"Its extremly hard to put into words the anger and sadness
I feel about the events of that day.Growing up where I did,and seeing the things that I've seen have made me a jaded with such a cold attitude that I was certain I was empty of feeling the way I do.First ,my heart goes out to all the men,women and childern that lost there loved ones.
I truly wish there was something that could be said or done to take away the bereavement you must be feeling.But there is not.Stay strong,and as hard as some off those days are
going to be,I hope that you will be able to take confidence
in the fact that you are not alone.Your lost loved ones,your
families and yourselves will live and be remembered in every americans heart.We love you.

J E Gayles"


- J Gayles  jgayles@ziplip.com , Reseda Ca. United States   3/28/02

""The White Man did this, the White Man did that" and on and on ad infitum. Has any one of you have stopped to think that 99.9 percent of the 359 firefighters who died in the Trade Center were "White Men"? And as someone who was in the building when the first plane struck and saw with my own eyes these "White Men" aka NYC firefighters rushing up the stairs I can tell you without doubt that they had no thought whatsoever about the color of the victims they tried to save that day. When you are fleeing from a burning skyscraper in fear of your life maybe then you will realize how unimportant the color of somebody's skin is. There was only one type of person in the building that day, and that was scared. As a "White Man" I can declare unequivocably that I have more in common with my black brothers and sisters who toil everyday just to put food on the table than this supposedly all encompasing "Evil White Man" I hear so much about. The people in power just love to have us at each others throats because it keeps our focus from the real problems of this system. And they are not black and white they are green, i.e. economic. So wake up and together we would pose a formidable force to be reckoned with. Stay divided and we shall continue to be conquered."


- James Calautti  jjcalaut@panynj.gov , New York, New York   3/25/02

"9-11 was a sad day in America. Hopefully, it let us know that we are not invincible nor untouchable. As far as being black and living in America, my first thought was that the attack put everyone on even ground....no one saw themselves bigger or higher than the other.....we were all living as blacks in America."


- Rosie Wilson  rosiewilson@earthlink.net , Oxon Hill, MD   3/21/02

"I think what had happened is terrible and has destroyed any feelings of safety. Some of us felt we were untouchable and we have sadly learned that isn't true. It's disgusting that we were attacked because of our values, such as being a free and democratic country.

It is extremely sad that the towers are gone and so many lives were lost. "


- Kate    3/21/02

"It's time to kick some ass...! Excuse the language, but these kinds of acts must never happen on US soil again...!!!

"

Links:
    Jemal Cheatham

- Jemal Cheatham  jemal@jemalcheatham.com , Washington, DC   3/20/02

"I hate to say it, but when I hear President Bush speaking about the Axis of Evil and all the money wasted in planning how to demolish the Third World, I find pleasure in the airplanes hitting the WTC, as symbols of our impotence against the American Empire."


- Carlos Paez  cpaez87@hotmail.com , Carapanero, Venezuela   3/16/02

"I do feel bad about what happened but i don't think it is fair to directly blame Islam because when a Christian or Jew commits a crime, religion is never mentioned. And Americans commit millions upon billions of crimes in one day.What USA is doing in Afghanistna is an act of terrorism. you are killiing millions of inncent children who don't even know the meaning of life yet! Then why were you giving out food from your stupid planes?? for the dead people to eat? i guess so. u want to get bin ladin, not inncoent ppl who had nothing to do w/ this. did u ever think about how maybe the US deserved this? They thought too much of themselves and now look what happened! They got what they deserved."


- Hina  bengaliguria@hotmail.com , Ronkonkoma, NY , USA   3/11/02

"What about the plane that landed in Penn.????? Everyone seems to forget about them. Those passengers are dead because they saved us from another plan killing people on the street. They are the real heros!"


- Pete Adamo  Petera93@yahoo.com , USA   3/4/02

"Maybe now the american people will better understand the suffering and the injustice done by the israelians to the palestinian people...!They are permanently feeling what you ,americans ,are feeling now,Think about that!"


- cristina soler  cristinasoler183@msn.com , valencia,spain   3/2/02

"It is very hard to accept all what happened to the American people,really I am verysorry to that."


- BOURENANE LAID  BOURENANELAID@HOTMAIL.COM , EL-GUEDID, DJELFA, ALGERIA   3/2/02

"This should never happen again. The worst kind of evil had been winessed. I love New York with the towers and now without the twins!"


- Julian Banks  jbanks13@hotmail.com , Accokeek,Maryland USA   2/28/02

"Divided We Stand

There was always an American flag flying in front of my wife's parents' home in Tennessee when we arrived for a visit. My mother-in-law, Virginia Parsons, put the flag out each morning; she had replaced the flag several times over the years when its colors faded. At her death two years ago, just shy of age one hundred one, we brought her last flag home with us and began to fly the flag several times a week.

Virginia Parsons was glad to be an American, glad to have been born in this nation of abundant land and resources, a land bathed by the beneficent Gulf Stream. She felt blessed to be an American, as am I, but she was not proud to be an American for she was not a prideful person.

Last week I watched a pickup truck speed by our house, a small American flag flying from the antenna, the frayed edge whipping in the wind. As it passed I saw a sticker on one side of the tailgate proclaiming Proud to Be an American, and on the other side United We Stand. Seeing this reminded me again that I have not flown Virginia Parsons' flag for several weeks. When I first realized that I had stopped putting the flag in front of our house I knew that it was because I had become a bit uncomfortable doing so. I had come to feel that for many people our flag now represents nationalism more than patriotism.

I am proud of many of the things our nation has done: the Marshall Plan and the Peace Corps are outstanding examples. But I am not proud to be an American because in pride there is arrogance. We cannot be completely proud of ourselves as a nation when we continue to consume so much of the world's resources while two-thirds of the world's peoples live in poverty, their productivity sapped by diseases that no longer plague our land.

There have been many times in our nation's past when the motto United We Stand was appropriate, but today is not one of those times. Today it is more appropriate to say Divided We Stand because in division there is diversity and in diversity there is discussion. Never in our nation's history have we needed discussion more than we do today. Today we stand at a crossroads. If we continue with policies that place our personal and national interests over the interests of the disadvantaged of our nation and of the world we will need to continue to be ever vigilant because those disadvantaged will continue to support and protect the anarchists and terrorists. If we are not willing to share our abundance more equitably with the disadvantaged, our children -- and our grandchildren's children -- will continue to work in barricaded buildings and will spend their lives in the shadow of the Twin Towers' shards of steel.

"


- john tomlinson  jct2354@mindsprin , louisville,ky   2/18/02

"From this day on we as a nation will never again be
safe. We will probably have a war on our own soil.
In maybe the next 50 years. I pray this does not
happen. Life is beautiful, SO LETS LIVE HAPPILY!!!"


- ramona shanehbandi  rshaneh@uark.edu , faye,ar. washington   2/18/02

"Children
with bombs in their hair
grenades in their soup
can thank their god
they are not suffering
from terrorists."


- arne lekve  lonelylord@start.no , bergen, norway   2/12/02

"Thank you, Abdi R Malik. Peace to you, too.
Fadra, the "we fought against tyrants"- argument doesn't always work. Yes, it's a good thing to give democracy a chance. But all this doesn't change the US' image of an 'Emperor'. What the east wants is that the US admit their mistakes and take over responisbility for the injustice and the suffering that they caused. Another point is Sharon. It's good that Bush refused to break off with Palestina. But that is not enough.
Sure there will be "colateral damage" (murdered innocent civilians). And it could be that the US forces got misleading information. But it also might be that material that shows us a clean and percice war is fake. And we hardly get any material. No exploding houses, not children crying because their mom just got shot. Nothing. Everything is clean. That's the lesson the government learned in Vietnam. Never let the cameras get too close.
What you said about what has to be done to keep extremists from influencing the Moderate is true. But it's gonna be difficult to explain to an american that "when someone is judged, as a terrorist, because of his nationality or religion" while policians try to justify racial profiling.
I don't know.... "


- molly  lalala , G   2/11/02

"Hello,

First of all I condemn the attacks on New York and Washington on September 11 2001. May the Almighty ALLAH punish all Who involved in doing the terror. Families Who lost their beloved, may ALLAH gives strong heart and love.

I am Indonesian Moslem and I would like to share my thoughts. Since I live among the biggest Moslem population in the world, at least I can absorb their thoughts, expressions.

I may separate them in 4 categories.
1. Moslem active, radical only by yelling not physical treat to US.
2. Moslem active, radical went to afganistan as medical aid and untrained soldier as well
3. Moslem secular, they dont care the problems. This consist of middle-up society and poor people which are majority.
4. Moslem intelectual, activist who take rationality and insist peace agreement.

What is the definition of Terror? It is Act against peace civilian community and causes death, massacre, lost of properties, torture etc by individual or group.

What if it is executed by soldiers or fighter aircrafts, bombers or tanks. Is it still called terror?

Noam Chomsky wrote a book "Pirates and Emperors: International Terrorism in the Real World". I read Indonesian version. It says "Augustine told a conversation between Alexander the great and pirate he had arrested. Alexader said "How dare you ruined the sea". And the pirate said "How dare you ruined the World". I used a small boat to do that and you said I am a thief and you used a big ship to do that and you claimed you are an Emperor.

Term terrorist depends on the eye of the Emperor, for instace : During Dutch colony in Indonesia, it had been known to use term "Extremist" for native people who confrontated to the colonial ruler. The Extremist fought for liberation, sometimes they terrorized the civilian as treators. The colonial ruler called them extremist and native people called them a heroes.

-What happenned in refugee camp Shabra and Shatila in Lebanon not too long ago. A massacred by Israel caused lost 6000 civilian.
-What about Serbian soldiers sleW civilian Moslem Bosnian
-What about Israel armed forces kill civilian in Palestine and still going on? It causes thousand death.
-hoW about babies die in Iraq?

So has the US given term terrorist to Israel or Serbia?

It's hard to admit thar Arabs terrorist links to Middle East crisis, "The Palestinian Problem". You may refer to the books written by neutral analyst. You may find who invaded who?. Who has the authority to rule in Palestinian soil?
It was British as the ruler promised independence to Palestian. Later The British gave the ruling authority to the Israel instead of Palestinian liberation. Israel was a minority, less than 10% of the population Untill now 3/4 soil were taken by Israel, 1/4 is under Palestinian. Better than nothing but why the Liberation doesnt come yet?
The answer is hold on In the US and Israel pockets

It's been complicated, optimisticaly there is still a peace way.

-Compel Israel to get out from palestinian authority
-Support Palestinian to proclaim independence.
-Israel should be well mannered around Arab neighbors

I think pressure to US will be going down if those are immediately executed.

They are not bunch of psychos, They have crucial reasons in doing that. Arab teenager who lost his father or all the family members slain by Israel soldiers, may become a potential deadly living bomb. Moslems sympathized their agony might commit to fight at all cost. Terrorizing in extreme and deadly way in order to make catastrophy.

-Can we imagine if one carries chemical bomb attached on his body and detonate among civilian or light atomic bomb.

I think US should lessen the influence in Mid-East.Oil issue concerns US much since decades. Can not be sustained anymore.
Pay attention to Iran for bilateral relationship. Why should US against Iran? US did all out support during Shah "the Tyrant" regime. US affection to Shah Iran that caused many oppression and torture to civilian. When they pushed the regime doWn and declared neW era in Islam, US hated that. Later Saddam Hussein committed War to Iran, US supported Saddam. What is this?
Even though bitter I think it is fair for US to admit the false.

It is like an Icon in Moslem community that US always create coflicts in order to be able in controlling among Islam Countries. This perception must be elimated by US itself.

Many Moslems in Sunnah or Shi'ah do not agree to what Taliban had established in Afganistan. Regarding law that have different interpretation. but Moslems do not agree When US accidently(as reported)killed many civilian in Afghanistan.
Why did not US execute close task? Deploying US Army to catch Oesama and Taliban/al-Qaeda.

Lastly, US should never play fire. All they insist are Just US and respect to Moslem community. There is no such thing "terror" in Islam. You may read in the Islamic reference books written by Moslem.
There are sites or books released by anti-Islamic movement which are not factual, biased, provocative. so please avoid that.

There are inter-religion conversation between Judaism-Christian-Islam in US I guess. You may refer to that to get to know Islam.

I apologize for my english

Thank You. Salam-Shalom

Abdi R Malik
Jakarta Indonesia
"


- Abdi R Malik  gdive@indo.net.id , Tangerang, Indonesia   2/7/02

"Absolutely every single person on earth has a soul. Who has the right to take anyone's life except God? Who has the right to punish for taking life except God?"


- Frances  franny@aol.com , Chicago, IL USA   2/5/02

"There must be a way for all of us to live together...or seperately...in Peace!!!"


- Troy  Troy223@aol.com , Philly, PA   2/5/02

"Why do this to such a lovely city? New York attracted millions of visitors. Even though Osama Bin Laden destroyed the World Trade centre, New York will still be strong and won't give up without a fight. May god be with the lost lives. xxx "


- Tarwinder Singh Guraya  y2j_guraya@hotmail.com , London, Essex, UK   2/4/02

"Why would anyone do this? A day that will live in infamy!"


   1/31/02

"Bravo Blaza, you dare to speak the Truth. As you say, most people don't even have a clue as to what's going on. Bravo."


- The Truth  NoLie@thetruth.com , Planet Earth   1/28/02

"Blaza, you are correct. We seem to have our noses in places that sometimes don't belong. We train terrorists, then complain when they are so intelligent about their training. As for the non-white population, I hope that is changing with every moment that we fight for the change. Follow the dream of Martin Luther King, and we will succeed. Too bad that both sides seem to find reasons to fault each other. "


- Fadra  Fadra    1/21/02

"Until America comes to an truly honest re-evaluation of its foreign policy, it's citizens risk terrorist attacks. America is not so much hated for who we are, but for what our government has done and continues to do in its unfairness to the overall non-white population of the WORLD, that we as citizens don't even have a clue of. And if it's anything that will destroy this great country, it won't be terrorist. It will be our own greed, deception, and arrogance - the foundation of our past and current foriegn policy - that will only return to haunt us all."


- Blaza  hotmail.com , TX   1/20/02

"this flows from molly's post in
the without sanctuary chat area.

i do think the west bank must be
offered to palestine as the price
for a lasting peace in israel.

i do not think our current administration,
nor very many on the planet in the last 50
or so years are up to the task of brokering
that lasting peace. so i think continued death
and hostility it what we'll see. . .

i am very circumspect about any suggestion that
nine eleven would have just been an ordinary
day in america EVEN if palestine controlled,
without rancor or controversy, the west bank
on nine ten or earlier. i think the trade
centers had been a vengence target of bin laden's
ever since the f.b.i. flew the failed-wtc-bomber
over the wtc in a helicopter on his way to sentencing,
and poked him and said 'they're still standing!' [which
was widely reported around the world, and bin laden
doubtless heard or read of it.

so he hatched a plan to take them out in earnest.

p e a c e
"


- rain, out  rainman@workline.com , u.s.a.   1/17/02

"http://www.sputnik7.com/sitelet/site-v/

click on the launch image;
then select the "overcome"
video, after specifying your
media preference. . ."

Links:
    live's overcome: a tribute to the human spirit

- rain  rainman@workline.com , u.s.a.   1/12/02

""Bush Jr. once held speach in which he said that "they" hated the american people for their freedoms and their democratic system. Do you think that most americans believe that? What do you think?"

Oh my...I think many Americans feel that way, because they do not understand how hate can be directed toward them. It's an ego thing....We are hated for many reasons. Our foreign policy for one. For our desire to dictate our way of life as the "golden path." The middle east sees us as the "Great Satan" and that is because we are a threat to their religion. We are a distraction to their holy teachings. I believe in my heart, that most Americans truly think, that when they see another way of life, the desire to fix it, blinds us to the fact that some people just don't want a fix. They like the way they live. However our humanitarian efforts are to be commended, yet they are criticized..we can't be everywhere. We are a rich country, in many ways, including our freedoms, but not everyone wants what we have. We can't accept the fact that people view us as wrong, when we view us as the only way. And WE are always right...(sarcasm)"


- Fadra  Fadra    1/12/02

"Sorry, I forgot a word ...destroy their culture 'cause..."


- molly  lalala , G   1/12/02

"And sometimes devour them in the rise..."


- Fadra  Fadra    1/9/02

"Those who are down will follow everything that rises."


- molly  lalala , G   1/7/02

"heat may rise, but fire burns down......."


- Fadra  Fadra    1/4/02

"When it comes to trying to understanding the physics
of heat and impact affects on height. I have a few
comparison concerns.How can airplanes on comparable
weight and impact speed cause such a disparity in
destruction at the two locations. On one hand two
one hundred plus stories were totally destroyed.
Whereas on the other hand the pentagon suffered a
gapeing hole which only appears to be 100 to 150 yards.
I was told that the heat was so intense it did
stuctural damage to the number 7 tower too. which
was considerably shorter. All my life I thought heat
rises."


- Not Important  Bawgy21@yahoo.com , Chattanooga Tn. USA   1/4/02

"Tonight I've seen a very docu by B.Z. Goldberg and Justine Shapiro. I was about Children in the Palestina - Israel Konflict and its title was in german "hate and hope" but the original title was "promises".
I translated the video text for you:
The docu doesn't concentrate on hard facts and political events but looks at the israeli-palestinian conflict and the chance of peace affording the audience and insight into the hearts and the ways of thinking of the children of Jerusalem. For that it has been awarded on international festivals. The focus of attention are seven israeli and palestinian kids. Every child sees the central aspects of the conflict in the Middle East for a dramatic, emotional and sometimes hilarious point of view. The children in "hate and hope" are between eight and 13 years old and belong to an age group that rarely speaks for itself. They neither have the insecurity of teenagers nor the politeness of adults, they express themselves without any kind of self-censorship. They only live 20 minutes away from another but they are locked in different worlds. The authors B.Z. Goldberg and Justina Shapiro explore the borders that lie between the children and tell the story of some few that dare to cross these borders and to meet their neighbors. There are only very few visitors of the middle east and residents of that area who dare to go to the places that this film explors. Over and over again viewers who think they had completely "understood" this conflict or who think they had "heard enough of it", realize surprised that they still can learn from these children.
direction - justine Shapiro (anchor of "Lonley planet"), Carlos Bolado (director of the film "Bajo California") and B.Z. Goldberg (american-israeli journalist and filmmaker who grew up in Jerusalem and worked as a journalist during the "Intifada".) The film was finished in 2001 and it took the team more than five years. The filmproject "promises" is a non-profit project... You can find more infos about the persons and organisations involved on the site below.

I wish you could have seen it. There was so much hate in these childrens eyes, all said that the land was theirs. Some of them realized that coming together was the only way to peace and that there won't be peace as long as both sides try to expel another. Others didn't see that this war only can be lost. Some of them met in the palestinian refugee camp because the jews (twins)could pass the checkpoint, it would have been much more difficult the other way round. the palestinain children showed them the place where a friend had been killed during the Intifada. (the "heros" of the intifada were youngsters who saw it as their duty to fight for the land that belonged to and was taked away from their grandparents) He had thrown stones and the israeli soldiers had shot him. the children talked about sports and played and also talked about politics, all of them had been somehow tought to hate another especially in school and in the street but they realized that they had to come together to create a peaceful future. But they also knew that they only could see another as long as the team was there. It was hard for them to see that the chance for peace that seemd to be reachable for a moment, for a day, was still so far away.
It does not matter who this land belongs to. Mohammed fled there according to the Koran and according to the Thora it was given to Abraham (who is also the progenitor of the Moslems)... it's an endless story.
It also doesn't make no sens to count which side lost and killed more men women and especially children. The most horrible crimes are comitted by those who teach children to hate another because they blight the chance of the hope for peace."

Links:
    article about the docu

- molly  lalala , G   1/2/02

"Sometimes....people are more dangerous dead, than alive, Know what I mean? "


- Fadra  Fadra    1/1/02

"The only way to kill him without creating a new martyr is to tell the world he had already been dead when they found him."


- molly  lalala , G   12/29/01

"Welcome back to the dark ages, Brain. "Draw and quarter" that sounds civilized...
I don't think that we would get to see this trail. Look at him. There's nothing in his eyes but certainity and inner peace. He looks too much like a "saint" to be presented as a monster. He just doesn't have enough public appeal..."


- molly  lalala , G   12/28/01

"Bin Laden better be dead. If he's alive, we'll get him and televise his trial and execution live. Preferred means of killing him: draw and quarter."


- Brian  reztrop@aol.com , Los Angeles, CA   12/26/01

"Bin Laden better be dead. If he's alive, we'll get him and televise his trial and execution live. Preferred means of killing him: draw and quarter."


- Brian , Los Angeles, CA   12/26/01

"An eye for an eye...
Is that really what you want? That wouldn't make you any better than them."


- molly  lalala , G   12/11/01

"When they catch these guys, they should put them in a collapsing building."


- Joe  keepgoing@evereadybatteries.com , Wy   12/11/01

"Knowing that we armed and trained Bin Laden, armed Iraq, who is worse.....the Frakenstein monster or the Frankenstein who CREATED the monster???

Also, are we going after ALL terrorists, or just the brown ones? With all the thousands rounded up & detained, I seem to remember just two people being tried for the Oklahoma bombing even though it was obvious McVeigh had help. What about other terrorist groups like the ku klux klan, the ira???? It seems, like always, that a persons pigmentation determines what decisions are made."


- Tony  Don'tbother@email.com , Pa.   12/10/01

"Thank you rain, I was too lazy too translate it...
I've mot said that the "u.s. is responsible for the "creation"of all existing terrorists in the world". I only said that Biological Weapons and some terrorists are children of the Cold War. Terrorism devellopes where extremists feel that it's unfair how they are treated, and very often it's injustice that causes terrorism, sometimes people lost hope and try to project all the fears they have on an enemy. They feel like they could get rid of all their problems and fears if only they could "kill" this enemy, but they usually chose this enemy for a reason..."


- molly  lalala , G   12/9/01

""Germs" by Judith Miller"


- mollyl  lalala , G   12/8/01

"atty. gen. john ashcroft suggested yesterday
that anyone who questions the governement
about its means and methods in investigating
the sept. 11 attacks is being "unamerican". . .

see link below.

that is preposterous.

and perhaps more importantly,
that is a dangerous position to take.
ashcroft said:

"To those who pit Americans against
immigrants, citizens against non-citizens,
to those who scare peace-loving people
with phantoms of lost liberty. . ."

i'll stop him here to ask whether
suggesting all PEOPLE have equal rights
is "pitting one against another."

more importantly -- "lost liberty"
is no "phantom" fear from where i sit.

ask raul robeson, harry belafonte, the
rosenbergs. . . shoot, ask any historian
about sen. joe mccarthy out of wisconsin.

so many spilled blood for these rights,
and note that each applies to PERSONS,
not just citizens, or natives:

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure
in their PERSONS, houses, papers, and
effects, against unreasonable searches
and seizures, shall not be violated,
and no warrants shall issue, but upon
probable cause, supported by oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing
the place to be searched, and the PERSONS
or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No PERSON shall be held to answer
for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime,
unless on a presentment or indictment
of a grand jury, except in cases arising
in the land or naval forces, or in the
militia, when in actual service in time of
war or public danger; nor shall any PERSON
be subject for the same offense to be twice
put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall
be compelled in any criminal case to be a
witness against himself, nor be deprived of
life, liberty, or property, without due
process of law; nor shall private property
be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In ALL criminal prosecutions, the ACCUSED
shall enjoy the right to a SPEEDY and PUBLIC
trial, by an impartial JURY of the state and
district wherein the crime shall have
been committed, which district shall have
been previously ascertained by law, and to
be informed of the nature and cause of the
accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses
against him; to have compulsory process for
obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have
the assistance of counsel for his defense.

ahem. ashcroft continued:

". . .my message is this: Your tactics
only aid terrorists for they erode our
national unity and diminish our resolve. . ."

he is right -- when we insist that ALL
u.s. law enforecment officers honor our
constitution, we "slow them down", as compared
to the stazi, the k.g.b., the nazis and
the taliban police forces. . .

but if all we are after is dead criminals
at any cost -- why bother to spill our sons
and daughters' blood in distant lands?

i thought we were fighting to preserve the
vaunted freedoms penned in amendments first
through fifteenth, or so. . .

ashcroft went on to tell
the senate judiciary committee:

"They give ammunition to America's enemies
and pause to America's friends. They encourage
people of good will to remain silent
in the face of evil. . ."

just as he threatens those of us with
understanding of our rights to remain
silent, or face his wrath for not being
fully supportive of his every move.

i support the aprehension of terrorists,
but it must be on "probable cause" warrants,
under the sixth amendment, or on an "articuable
suspicion" -- its weaker cousin -- crafted
by supreme court jurisprudnce in terry and
mapp v. ohio. . .

not NOT not upon 5,000 person DRAGNETS. . .
lining up all immigrants of middle-eastern
extraction. . . that is a k.g.b. tactic.

and, our TRUE friends SHOULD take a
pause, and think before they gut our
most cherished principles in a vain
chase for security. . .

"those who would sacrifice
liberty for security, are
fit for neither. . ."

-- ben franklin

finally, ashcroft said:

"Our efforts have been crafted carefully to
avoid infringing on constitutional rights,
while saving American lives."

i do not doubt the genuine-ness of his effort
to root out terrorists while preserving our
constitutional promises. . . just as i hope
he will accept my honest assessment that he
has "missed the mark". likewise, i trust he'll
be man enough to correct his good faith errors,
as they were brought to his attention by senator
patrick leahy and the judiciary committe yesterday.

increase the

p e a c e"

Links:
    ashcroft's remarks on cnn.com

- rain, risin'  rainman@workline.com , u.s.a. -- the land of thefirst amendment   12/7/01

"I am a college student in boston, but i originally live in bronx, new york. When i heard about the World Trade Center bombing, i swear i wanted to kill bin laden with my bare hands, and i still do. how dare he and his brainwashed followers come into our territory, and cripple the greatest city in the world. i know some of my words are harsh, but hey, i'm an american, and i am VERY proud to be one. what he did was very wrong. what the suicide bombers did was worse, and i can't wait to find out when we find him alive or , hopefully, dead. and when we do, i hope i can find the tombstone, so i can spit on his grave."


- Nicolette Montano  montanni@emmanuel.edu , Bronx, NY, USA   12/6/01

"I think that they should've tookthoseinnocent lives.
Osma Bin Laden where are you trying to hide be a man about it. say it to the u.s.a face.
ha- ha !!!!!"


- clarissa williams  lish pooh @aol.com , memphis,tn.,usa   12/6/01

"I don't disagree with you Rainman. Not in the least. I believe our constitution should uphold the trust that we will not be prejudice against any person for any reason. It is not an excuse for what is going on, but it is a reason. I feel for the people who have been needlessly harassed by the government, but yet, the backs of our national security have been put against the wall, and they have to save face. I prefer letting them handle it the way they are, rather than letting the people take control of a situation. When that happens, control is lost.
When it comes to the Anthrax, it has been my believe long ago that it is domestic. That it was done by someone that has been here, not a so-called "terrorist". I also believe they can almost pinpoint where he/she is. If they can put a "watch" on people we would have never believed could fly a plane in the WTC, they certainly can track mail to a location. But...mum seems to be the word on that one.
One more...John Walker, can not be tried for War Crimes, even tho he was fighting for the terrorists, all because he is American???? Isn't that also racial profiling??? When all the foreign Taliban can be tried, why is he, and any American with them, exempt?

Oh...as for Clayton Wagner...a lone wolf usually is not alone. He is just protecting the organization he supports, so they can continue their efforts. The F.B.I. is not concerned, I supposed, about the hoax letters from Anti-Abortionists, because their hands are full with the ones that are Tainted. Still not an excuse but a reason. There is only so much man-power, and unfortunately, it still comes down to money.

"


- Fadra  Fadra    12/6/01

"[cross-posted]

i hear you fadra.

two observations, if i might:

first, i note that the f.b.i.
is NOT questioning all
people with ties to the anti-
abortion movement, even though
it KNOWS that many of the
hoax anthrax letters came
from among their number.

no, the f.b.i. is willing
to see clayton lee waagner
as a lone wolf. . .

for my dime's worth,
questioning these 5,000 people
is not unlike asking ALL
catholics to come in for
investigatory questioning
to look for ties to clayton lee waagner.

it makes no sense, and
it is UN-constitutional.

second, it is when we are
frightened that we must dis-
tinguish ourselves by holding
fast to the principles of

f r e e d o m. . .

if this will be our reaction
to crisis, then none of us
are ever really going to be
free again. . .

and that is fundamentally
tragic. . .

understandable -- but
tragic -- that so many before
us gave their lives and
liberties in sacrifice to
secure ours today, and we
are willing to THROW all
those principles away. . .

in a vain chase for some
added measure of security.

the sad news is: we will
have no more security, and
we will have far less freedom.

and the world will be a darker,
more dangerous place for it.

and it will never be "over".

just my dime.

p e a c e
"

Links:
    the f.b.i. on clayton lee waagner

- rain, replyin'  rainman@workline.com , u.s.a. -- land of the fourth amendment   12/6/01

"Molly...terrorism-the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion. We have a right to protect and defend ourselves from terrorists, which also means we have the right to kill. We are finished when we can feel safe again...
"


- Fadra  Fadra    12/6/01

"After 15 years of neglect, the government and people, are trying to correct things that should have been in place long before the Sept. 11th attack. We have let, slip through the system, terrorists who lived among us as friends, neighbors and co-workers. We have permitted them to attend our schools, legalize themselves through drivers licenses, and become near-citizens with our own. We have paid dearly for the neglect. Now, we are a country running scared. Every night on the news, we are being warned of more possible attacks, and more bioterrorism possibilities. The government is trying to correct a wrong, and rebuild it's faith in our security. They are profiling every possible person who may fit the description of any that attacked our country. They have wrongfully detained innocent people, racially profiled, and interrogated beyond the proper length of times. Why? They, and many of the citizens who live here, are scared to death. The government is attempting to assure the citizens, that they can be safe in a "free" country. They are trying to rebuild a strength among people who are afraid of their own shadows. People, who, if the government did not take the initiative, to search every possible scenario, would become vigilanties, and make the country, another lynching-type horror.

"


- Fadra  Fadra    12/6/01

"Statement of Steven R. Shapiro, Legal Director
American Civil Liberties Union

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 5, 2001

WASHINGTON -- What happened on September 11th was terrible and tragic. No one questions the government's right - indeed, its responsibility - to
conduct a thorough and complete investigation. We share a common goal in finding those responsible for the September 11th attacks and preventing future
attacks.

From the beginning, however, this Administration has conducted an investigation designed to minimize any outside scrutiny of its actions and frustrate the
system of checks and balances. Not content with the broad array of new powers it was given by Congress, the Administration has assumed broad new
powers on its own without Congressional approval or even consultation. Whenever possible, it has sought to reduce and restrict the role of the judiciary as
an independent check on government misconduct. And it has deprived the American public of the basic information it needs to judge for itself how the
government is doing its job.

Since September 11th, hundreds of people have been arrested, detained and virtually disappeared from public sight. That may be the way other countries
operate; it is not the way this country functions. The American people have the right to know who has been arrested, where and why they are detained, the
condition of their confinement and whether they are being given proper access to counsel and the judicial process.

There seems to be little dispute at this point that the vast majority of those caught in the government's dragnet have no relationship whatsoever to the
events of September 11th and have in fact only been charged with minimal and technical immigration violations. Yet without knowing who they are, it is
impossible to determine whether they are being treated in a fair and nondiscriminatory fashion.

This lawsuit does not seek access to classified secrets. It does not ask the government to reveal its intelligence sources and methods. But it is absolutely
critical that the American public has the information it needs to decide whether the Justice Department's actions are consistent with the freedoms we are
now fighting to defend and whether those actions are likely to be effective. Serious questions have been raised on both counts, including by former senior
FBI officials. Serious questions that lead us today to join with a coalition of civil rights and human rights groups to file this action."

Links:
    text of lawsuit/complaint as filed in pdf
    congressional testimony on december 4

- rain, risin again. . .  rainman@workline.com , u.s.a. -- land of the first amendment.   12/5/01

"Let's let God decide who to deserves to go to hell...
How dare ANYONE to attack someone else's freedom and lifestyle. There's a lot that we shouldn't forget, many actrocities that have been and still are committed all over world (where much more people get killed). We must never forget !why! these things happen...."


- Molly  lalala , G   12/5/01

"We should never, Ever forget what they have done to our friend, America. How dare they attack our freedom and lifestyle, I only hope that The lives of those whom were attacked can become happier knowing that the people that did this, are on the way to hell.
Your friends,
The people Of the United Kingdom. "


- Ollie  Ninja_Ollie@hotmail.com , Wolverhampton. England   12/4/01

"Oh yeah, one more thing. I totally agree with Fadra. This is NOT a color issue. Let me repeat that...THIS IS NOT A COLOR ISSUE, so get off it."


- Chrissy  lilchrissy238@hotmail.com , Monroe Twp, NJ 08831   11/28/01

"First, this is to Konata Nangwaya. I think you should be ashamed of yourself for saying, (oh, wait I have the exact, pitiful words you spoke on September 15) "I admire the sheer genius of the entire plan and the balls to carry it out." You certainly have a lot of "balls" to say that (and wipe that stupid grin off your face if you ever read this.) It makes me sick to think that there are people out there like you. You might as well go over to Afghanistan and hide out with Bin Laden for making a stupid remark like that. And as for comparing the events of September 11, 2001 with slavery is just ridiculous. At a time like this, all you can do is talk about slavery. The past is the past and things are VERY different now. And you probably weren't even alive when there was slavery. This tragic event has brought many people together and made ties between family and friends STRONGER. And then we have to read your extremely unimportant felings about slavery and your "brothers and sisters". Oh, cry me a river, no wait better yet, an ocean. It's 2001 and slavery is over. How dare you say America (this is how it is spelled, not Amerikkka) brought this on itself! Would you be sitting there saying these things if members of your family or some of your friends had been lost in the attacks. Think about others and not just yourself.

Although I hadn't lost anyone in the attacks, I still feel as though I did because so many innocent lives were lost for no reason and it makes me upset to think that there are people out there who live to hate "us". Why, because we have so much freedom? Jealousy will not get you anywhere.

Well, that's how I feel about the attacks and to all the families and friends who lost someone....don't think you completely lost the ones you loved...their souls and hearts will always be with you and just think, we now have a few thousand more angels wathcing over us everyday helping to make our lives brighter without us even knowing it. God Bless everyone and let's try hard to keep the peace. "


- Chrissy  lilchrissy238@hotmail.com , Monroe Twp., NJ 08331   11/28/01

"I spent a lot of time reading these comments and I am upset at a few that I read. I do not care what the USA has done in the past there is no excuse for what happened on sept 11th. Konata Nagwaya you should be ashamed of yourself. Hoe dare you hint that America had this coming. I am a proud American and I as well as many African Americans that I know have been treated very well by the USA. John Cartwright has the right idea. I totally agree with him. No other country but the USA has given so much help to other countries. No country gives help to the USA. I feel so terrible for the families and victims of Sept 11th and I am praying for them everyday. The USA is a strong country and the USA wants to get rid of terrorism. That is doing good for the whole world, not just Americans. Please do not get me wrong, I do not want to see a lot of casualties but with any war there is going to be death. Ther was a lot of death and sadness in NYC and DC. I am proud to be an American and say to all americans if you do not like the way this country is ran try living in afganistan where you have no freedoms. God Bless America "


- Jaime , Des Moines, Ia USA   11/28/01

"I THINK THAT AMERICA MUST WAKE UP AND SEE THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE BEING MISTREATED ALL DAY EVERYDAY ACROSS THE GLOBE BY WESTERN AND EUROPEAN POLICIES. AMERICA MUST FIX HER PROBLEMS AT HOME FIRST AND THEN WORLD WIDE."


- MATT HOWARD  MHHI283@MSN.COM , CLEVELAND, OHIO U.S.   10/28/01

"Regarding Bob's comments about the World Trade Center apparently not being designed correctly: the WTC was originally built to withstand the impact of a 727, and probably could have done so. It was not designed to withstand the force of a 757 with full fuel tanks. The terrorists made sure they flew the planes into the towers at an angle with full fuel tanks to maximize the effect of the impact. The Empire State Building was not constructed to nearly as high a specs as the WTC and would no doubt have collapsed much quicker under the same kind of impact."


- Joseph  josephalp@hotmail.com , Denver, Co.   10/22/01

"This will probably upset vast amounts of people : Has anybody stopped and thought, okay a plane was flown into the building and it collapsed. Has nobody questioned why did it collapse ?? Was it built too high, no doubt the structure was never designed to have a plane flown into it, so why not ask the designers, why did the entire building collapse, as if it was demolished ??

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't The Empire State Building have a plane crash into it ?? Its still here, doesn't that say something for modern designers building just enough strength into the structure to survive x number of years under `normal` conditions. Could you really see that building standing the same length of time as The Empire State Building ...... I doubt it"


- Bob  fredjones2001@hotmail.com , UK   10/21/01

"All of this hatred and anger and spite scares me as much as watching the second plane hit the tower and realizing it was no accident. That people have so much hatred and desire for revenge and death and destruction is the scariest part of all of this. We've all made mistakes and we can justify nearly all of our actions as a benefit to some other cause or humanity or race or religion--but nothing makes it right. And we've all done good things in our lives--as countries and as humans. I pray for peace in the hearts and souls of humanity and I pray for whatever higher power you believe in to touch each person with a ray of hope and peace. I can't function with all this hatred and revenge. I just want God or Buddha or Allah or whomever might be up there watching over us, to reach down and help us. Please."


- Sunweb  sunweb@webchoice.net , Columbia, MO, USA   10/14/01

"Last evening I saw the Manhattan skyline on a TV program. With amazing elagence and power, stood the World Trade Center. I immediately recalled the shockwave of my soul and how my spirit mourned on 09-11-'01. To see the sight as a sort of burial ground covered with sacred ashes, was a vision blinded by tears. I can now ask, 'GOD, PLEASE PLACE YOUR MIRROR OF TRUTH IN THE FACES OF OUR DOMESTIC "TERRORISTS" (a.k.a., some of the past/present/future decision makers of our political and economic power arenas) AND LET THEM SEE THE FACES OF SOME ORIGINAL TERRORISTS. LET THE WORLD HEAR THEM AS THEY ASK FOR FORGIVENESS. LET THEIR PLEA BE OF SOUND MINDS AND SINCERE HEARTS. CLEANSE AND RID THEIR SOULS OF EVIL. ALLOW THE WORLD TO HEAR THEIR SHOUTS OF "GOD BLESS AMERICA", "LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING", AND THEN "LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH".

myra "


- myra , Birmingham, AL; USA   10/13/01

" HEART felt sympathy for those who lost loved ones.
America like Malcolm X did say The chicken has come home to roost.
America has caused it own destruction on innocent people, take a look at the rest of the world its happenning there to as u read this. But who is causing this ? Who have eyes will see !!!!!!! "

- eli jackson  italove@btopenworld , england   9/27/01

"The most numbing event I have ever seen, and I was not even in NY when it happened!

It gives shivers to my spine, pain in my heart which I cannot explain, yet, tears refuse to trickle from eyes, not even a drop. That is how tragic that event is; it will stay in our memories forever, even after death."

- Cleopatra  Thetenth@Liver.com , Ohio, USA   9/27/01

"Jack, PW...
Toot your horns, and scorn with your words. I don't think I will ever know how you feel. I can't hate that much, any section, race, nationality of people, person... to ever wish, that they feel what I am feeling now. Gloat all you want. Cry your anit-american, anti-white. I am an American, therefore, I am on the receiving end of the terrorism. I can't know how you feel. I don't hate enough to hope that this happens to anyone, just so they know how it feels."

- Fadra  Fadra    9/27/01

"The scale was unimagineable and the horror indescribeable, but a part of me said "How do you like it when it comes home USA? Your dollars have paid for IRA massacres for years in my country, and I resent that deeply. You are a part of the world, it's not just a place you read about in the newspapers"."

- PW  figpod@yahoo.co.uk , UK   9/25/01

"It its zeal to be offended, and there is no doubt American, all of us have been offended, white Americans forget that tlhey have perpetrated terrorism on every people of color they ever encountered. Ignoring history before 1492, examine the behavior of anglo's since native Americans discovered Columbus at their front door. GENOCIDE is the only way to honestly describe the white man's behavior towards native Americans. Destruction of not only a people, but of a culture.

Aficans taken as slaves fared even worse. Enduring the middle passage to end up in this land, to be sold, tortured, made to work under the worst possible condidtions was indeed terror. And how does the richest most powerful nation in the world repay the humans it treated so, it denies American Africans reparations. Hell, many Black people would could do wonders if the white man would just stop stealing from us now.

So when white America declares war on terrorism, and the white president curl up his mouth and begins talking about an extended struggle, look out non-white people.

And have those that would identify the villains of September 11, ever considered what Israel would have to gain by backing an attack on America? America and England gave land that was not theirs to give, to european Jews in 1948. Is Israel's behavior towards Palestinians terroristic? Of course it is!

But Israel has never been satisfied with the support it gets from the United States. The mossad is vicious and perfectly capable any act that would advance its control over, not quite white, certainly not christian, human beings. "

- JackPike  gr2gthr@execpc.com , USA   9/24/01