only death remains.   

I’m the woman who stands in line for five hours in order to give blood, hoping to help strangers in need.

I’m the man who gets up and goes to work every day, in spite of the tragedy, because he still has a family to feed.

I’m the first passenger to get back on a plane, even though I’m terrified, because I know somebody has to be first.

Who am I?

I’m nobody special.

I’m just an American.

- author unknown

Subject: How I Really Feel

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma School officials remove “God Bless America” signs from schools in fear that someone might be offended.

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Channel 12 News in Long Island, New York, orders flags removed from the newsroom and red, white, and blue ribbons removed from the lapels of reporters. Why? Management did not want to appear biased and felt that our nations flag might give the appearance that “they lean one way or another”.

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Berkeley, California bans U.S. Flags from being displayed on city fire trucks because they didn’t want to offend anyone in the community.

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In an “act of tolerance” the head of the public library at Florida Gulf Coast University ordered all “Proud to be an American” signs removed so as to not offend international students.

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I, for one, am quite disturbed by these actions of so-called American citizens; and I am tired of this nation worrying about whether or not we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However, the dust from the attacks had
barely settled in New York and Washington, DC when the “politically correct” crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.

I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America. In fact, our country’s population is almost entirely composed of descendants of immigrants; however, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some native Americans, need to understand.

First of all, it is not our responsibility to continually try not to offend you in any way. This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language, and our own lifestyle. This culture, called the “American Way” has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. Our forefathers fought, bled, and died at places such as Bunker Hill, Antietam, San Juan, Iwo Jima, Normandy, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf, for our way of life.

We speak English, not Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society - learn our language!

“In God We Trust” is our national motto. This is not some off-the-wall, Christian, Right Wing, political slogan - it is our national motto. It is engraved in stone in the House of Representatives in our Capitol and it is printed on our currency. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation; and this is clearly documented throughout our history. If it is appropriate for our motto to be inscribed in the halls of our highest level of Government, then it is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools.

God is in our pledge, our National Anthem, nearly every patriotic song, and in our founding documents. We honor His birth, death, and resurrection as holidays, and we turn to Him in prayer in times of crisis. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture and we are proud to have Him.

We are proud of our heritage and those who have so honorably defended our freedoms. We celebrate Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Flag Day. We have parades, picnics, and barbecues where we proudly wave our flag. As an American, I have the right to wave my flag, sing my national anthem, quote my national motto, and cite my pledge whenever and wherever I choose. If the Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don’t like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.

The American culture is our way of life, our heritage, and we are proud of it. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don’t care how you did things where you came from. We are Americans, like it or not, this is our country, our land, and our lifestyle.

Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion about our government, culture, or society, and we will allow you every opportunity to do so. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag, our pledge, our national motto, or our way of life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great American freedom, the right to leave.

Subject: Letterman / Leno Jokes

“Somebody said, ‘What good will it do to kill Osama bin Laden?’ I said, ‘I don’t know, let’s find out.’”
-Don Imus

“CBS News finally received anthrax in the mail. As usual, we’re number three.”
-David Letterman

“The FBI is urging all Americans to beware of any letters or packages that have badly misspelled words. Man, this is going to be terrible news for the rap industry.”
-Jay Leno

“People are wondering what will happen to Afghanistan when we’re finished fighting there. I’m sure there are plans to rebuild the country, and a lot of times with rebuilding comes a name change. These are some possible name changes the government has been mulling over: Halfghanistan, Pothole-istan,  Jenniferanistan, Assbackwardstand, Bye-bye-Talibanistan, Ass-Kickedistan.”
-Jay Leno

“People want to say there isn’t racial profiling at the airport, but let’s be honest. If you first name is Mohammed, and your last name isn’t Ali, leave a little extra time.”
-Jay Leno

“Do you remember the good ol’ days when Congress was only unsafe if you were an intern.”
-David Letterman

“Things have really changed here in Hollywood. Used to be people in this town couldn’t wait to get an envelope full of white powder.”
-Jay Leno

“More and more news coming out about this Osama bin Laden guy. He’s 6’5” and has 42 children. Or, as the NBA calls him, a rookie.”
-Jay Leno

“The Mirror interviewed one of Osama bin Laden’s sons and said bin Laden Has 42 children. That’s going to happen when you sleep in a different cave every night.”
-Jay Leno

“Eleven members of the Washington Redskins Monday were exposed to a mysterious white powder they had never seen before - the end zone.”
-Jay Leno

“Security here in New York City is still very tight. Hookers in Time Square now are demanding two forms of fake ID.”
-David Letterman

“President Bush has urged people to get back to normal and today Congress announced that they are accepting bribes again.”
-Jay Leno

“Clinton and Dole are joining forces to raise $100 million in scholarship money for the families of the victims. But you know who also deserves a pat on the back, Elizabeth Dole. Her husband is on Viagra and he’s gone on the road with Bill Clinton - that is one trusting woman.”
-Jay Leno

“This Osama bin Laden guy, spoiled rich kid worth $300M. I have three words for this guy: Anna Nicole Smith. We send her over there, she’ll get his money, he’ll be dead in a week.”
-Jay Leno

Subject: Speech by Capt. John S. McCain

From a speech made by Capt. John S.  McCain, US, (Ret) who represents Arizona in the U.S.  Senate:

As you may know, I spent five and one half years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War.  In the early years of our imprisonment, the NVA kept us in solitary confinement or two or three to a cell.  In 1971 the NVA moved us from these conditions of isolation into large rooms with as many as 30 to 40 men to a room.

This was, as you can imagine, a wonderful change and was a direct result of the efforts of millions of Americans on behalf of a few hundred POWs 10,000 miles from home.

One of the men who moved into my room was a young man named Mike Christian.  Mike came from a small town near Selma, Alabama.  He didn’twear a pair of shoes until he was 13 years old.  At 17, he enlisted in the US Navy.  He later earned a commission by going to Officer Training School.  Then he became a Naval Flight Officer and was shot down and captured in 1967.

Mike had a keen and deep appreciation of the opportunities this country-and our military-provide for people who want to work and want to succeed. As part of the change in treatment, the Vietnamese allowed some prisoners to receive packages from home. In some of these packages were handkerchiefs, scarves and other items of clothing.  Mike got himself a bamboo needle. Over a period of a couple of months, he created an American flag and sewed on the inside of his shirt.

Every afternoon, before we had a bowl of soup, we would hang Mike’s shirt on the wall of the cell and say the Pledge of Allegiance.  I know the Pledge of Allegiance may not seem the most important part of our day now, but I can assure you that in that stark cell it was indeed the most important and meaningful event.

One day the Vietnamese searched our cell, as they did periodically, and discovered Mike’s shirt with the flag sewn inside, and removed it. That evening they returned, opened the door of the cell, and for the benefit of all us, beat Mike Christian severely for the next couple of hours.

Then, they opened the door of the cell and threw him in.  We cleaned him up as well as we could.  The cell in which we lived had a concrete slab in the middle on which we slept.  Four naked light bulbs hung in each corner of the room.  As said, we tried to clean up Mike as well as we could.  After the excitement died down, I looked in the corner of the room, and sitting there beneath that dim light bulb with a piece of red cloth, another shirt and his bamboo needle, was my friend, Mike Christian.  He was sitting there with his eyes almost shut from the beating he had received, making another American flag.

He was not making the flag because it made Mike Christian feel better.  He was making that flag because he knew how important it was to us to be able to Pledge our allegiance to our flag and country.

So the next time you say the Pledge of Allegiance, you must never forget the sacrifice and courage that thousands of Americans have made to build our nation and promote freedom around the world.  You must remember our duty, our honor, and our country.

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

PASS THIS ON…  and on…  and on!!!!!!

Subject: What A Difference

What a difference a Day makes….

On Monday we emailed jokes

On Tuesday we did not

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 who our heroes are

On Monday we were irritated that our rebate checks had not arrived

On Tuesday we gave money away to people we had never met

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 people argued with their children about picking up their room

On Tuesday the same people could not get home fast enough to hug their children

On Monday people were upset that they had to wait 6 minutes in a fast food drive through line

On Tuesday people didn’t care about waiting up to 6 hours to give blood for the dying

On Monday we waved our flags signifying our cultural diversity

On Tuesday we waved only the American flag

On Monday there were people trying to separate each other by race, sex, color and creed

On Tuesday they were all holding hands

On Monday we were men or women, black or white, old or young, rich or poor, gay or straight, Christian or non-Christian.

On Tuesday we were Americans

On Monday politicians argued about budget surpluses

On Tuesday grief stricken they sang ‘God Bless America’

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 had families

On Tuesday we had orphans

On Monday people went to work as usual

On Tuesday they died

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.

Subject: Remember

To all my friends, family and countrymen

You ask what you can do to help

REMEMBER

Give money and say a prayer

REMEMBER

Hug your children and kiss your spouse

REMEMBER

Honor the dead and continue to love the living

REMEMBER

REMEMBER that when this tragedy is simply a weekend update

We will be digging

REMEMBER as you buy gifts for and send cards

We will be digging

REMEMBER as your as yet unborn babe has their first birthday

The rebuilding will just be beginning

REMEMBER as we fight

REMEMBER as the defenders of freedom die

REMEMBER the friends, relatives and colleagues of the more than 5,000 who will live on only in our memories

REMEMBER the feeling that ripped through your heart

REMEMBER that people and freedom were attacked, not just planes and buildings

REMEMBER that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are unalienable rights that must be constantly strived for and protected

REMEMBER that we are one, we live on and will soar to ever greater heights

Please forward this to your family, friends, colleagues. We are entering a time that is unprecedented and we all need to remember.

Subject: One

by Cheryl Sawyer

As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,

We became one color.

As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building,

We became one class.

As we lit candles of waiting and hope,

We became one generation.

As the firefighters and police officers fought their way into the inferno,

We became one gender.

As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength,

We became one faith.

As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,

We spoke one language.

As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,

We became one body.

As we mourned together the great loss,

We became one family.

As we cried tears of grief and loss,

We became one soul.

As we retell with pride of the sacrifice of heros,

We become one people.

We are

One color

One class

One generation

One gender

One faith

One language

One body

One family

One soul

One people

We are The Power of One.

We are United.

We are America.

This candle was lit on the 11th of September, 2001.

Please pass it on to your friends & family so that it may shine all across America.

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“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”

Subject: The Lady

By: Dana Holland

I wonder what she thought

As she stood there, strong and tall.

She couldn’t couldn’t turn away,

She was forced to watch it all.

Did she long to offer comfort

As Her country bled?

With her arm forever frozen

High above her head.

She could not shield her eyes

She could not hide her face

She just stared across the water

Keeping Freedom’s Place.

The smell of smoke and terror

Somehow reduced her size

So small within the harbor

But still we recognized…..

How dignified and beautiful

On a day so many died

I wonder what she thought this was

And i know she must have cried.

GOD BLESS US ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

written September 11, 2001

Subject: Keep The Candle Going

We are keeping this candle burning for all the people & their families who were in the planes, buildings and anywhere near the explosions. May God be with them and help them through this terrible time.

God Bless

Keep The Candle Going

I asked God for water, he gave me an ocean.
I asked God for a flower, he gave me a garden.
I asked God for a tree, he gave me a forest.
I asked God for a friend, he gave me YOU.

“There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of one candle.”

The Candle of Love, Hope and Friendship

This candle was lit on the 11th of September, 2001.
Someone who loves you has helped keep it alive by sending it to you.

Don’t let The Candle Of Love, Hope and Friendship die!

“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle”

Subject: Interesting Take From The Outside

A British View of the US / Bin Laden Affair
by Andrew Sullivan in the London Times

No eloquence can match the impact of their evil. Americans’ critical weakness in the past two decades has been their reluctance to shed blood for their goals. They believed they could construct a huge military and never have it fight real wars and suffer real casualties. They thought they could alter history and advance their interests from the air alone.

With the exception of the Gulf War, which they hesitated to finish, they have shrunk from the fight.  When the current enemy struck again and again throughout the 1990s, Bill Clinton responded without real credibility, struck back without real endurance, enraged the terrorists without truly hurting them.  We are now living with the consequences of his appeasement, and of his refusal to challenge Americans beyond what the polls said they already wanted to do. Whoever launched this war on Americans has now accomplished the task Clinton didn’t dare embark on.  America has been bloodied as it has never been bloodied before.  I would be a fool to predict what happens next.  But it is clear that Bush will not do a Clinton. This will not be a surgical strike. It will not be a gesture.

It may not even begin in earnest soon.  But it will be deadly serious. It is clear that there is no way that the United States can achieve its goals without the cooperation of many other states - an alliance as deep and as broad as that which won the Gulf War. It is also clear that this cannot be done by airpower alone.  As in 1941, the neglect of the military under Bill Clinton and the parsimony of its financing even under Bush must now not merely be ended but reversed. We may see the biggest defense buildup since the early 1980s - and not just in weaponry, but in manpower.

It is also quite clear that the U.S. military presence in the Middle East must be ramped up exponentially, its intelligence overhauled, its vigilance heightened exponentially. In some ways, Bush has already assembled the ideal team for such a task: Powell for the diplomatic dance, Rumsfeld for the deep reforms he will now have the opportunity to enact, Cheney as his most trusted aide in what has become to all intents and purposes a war cabinet.  The terrorists have done the rest. The middle part of the country - the great red zone that voted for Bush - is clearly ready for war.  The decadent Left in its enclaves on the coasts is not dead - and may well mount what amounts to a fifth column.  But by striking at the heart of New York City, the terrorists ensured! That at least one deep segment of the country ill-disposed toward a new president is now the most passionate in his defense. Anyone who has ever tried to get one over on a New Yorker knows what I mean.  The demons who started this have no idea about the kind of people they have taken on.

But what the terrorists are also counting on is that Americans will not have the stomach for the long haul.  They clearly know that the coming retaliation will not be the end but the beginning.  And when the terrorists strike back again, they have let us know that the results could make the assault on the World Trade Center look puny.  They are banking that Americans will then cave.  They have seen a great country quarrel to the edge of constitutional crisis over a razor-close presidential election. They have seen it respond to real threats in the last few years with squeamish restraint or surgical strikes.  They have seen that, as Israel has been pounded by the same murderous thugs, the United States has responded with equanimity. They have seen a great nation at the height of its power obsess for a whole summer over a missing intern and a randy Congressman.

They have good reason to believe that this country is soft, that it has no appetite for the war that has now begun. They have gambled that in response to unprecedented terror, the Americans will abandon Israel to the barbarians who would annihilate every Jew on the planet, and trade away their freedom for a respite from terror in their own land.

We cannot foresee the future.  But we know the past.  And that past tells us that these people who destroyed the heart of New York City have made a terrible mistake. This country is at its heart a peaceful one. It has done more to help the world than any other actor in world history.  It saved the world from the two greatest evils of the last century:  Nazism and Soviet Communism.  It responded to its victories in the last war by pouring aid into Europe and Japan.  In the Middle East, America alone has ensured that the last hope of the Jewish people is not extinguished and has given more aid to Egypt than to any other country.  It risked its own people to save the Middle East from the pseudo-Hitler in Baghdad. America need not have done any of this.  Its world hegemony has been less violent and less imperial than any other comparable power in history. In the depths of its soul, it wants its dream to itself, to be left alone, to prosper among others, and to welcome them to the freedom America has helped secure.

But whenever Americans have been challenged, they have risen to the task. In some awful way, these evil thugs may have done us a favor. America may have woken up forever. The rage that will follow from this grief and shock may be deeper and greater than anyone now can imagine.  Think of what the United States ultimately did to the enemy that bombed Pearl Harbor.  Now recall that American power in the world is all but unchallenged by any other state.  Recall that America has never been wealthier, and is at the end of one of the biggest booms in its history.

And now consider the extent of this wound - the greatest civilian casualties since the Civil War, an assault not just on Americans but on the meaning of America itself.  When you take a step back, it is hard not to believe that we are now in the quiet moment before the whirlwind. Americans will recover their dead, and they will mourn them, and then they will get down to business.

Their sadness will be mingled with an anger that will make the hatred of these evil fanatics seem mild.  I am reminded of a great American poem written by Herman Melville after the death of Abraham Lincoln, the second founder of the country:

“There is sobbing of the strong,
And a pall upon the land;
But the People in their weeping
Bare the iron hand;
Beware the People weeping
When they bare the iron hand.”

Subject: A Prayer of One Taste

REST IN PEACE
(by Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh)

I am a World Trade Center tower, standing tall in the clear blue sky, feeling a violent blow in my side, and I am a towering inferno of pain and suffering imploding upon myself and collapsing to the ground.

May I rest in peace.

I am a terrified passenger on a hijacked airplane not knowing where we are going or that I am riding on fuel tanks that will be instruments of death, and I am a worker arriving at my office not knowing that in just a moment my future will be obliterated.

May I rest in peace.

I am a pigeon in the plaza between the two towers eating crumbs from someone’s breakfast when fire rains down on me from the skies, and I am a bed of flowers admired daily by thousands of tourists now buried under five stories of rubble.

May I rest in peace.

I am a firefighter sent into dark corridors of smoke and debris on a mission of mercy only to have it collapse around me, and I am a rescue worker risking my life to save lives who is very aware that I may not make it out alive.

May I rest in peace.

I am a survivor who has fled down the stairs and out of the building to safety who knows that nothing will ever be the same in my soul again,and I am a doctor in a hospital treating patients burne from head to toe who knows that these horrible images will remain in my mind forever.

May I know peace.

I am a tourist in Times Square looking up at the giant TV screens thinking I’m seeing a disaster movie as I watch the Twin Towers crash to the ground, and I am a New York woman sending e-mails to friends and family letting them know that I am safe.

May I know peace.

I am a piece of paper that was on someone’s desk this morning and now I’m debris scattered by the wind across lower Manhattan, and I am a stone in the graveyard at Trinity Church covered with soot from the buildings that once stood proudly above me, death meeting death.

May I rest in peace.

I am a dog sniffing in the rubble for signs of life, doing my best to be of service, and I am a blood donor waiting in line to make a simple but very needed contribution for the victims.

May I know peace.

I am a resident in an apartment in downtown New York who has been forced to evacuate my home, and I am a resident in an apartment uptown who has walked 100 blocks home in a stream of other refugees.

May I know peace.

I am a family member who has just learned that someone I love has died, and I am a pastor who must comfort someone who has suffered a heartbreaking loss.

May I know peace.

I am a loyal American who feels violated and vows to stand behind any military action it takes to wipe terrorists off the face of the earth, and I am a loyal American who feels violated and worries that people who look and sound like me are all going to be blamed for this tragedy.

May I know peace.

I am a frightened city dweller who wonders whether I’ll ever feel safe in a skyscraper again, and I am a pilot who wonders whether there will ever be a way to make the skies truly safe.

May I know peace.

I am the owner of a small store with five employees that has been put out of business by this tragedy, and I am an executive in a multinational corporation who is concerned about the cost of doing business in a terrorized world.

May I know peace.

I am a visitor to New York City who purchases postcards of the World Trade Center Twin Towers that are no more, and I am a television reporter trying to put into words the terrible things I have seen.

May I know peace.

I am a boy in New Jersey waiting for a father who will never come home, and I am a boy in a faraway country rejoicing in the streets of my village because someone has hurt the hated Americans.

May I know peace.

I am a general talking into the microphones about how we must stop the terrorist cowards who have perpetrated this heinous crime, and I am an intelligence officer trying to discern how such a thing could have happened on American soil, and I am a city official trying to find ways to alleviate the suffering of my people.

May I know peace.

I am a terrorist whose hatred for America knows no limit and I am willing to die to prove it, and I am a terrorist sympathizer standing with all the enemies of American capitalism and imperialism, and I am a master strategist for a terrorist group who planned this abomination. My heart is not yet capable of openness, tolerance, and loving.

May I know peace.

I am a citizen of the world glued to my television set, fighting back my rage and despair at these horrible events, and I am a person of faith struggling to forgive the unforgivable, praying for the consolation of those who have lost loved ones, calling upon the merciful beneficence of God/Yahweh/Allah/Spirit/Higher Power.

May I know peace.

So May it Be, And so it is.

Subject: Where Was God in This Tragedy?

Unfortunately, I don’t know who wrote this, but it was too good not to share.

How many of us have heard that question “Where was your GOD when the World Trade Center and the Pentagon was attacked?” Well I know where my GOD was the morning of September 11, 2001, and He was very busy! He was trying to discourage anyone from taking these flights. Those four flights together held over 1000 passengers and there were only 266 aboard.

He was on 4 commercial flights giving terrified passengers the ability to stay calm. Not one of the family members who were called by a loved one on one of the hijacked planes said that passengers were screaming in> the background. On one of the flights he was giving strength to passengers to try to overtake the hijackers. He was busy trying to create obstacles for employees at the World> Trade Center.

After all, only around 20,000 were at the towers when the> first> > jet hit.

Since the buildings held over 50,000 workers, this was a> Miracle in itself. How many of the people who were employed at the World> Trade Center told the media that they were late for work or they had> traffic delays. He was holding up 2-110 story buildings so that 2/3 of the workers> could get out. I was so amazed that the top of the towers didn’t topple when the jets impacted. And when they did fall, they fell inward.

GOD didn’t allow them to topple over, as many more lives would have been> lost. And when the buildings went down, my GOD picked up almost 6,000 of his children and carried them home with him. Reassuring his frightened children that the worst was over and the best was yet to come. He sat down and cried that 19 of his children could have so much> hate in their hearts; That they didn’t choose him, but another God that doesn’t exist, and now they are lost forever. He sent his children that are best trained for this disaster and had them save the few that were still alive, but unable to help themselves. And> then sent many others to help in anyway they were needed. He still isn’t finished though, He held the love ones that were left behind in His arms. He comforts them daily. His other children are given the strength to reach out to them and help them in any way they can. And I believe He will continue to help us in what is to come. He will give the people in charge of this great nation the strength and> the wisdom to do the right thing. He would never leave us in our time of need. So when anyone asks, “Where was your GOD on September 11”, you can say “everywhere”! And yes, although this is without a doubt the worst thing I have seen in my life, I see God’s miracles in every bit of it.

Subject: Firefighter’s Prayer

When I am called to duty,
Wherever flames may rage,
Give me the strength to save a life
Whatever be its age.

Help me embrace a little child
Before it is too late,
Or save an older person from
The horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert
And hear the weakest shout,
And quickly and efficiently
To put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling and
To give the best in me,
To guard my every neighbor and
Protect his property.

And if according to God’s will
I must answer death’s call,
bless with your protecting hand,
my family one and all.

*  *  *  *  *

A gift for the people of New York/ King’s College at the Empire State Bldg.

Subject: The Binch

A Dr. Seuss twist on the tragedy…

Every U down in Uville liked U.S. a lot,

But the Binch, who lived Far East of Uville, did not.

The Binch hated U.S! the whole U.S. way!

Now don’t ask me why, for nobody can say,

It could be his turban was screwed on too tight.

Or the sun from the desert had beaten too bright

But I think that the most likely reason of all

May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.

But, Whatever the reason, his heart or his turban,

He stood facing Uville, the part that was urban.

“They’re doing their business,” he snarled from his perch.

“They’re raising their families! They’re going to church!

They’re leading the world, and their empire is thriving,

I MUST keep the S’s and U’s from surviving!”

Tomorrow, he knew, all the U’s and the S’s,

Would put on their pants and their shirts and their dresses,

They’d go to their offices, playgrounds and schools,

And abide by their U and S values and rules,

And then they’d do something he liked least of all,

Every U down in U-ville, the tall and the small,

Would stand all united, each U and each S,

And they’d sing Uville’s anthem, “God bless us! God bless!”

All around their Twin Towers of Uville, they’d stand,

and their voices would drown every sound in the land.

“I must stop that singing,” Binch said with a smirk,

And he had an idea—an idea that might work!

The Binch stole some U airplanes in U morning hours,

And crashed them right into the Uville Twin Towers.

“They’ll wake to disaster!” he snickered, so sour,

“And how can they sing when they can’t find a tower?”

The Binch cocked his ear as they woke from their sleeping,

All set to enjoy their U-wailing and weeping,

Instead he heard something that started quite low,

And it built up quite slow, but it started to grow—

And the Binch heard the most unpredictable thing…

And he couldn’t believe it—they started to sing!

He stared down at U-ville, not trusting his eyes,

What he saw was a shocking, disgusting surprise!

Every U down in U-ville, the tall and the small,

Was singing! Without any towers at all!

He HADN’T stopped U-Ville from singing! It sung!

For down deep in the hearts of the old and the young,

Those Twin Towers were standing, called Hope and called Pride,

And you can’t smash the towers we hold deep inside.

So we circle the sites where our heroes did fall,

With a hand in each hand of the tall and the small,

For America means a bit more than tall towers,

It means more than wealth or political powers,

It’s more than our enemies ever could guess,

So may God bless America! Bless us! God bless!

Subject: Love, Jesus

You say you will never forget where you were when you
heard the news, September 11, 2001.  Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a
man who called his wife to say “Good-Bye”.  I held his
fingers steady as he dialed.  I gave him the peace to
say, “Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK… I
am ready to go”.  I was with his wife when he called as
she fed breakfast to their children.

I held her up as she tried to understand his words and
as she realized that he wasn’t coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell on the 23rd floor when a woman
cried out to me for help.  “I have been knocking on the
door of your heart for 50 years!” I said.  “Of course I
will show you the way home - only belive in Me now.”

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.  I
took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven.  He
heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with
every prayer.  I was with the crew as they were
overtaken.  I was in the very hearts of the believers
there.  Comforting and assuring them that their Faith
has saved them.

I was in Texas, Kansas, Mississippi, London, Quebec,
Seattle.  I was standing next to you when you heard
the terrible news.  Did you sense Me? I want you to
know that I saw every face.  I knew every name -
though they did NOT all know Me.  Some met me for
the first time on the 100th floor.  Some sought me out
in their last breath.  Some couldn’t hear me calling
to them through the smoke and flames.  “Come to Me…
This way…. Take my hand.”

Some chose, for the final time, to ignore me.  But I
WAS THERE.

Most of you were not in the TOWERS that day.  However,
if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would
you have reached for Me?  Would you have heard My call
to follow me?

September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for
you.  But someday your journey will end.  And I will be
there for you as well.  Seek Me now while I may be found. 
Then, at any moment, you know you are “ready to go”.

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.  Meet me there.

Love,
Jesus

Subject: Twas the Night Before Christmas

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I’D JUST READ?

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN’T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE, IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,

“SANTA DON’T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON’T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.”

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN’T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT’S CHILL.

I DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED, “CARRY ON SANTA, IT’S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.”

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

“MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.”

Subject: Send A Card

Just thought everyone would like to know this:

On the news, they are saying that the firemen are getting discouraged because they have not found anyone in more than a week. They leave out the part about the horrific conditions and sights they see.  But through it all, they go on and on and on and on. So here is the idea.

Let’s start a Card Writing Campaign. Go out to your local Hallmark or where ever it is you buy your greeting cards. Buy a card that reflects what your feelings are about their heroic efforts and send it to them at:

NYC Fire Department
1 Chase Manhattan Plaza
New York, NY 10005

Just think how powerful this message can be. If all of you send this e-mail to everyone you know, and they send it to everyone they know and if all of the people who get this note send a card, we can be the start of a miracle.

Let’s show these brave men how we feel about them.

They need our love, support and encouragement.

DO IT, DO IT, DO IT . . .

Forward this e-mail, send those cards!!!!!!

Subject: A Class Company

How Budweiser handles those who laughed at those who died on Sept 11, 2001

Thought you’d like to know what happened in a town north of Bakersfield, California.  After you finish reading this, please forward this story on to others so that our nation and around the world will know about those who laughed when they found out about the tragic events in New York, PA and the Pentagon.

September 11th, a Budweiser employee was making a delivery to a convenience store in a town called McFarland.  He knew of the tragedy that had occurred in New York.  He entered the business to find two Arabs whooping and hollering and really cheering it up. It was obvious they were elated with what had happened earlier.

The Budweiser employee went to his truck called his boss and told him of the very upsetting event.  He didn’t feel he could be in that store with those horrible people.  His boss told him, “Do you think you could go in there long enough to pull every Budweiser product and item our beverage company sells there? We’ll never deliver to them again.”

The employee walked in, proceeded to pull every single product his beverage company provided and left with an incredible grinon his face. He told them never to bother and call for a delivery again.

Budweiser happens to be the beer of choice for that community. Just letting you all know how Kern County handles this situation! Pass this along.

America needs to know that we’re all working together.

Well, I need to add to this. My father in Nevada sent this to me. Fact is, I live not too far from McFarland here in Central California, and I heard about this at work the day after it happened. Seems a lot of people from work frequented the store in question.  But it didn’t end there.

As Paul Harvey might say, here’s the rest of the story…

Seems the Budweiser driver had friends…in particular, the Pepsi route driver.  The Bud driver called his Pepsi friend from his cell phone while he was still at the store and told him what happened. Seems the Pepsi driver called his boss, and received the identical orders the Bud driver did. So Pepsi went in and took out everything in the store under their corporate brand. And if you know Pepsico (Pepsi, Frito Lay, etc.), that’s damn near EVERYTHING.  Last I heard, that store has no product, no customers (word spreads fast in these small towns, y’know) and no hope.  And I say good riddance to bad rubbish. I hope they enjoyed their cheers…it’s the last they’ll be doing in THIS country.

Subject: A Great American Plan

The President has asked that we unite for a common cause. Since the hard-line Islamic people cannot stand nudity and consider it a sin to see a naked woman that is not their wife-

Tonight at 7:00 PM, all women should run out of their house naked to help weed out the terrorists. The United States appreciates your efforts and applauds you. God Bless America!

I don’t know about anyone else, but I personally don’t know of a better way to put the fear of God into them.

Subject: Another Joke

A husband and wife were watching the news on television: The devastation at the World Trade Center; the videos of different countries around the world crying with Americans over the events of the past few weeks; reporters updating and attempting to analyze political strategy; President Bush making speeches.

The wife turns to the husband and says, “I’m so thankful that Bush is our President. He is doing such a wonderful job.”

The husband turns to the wife and says, “Shut up, Tipper!”

Subject: National Daily Prayer Group

National Daily Prayer Group

In W.W.II, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, it’s people and peace. There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America.

If you would like to participate, every evening at 9:00pm Eastern Time, stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, its citizens, and for peace in the world.

If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Together, we “CAN” make a difference!! Thank You, and God Bless America!

Subject: Letter to Bin Laden

To Mr. Bin Laden,

Sir I would like to thank you for taking the time out to send a few of your willing workers of hate and deception to this country to attempt to destroy us.

In the process of trying to terrorize us to death, the hand of God stepped in and still got glory within your evil and deceptive plan to put fear in the hearts and minds of the American people.

1. Thank you for showing and allowing our President and past Presidents to Worship and pray together in the same Sanctuary.

2. Thank you for having Congress bow at the Feet of Jesus and ask for forgiveness and ask for the Lord’s strength in leading the nation’s people.

3. Thank you for allowing Prayer in the schools once more and having our children across the nation be able to ask God for strength and protection throughout their school day.

4. Thank you for letting employers give workers time to pray and worship our Savior during their work hour.

5. Thank you for showing us that it is the hand of God that allows us to be here day in and day out, we are not just here on our own.

6. Thank you for leading more people back to church in one day to get things right with God than all the witnessing of all the Christians in this country could do in one year.

7. Thank you for waking us up and letting us know that people still care in this country and that we are bigger than the problems in this country.

8. Thank you for reminding us that racial, religious, and cultural hatred is useless and nothing good comes from harboring it.

9. Thank you for letting us again understand why on our money it says in God we trust, we sing God bless America and what true patriotism is.

10. Most of all Mr. Bin Ladan now that the Lord is on our side, Thank you for letting him take his rightful place on the battlefield, so you will know that he will have the victory His word says…If two or three gather in my name it is done.

So in all, we thank you very much for strengthening our faith in God and our love for our fellow American no matter what color, race, creed or religion..

A Proud American Citizen..
and a Soldier in the Army of the Lord…

Please send this letter to all you know.. Let us spread the word...

Subject: I Am The Flag

I AM THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop the world’s tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America’s halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up at me and see me.

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners,
my head is a little higher,
my colors a little truer.

I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped - I am saluted.
I am loved - I am revered.
I am respected - and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war
for more then 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg,
Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill,
the trenches of France,
in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome
and the beaches of Normandy, Guam,
Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam now me,
I was there.
I led my troops,
I was dirty, battle worn and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me
And I was proud.
I have been burned, torn and trampled
on the streets of countries I have helped set free.
It does not hurt, for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned, torn
and trampled on the streets of my country.
And when it’s by those whom I’ve served in battle - it hurts.
But I shall overcome - for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth
and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space
from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness! to all of America’s finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips
and used as bandages
for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
Or when I lie in the trembling arms
of a grieving parent
at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.

MY NAME IS OLD GLORY
LONG MAY I WAVE.
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN
LONG MAY I WAVE

Subject: If I Knew

This has been kept alive and moving since 9 /11. In memory of all those who perished this morning; the passengers and the pilots on the United Air and AA flights, the workers in the World TradeCenter and the Pentagon, and allnthe innocent bystanders.Our prayers go out to the friends and families of the deceased.

IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time

That I’d see you fall asleep,

I would tuck you in more tightly

and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time

that I see you walk out the door,

I would give you a hug and kiss

and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time

I’d hear your voice lifted up in praise,

I would video tape each action and word,

so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,

I could spare an extra minute

to stop and say “I love you,”

instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time

I would be there to share your day,

well I’m sure you’ll have so many more,

so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there’s always tomorrow

to make up for an oversight,

and we always get a second chance

and to make everything just right.

There will always be another day

to say “I love you,” And certainly there’s another chance

to say our “Anything I can do?”

But just in case I might be wrong,

and today is all I get,

I’d like to say how much I love you

and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, 

young or old alike, And

today may be the last chance you

get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you’re waiting for

tomorrow, why not do it today?

For if tomorrow never comes,

you’ll surely regret the day,

That you didn’t take that extra time for

a smile, a hug, or a kiss and

you were too busy to grant someone, 

what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,

and whisper in their ear,

Tell them how much you love them

and that you’ll always hold them dear

Take time to say “I’m sorry,”

“Please forgive me,” “Thank you,”

or “It’s okay.”

And if tomorrow never comes,

you’ll have no regrets about today.

Send this to at least 10 people to show your support.

Subject: Night Before Payback

‘Twas the night before payback…...This is really good.

‘Twas the night before payback and all through the land,

They’re running like rabbits in Afghanistan,

Osama’s been praying, he’s down on his knees,

He’s hoping that Allah will hear all his pleas.

He thought if he killed us that we’d fall and shatter,

But all that he’s done is just make us madder.

We ain’t yet forgotten our Marines in Beirut,

And we’ll kick your butt, with one heavy boot.

And yes we remember the USS Cole,

And the lives of our sailors that you bastards stole.

You think you can rule us and cause us to fear,

You’ll soon get the answer if you live to hear.

And we ain’t forgotten your buddy Saddam,

And he ain’t forgotten the sound of our bombs.

You think that those mountains are somewhere to hide,

They’ll go down in history as the place where you died.

Remember Khadhafi and his line of death?

He came very close, to his final breath.

So come out and prove it, that you are a man,

Cause our boys are coming and they have a plan.

They are our fathers and they are our sons,

And they sure do carry some mighty big guns.

They would have stayed home with children and wives,

Till you bastards came here and took all these lives.

Osama I wrote this especially for you,

For air mail delivery by B-52.

You soon will be hearing a thud and a whistle,

Old Glory is coming, attached to a missile.

I will not be sorry to see your ass go.

It’s Red, White, and Blue that is running this show.

Subject: Takin’ Care of Business

A little song I wrote to the tune of
“Takin’ Care of Business” by Randy Bachman.

WORKIN’ FOR BIN LADEN

You get up Tuesday morning

We don’t give no warning

Take the 8:15 out of Logan

There’ll be stabbing, there’ll be cutting

But that ain’t hardly nothing

There’s a whole lot gonna get broken

And if the plane’s on time

You can hit the tower by nine

Then in paradise you’re gonna get your pay

There’ll be people unemployed

And they sure will be annoyed

When they see their mighty towers blown away

And you’ll be doin’ it for Allah, gotta fly

Doin’ it for Allah, flying high

You’ll be doin’ it for Allah, don’t ask why

Doin’ it for Allah, today you’re gonna die

Look out!

In the pilot’s position

You could be a munition

If just learn to fly the plane level

You can go to flight school

If you play it all cool

Don’t let on that you’re a suicidal devil

People look up at the sun

As your plane hits World Trade One

They won’t believe you meant it this way

All the Yanks will be annoyed

When they see what you destroyed

Their towers turned to nothing in a day

And we be workin’ for bin Laden, gotta fly

Workin’ for bin Laden, flying high

You are workin’ for bin Laden, don’t ask why

Workin’ for bin Laden, today you’re gonna die

Look out!

Subject: Editorial from a Romanian Newspaper

FROM ROMANIA:
RECOGNITION (AND ENVY) OF THE AMERICAN ETHOS AND ÉLAN!!

Why are Americans so united?

They don’t resemble one another even if you paint them!

They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations. Some of them are nearly extinct, others are incompatible with one another, and in matters of religious beliefs, not even God can count how many they are.

Still, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into hand put on the heart. Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the army, the secret services that they are only a bunch of losers.  Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts. Nobody rushed on the streets nearby to gape about.

The Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand. After the first moments of panic, they raised the flag on the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the colors of the national flag.  They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a minister or the president was passing.  On every occasion they started singing their traditional song: “God Bless America!”.

Silent as a rock, I watched the charity concert broadcast on Saturday once, twice, three times, on different TV channels. There were Clint Eastwood, Willie Nelson, Robert de Niro, Julia Roberts, Cassius Clay, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Silvester Stalone, James Wood, and many others whom no film or producers could ever bring together.

The American’s solidarity spirit turned them into a choir. Actually, choir is not the word.  What you could hear was the heavy artillery of the American soul.  What neither George W. Bush, nor Bill Clinton, nor Colin Powell could say without facing the risk of stumbling over words and sounds, was being heard in a great and unmistakable way in this charity concert.

I don’t know how it happened that all this obsessive singing of America didn’t sound croaky, nationalist, or stentatious!  It made you green with envy because you weren’t able to sing for your country without running the risk of being considered chauvinist, ridiculous, or suspected of who-knows-what mean interests.

I watched the live broadcast and the rerun of its rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the Californian hockey player, who fought with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target that would have killed other hundreds or thousands of people. How on earth were they able to bow before a fellow human?

Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put in a collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit which nothing can buy.

What on earth can unite the Americans in such a way?  Their land?  Their galloping history?  Their economic power? Money?  I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases which risk of sounding like commonplaces.  I thought things over, but I reached only one conclusion.

Only freedom can work such miracles!

Subject: Interesting Question

An interesting question:

This question was raised on a Philly radio call-in show. Without casting stones, it is a legitimate question.

There are two men, both extremely wealthy. One develops relatively cheap software and gives hundreds of millions of dollars to charity.  The other sponsors terrorism.

That being the case, why is it that the US government has spent more money chasing down Bill Gates over the past ten years than Osama bin Laden?

And in another email:

THINK ABOUT IT!

After the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, which killed six and injured 1,000; President Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

After the 1995 bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed five U.S. military personnel; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

After the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 and injured 200 U.S. military personnel; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

After the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Africa, which killed 224 and injured 5,000; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

After the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 and injured 39 U.S.  sailors; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

Maybe if Clinton had kept his promise, an estimated 7,000 people in New York and Washington, D.C. that are now dead would be Alive today.

AN INTERESTING QUESTION:

This question was raised on a Philly radio call-in show. Without casting stones, it is a legitimate question. There are two men, both extremely wealthy. One develops relatively cheap software and gives billions of dollars to charity. The other sponsors terrorism. That being the case, why is it that the Clinton Administration spent more money chasing down Bill Gates over the past eight years than Osama bin Laden?

THINK ABOUT IT!

It is a strange turn of events. Hillary gets $8 Million for her forthcoming memoir.

Bill gets about $12 Million for his memoir yet to be written. This from two people who have spent the past 8 years being unable to recall anything about past events while under oath! Incredible!

THINK ABOUT IT!