Off Topic

Sue and Gary Leach bangfish at cableone.net
Fri Sep 14 20:08:14 CEST 2001


Fabio wrote:

> In these days american people name one and another time Pearl Harbor. I am
> wonder if they think in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the coup de grace delivered by one clearly
delineated belligerent upon the other clearly delineated belligerent at the
close of a vicious, bloody, protracted and openly waged war. There are
simply no useful equivalencies to be drawn between a comparison of this and
what happened on Tuesday.

On the other hand, there are not that many useful equivalencies to be drawn
from comparisons to Pearl Harbor, either. The U.S. did not have to wonder
who had attacked, or how to respond. Moreover, the resulting war was
conducted on both sides by well organized military forces directed by the
established governments of internationally recognized national entities.
Again, an extremely ill fit with what happened on Tuesday.

We believe that looking at Pearl Harbor or Hiroshima/Nagasaki is of little
use to America in dealing with the faceless enemy we now face. We are far
better off looking to our experiences with the Viet Cong, the earlier World
Trade Center bombing, the embassy bombings, the Cole, and even Oklahoma
City. These have been telling us where our fate truly lies, and its time for
us to start really listening.

The very qualities that make us what we are as a nation and a people; our
love of personal freedom, of movement, of expression - have also made it
possible for us to be --yes, easily -- attacked by those who have devoted
their lives to hatred. We aren't stupid; unlike what you've heard in the
media, we've known that we were vulnerable. We are also stubborn, maybe
foolishly so. Now we know that we must take greater care than ever before,
and that may mean some changes.

But be sure of this; we are not terrorized. We are saddened beyond belief,
and we are angry. But mostly we are determined. Determined to keep our way
of life no matter what. We know how fortunate we are to live in a country
that for all its many flaws, is a remarkable and beautiful place.

This is our home. And while we'll be keeping a much closer eye on the doors
from now on, they're going to stay open.

Sorry to get so heavy here, with nothing to say re: Disney comics, but Fabio
did ask.

In closing, we just want to say how much the sympathy and support from the
world has meant to us here. Thanks for sticking by us.

Gary and Sue
Prescott, Arizona, USA, Earth




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