This is all I know.

What is the world coming to?!?

L.L.
I pray that the ladies in DC and NYC are ok.

My fiance and I are in Atlanta for a software tradeshow, right next to the CNN Center which was evacuated earlier this morning. I guess it would be a terrorist's dream to get a hold of the gigantic media center. It's been a nervewracking morning as we've taken the subway out to Decatur and away from the city. There are streams of traffic, the city's under alert with 4 bomb threats. Obviously there are groups taking advantage of the hysteria and chaos. All planes are grounded, looks like we'll be here indefinitely.

This is utterly devestating as I think of colleagues lost in the World Trade Center. Let's hope things die down. Suddenly being back in Michigan's sounding very good.

L.D.
I too hope the best for people affected by the destruction and wish you a safe flight home, whenever that might be. However, the media coverage has been less than adequate, as usual. If the comparison is to pearl harbor, does that also mean the us gov't was aware of these individuals'/groups' intentions prior to the crashes? is the media suggesting the same (level of)retaliation be implemented? by making these kinds of connections, how much of the anger and vengence will be directed to asia pacific in culture, in media, in daily life in america (eg hate crimes)? what are the implications of calling very strategic attacks (wto bldg and pentagon)"terrorist" (and without any evidence as it did with ok bombing-tim mcvey) and does that mean we can openly call for genocide now as some individuals have basically demanded on tv?

L.L.
Ladies -

Well, I hope things don't escalate to the point where the Muslim community will be rounded up. I grew up in Dearborn, Michigan otherwise known as the largest Arab community outside of the Middle East. I fear for the community since everytime a terrorist attack happens Americans lash out at them. I thought about them when the Atlanta subway was stopped so the cops could roam the aisles. What could they be looking for? Arab Americans with head scarves? And, while watching the footage alongside computer execs I had this terrible feeling as they damned Palestine, the entire Middle East. Most are older, white males and I cringed to think what would they have done if an Arab American was there. I left thinking better get out of there before they said something about the "Red Chinese" and assumed that I was one.

Looks like the world is in a state of shock. Even geek friends in Holland have left work, I know universities have cancelled classes around the country. Students here at Agnes Scott College are in tears and I keep looking at my fiance wondering if there's war, if he'd be drafted. And to think, many of our relatives and parents left for the safety of the US...

D.H. Why am I not surprised? W has been sitting idle and telling Americans that we are number one, we shouldn't make any compromises. He, Cheney and their corporate cronies have been devising a tax plan to make the rich richer.

T.N.
Hi all,

At this time, we need to pray for those who died, those who suffer and those who has relative(s) are victim. Have a safe day everyone !!

K.V.
Dear Ladies,

My prayers to all those who have lost their lives or have been injured by this horrific incident.

As much as it pained me to see what happened in NYC and elsewhere (god, I stayed at the WTC just last week), all I could think about was Bush's "Hunt down and punish" statement. Who is he planning to hunt down and destroy? All the reporting about Muslim terrorists by NBC, ABC and CBS is making me sick! Their finger pointing reports have obvious racial overtones.

I worry innocent people of color will be targets of US military vengence. Some how I don't feel any safer knowing retribution is at hand. The hateful sentiments will no doubt have residual affects on the POC communities here. And we have yet to know who is at the botton of this. For all we know it's a bunch of geek hackers who's just had it (wink wink L.).

But, seriously, there's one thing to bring the culprits to justice, but another to punish a whole race for these crimes. I am fearful indeed. Fearful of terrorism but also fearful of how our government will "protect" us.

M.N.
Already c-span call-in shows and the "man on the street" are presenting a variety of calls for the expulsion or deaths of all "arabs," and most likely anyone they believe looks arabic and/or muslim. no one has yet mentioned the possibility of domestic terrorism, i.e., home-grown rightwing (and white) militias. instead they show video of Palestinians celebrating or speculate without evidence as to the involvement of osama bin laden, even though the u.s. military recently bombed his main camps, most probably rendering his operations (whatever they are) ineffectual for now. argh.

T.T.
Dear Ladies,

I 'm praying for all of people in NYC and DC and hope that these shock, anger, terrify, fear will not be a trigger of more violent toward to Middle East Communities or other immigration groups... Please comfort our elderly, this day of terror will bring back a lot of flash back from the war in Vietnam. I was in tears when I heard the news and saw those pictures through the internet... In Los Angles County, the Airport Harbor are closed and the whole county are on guard. Take good care you all and spread out the message of Peace & Love.

B.M.
This is a very timely press release from the American Psychiatric Association on possible mental health responses to an act of terrorism that I believe we can all use...Again, please take good care of your loved ones. We will get through this tragedy together.

From: Steven Mirin, M.D. Medical Director

RE: APA Response to Terrorist Attacks on World Trade Center, Pentagon

As all of you are aware, there have been attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Alexandria, Virginia. Employees in the greater Washington area have been dismissed for the day for safety reasons but many of APA's senior and executive staff are at the Central Office responding to media calls.

We have prepared a preliminary set of talking points you might want to use as a starting point for any discussions you might have with media in your area. If you do receive any media calls, please email Laurie Oseran at loseran@psych.org before or after responding.

When disaster strikes, it is recommended that individuals should: 1. Keep in mind these incidents are highly visible and disturbing but they are isolated events in a country of close to 300 million people; 2. Act on facts, not fear or speculation; 3. Take control of what you can. Stay out of heavily populated public areas if at all possible; 4. Don't take public transportation; 5. Keep informed about new information or developments; and 6. If you feel anxious, angry or depressed, you're not alone. Talk to friends, family or colleagues who may likely experience the same feelings. -- Many people survive disasters without developing significant psychological problems.

-- It is particularly important to listen to children, accept their fears and talk with them. 1. Reassure your child that they are safe from harm and are being protected; 2. Reassure them that state and federal government, the police, doctor and hospitals are doing everything possible to help the people hurt by this tragedy; 3. Listen to your child's fears and concerns and encourage your child to talk to you and other family members about their fears and anxieties; 4. Let them know that in time, our country will recover from this disaster; and 5. If you are frightened, tell your child; don't minimize the danger, but also talk about your ability to cope with your own fear and anxieties and continue with your life..

-- In general research shows that the more devastating and terrifying the trauma is, the more vulnerable someone will be to develop psychiatric symptoms. Aspects of disaster or trauma which increase the likelihood of psychiatric distress include: a lack of warning about the event, injury during the trauma, death of a loved one, exposure to horrifying events, experiencing the trauma alone, and the possibility of recurrence. Researchers are less sure, at this time, about what factors protect some people from psychiatric problems following exposure to trauma.

-- Survivors of trauma have reported a wide range of psychiatric problems that develop after the traumatic event. These may include: depression, anxiety, lingering symptoms of fear and anxiety that make it hard to work or go to school, family stress, alcohol and drug abuse, and marital conflicts.

-- Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is the most common psychiatric disorder following a traumatic event. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a reaction that may follow after a period of time. People suffering with ASD or PTSD often have persistent nightmares or flashbacks of the trauma. They may feel numb and have difficulty responding normally to usual life situations. They may be on edge, have trouble sleeping, have angry outbursts, or seem excessively watchful. Some people become severely depressed and begin to abuse drugs and/or alcohol in an attempt to medicate their painful feelings. People with these symptoms should seek help from a psychiatrist or other mental health professional.

-- The psychiatric sequelae of trauma are not limited to those individuals involved directly in the traumatic event. When this occurs, it is called secondary traumatization. Those at particular risk include spouses and loved ones of trauma victims, police or firemen involved in the disaster, and health care professionals who treat trauma victims. In addition, individuals with a prior history of psychiatric problems are at increased risk of developing additional problems when they are the victims of trauma.

-- Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals use a variety of effective treatments for disaster-related disorders. Talking about the trauma in individual, family or group therapy can be very helpful. Psychiatric medications can also provide relief for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.

D.V.
All I could think about was Bush's "Hunt down and punish" statement

Dear Ladies:

I woke up to the news with continuous chills down my spine but did not start crying till I heard that "we" are going to "hunt down and punish" those responsible for this tragedy.

If history repeats itself, we are going to see people rallying around their national leader giving him more support in his decisions. The mass in confusion looks desperately to the leadership. And onto hunting we Americans will go. "Make no mistake", we will hunt!

It is time for prayers, not for politics. I pray for clear mindedness and a noble heart to fully understand the consequences of this tragedy and more importantly, those of the reactions to today's events.

The only way to survive this tragedy is to increase our messages on tolerance and inclusiveness as violence will be beget more violence. Somehow, my darkest fear is that we may head down an entirely different path. Americans are usually well indoctrinated in "self-interest" (witness the economic model of the invisible hand") and so will never comprehend those who act in the interest of something they call "higher" -- suicide missionaries. If you do not understand those who you call "enemies", what chance do you have for true victory? Perhaps only hollow ones like blanket bombings, obliteration of some spaces and cultures, more civilian and innocent victims... all of which would expose Americans to more hatred everywhere.

I pray that we do not yield to hatred and that we assemble enough strength and courage to face down the paranoia that is enveloping this world out there.

D.V.
Ladies: I spoke too soon... Read the following and weep some more:

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/articles/kagan11.htm

A Declaration of War

By Robert Kagan Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, September 11, 2001; 5:10 p.m.

September 11, 2001 -- the date that will live in infamy, the day the post-Cold War era ended, the day the world for Americans changed utterly. In the coming days, as rescuers pick through the rubble in New York, in Washington, in Pittsburgh and who knows where else across the besieged United States, as the bodies of thousands of dead Americans are uncovered and as the rest of us weep over the destruction of innocent human life, our friends and loved ones, we may begin to hear analyses as to why this "tragedy" has befallen us. There will no doubt be questions raised, sins of omission and commission in the Middle East alluded to. Even today, the BBC opined that the attacks came because the United States had failed to get a "grip" on the Middle East. Nothing strange or odd in that. After Pearl Harbor, almost exactly 60 years ago, there were those who argued, with perhaps even more persuasiveness, that then, too, the United States had somehow invited the Japanese attack. After all, had we not embargoed Japan's vital oil supply?

One can only hope that America can respond to today's monstrous attack on American soil -- an attack far more awful than Pearl Harbor -- with the same moral clarity and courage as our grandfathers did. Not by asking what we have done to bring on the wrath of inhuman murderers. Not by figuring out ways to reason with, or try to appease those who have spilled our blood. Not by engaging in an extended legal effort to find the killers and bring them to justice. But by doing the only thing we now can do: go to war. Over the past few years there has been a nostalgic celebration of "The Greatest Generation" --the generation that fought for America and for humanity in the Second World War. There's no need for nostalgia now. That challenge is before us again. The question today is whether this generation of Americans is made of the same stuff.

Please let us make no mistake this time: We are at war now. We have suffered the first, devastating strike. Certainly, it is not the last. The only question is whether we will now take this war seriously, as seriously as any war we have ever fought. Let's not be daunted by the mysterious and partially hidden identity of our attackers. It will soon become obvious that there are only a few terrorist organizations capable of carrying out such a massive and coordinated strike. We should pour the resources necessary into a global effort to hunt them down and capture or kill them. It will become apparent that those organizations could not have operated without the assistance of some governments, governments with a long record of hostility to the United States and an equally long record of support for terrorism. We should now immediately begin building up our conventional military forces to prepare for what will inevitably and rapidly escalate into confrontation and quite possibly war with one or more of those powers. Congress, in fact, should immediately declare war. It does not have to name a country. It can declare war against those who have carried out today's attack and against any nations that may have lent their support. A declaration of war would not be pure symbolism. It would be a sign of will and determination to see this conflict through to a satisfactory conclusion no matter how long it takes or how difficult the challenge.

Fortunately, with the Cold War over, there are no immediate threats around the world to prevent us from concentrating our energies and resources on fighting this war on international terrorism as we have never fought it before.

September 12, 2001
I.W.
I hope there are no ladies on this forum who were affected by what happened in the USA last night. All death is tragic.

We've seen it on the news here in Sydney and our head of country is in Washington, your embassies and consul generals etc. have been closed and secured down here.

The negative anti-Arab sentiment and how it will affect the innocent is being discussed by Australian academics on the news here and we're wondering if you're really going to go to war and if so, with who.

L.N.
Like all of you I am stunned by the events unfolding. The loss of life is tragic. The news coverage here in the US however has been sensationalist, speculative, reactionary and Anti-Arab. Several local Arab American businesses and peace organizations have already received hateful calls and death threats... And Afghanistan just happened to be bombed with high technology missiles....

These are dangerous times for people of color. Xenophobia already at a high point in the US and will only escalate. On a global level, sentiments were already running high around the UN World Conference Against Racism, Xenophobia and other related intolerances. The US boycotted because of the Palestinian question and conveniently evaded accountability for racism, slavery, land theft, etc. As Loan and Khanh pointed out though obstensibly directed against "terrorists", any US military & intelligence action, desire for blood revenge is going to affect all people of color, in particular, those of Arab descent. Any "foreigner" is suspect.

It is going to be martial law in the US.

Sorry for the incoherency, I've got bronchitis or pneumonia or something so my train of thought is off...

my thoughts goes out to those who have lost family members.

K.N.
I woke up in disbelief this morning and am totally shocked and horrified by what happened. I am sad for all those who lost their lives in this tragedy and am glad that my cousin is ok. She works right across the street from the world trade center and witnessed the plane crash and had to evacuate the area. Her flat is three blocks away from the center is now filled with smoke.

I have been watching/listening to the news since this morning and agree that the media coverage has been very poor. Peter Jennings made a blanketed statement about Palestinians youth being recruited to perform suicide bombings and showed a shot of Palestinians celebrating in the streets over the tragedy. It is not yet known or confirmed as to who is responsible, yet I have heard various reports from different networks and radio stations accusing and speculating that Palestinians/Bin Laden/Iraq is responsible. I imagine that there will be a backlash against Arab Americans here in the homefront to start and who knows what else will happen as events unfold. Some people on the radio have already started talking about getting their draft age kids across the Canadian border to prevent them from getting drafted in case we go to war. There is also talk of how this will affect our privacy as surveillance will increase all over. All the effort that was made in resistance to the missile defense shield and pressure on the US to not break the anti ballistic missile agreement will be futile in the face of the support for a better defense system that will develop out of this tragedy. This is a major event that will affect us all and I only hope that we are careful as to how we proceed.

G.N.
If people could put action to their words, would there be anyone left to have a conversation? :*(

J.L.
Dear all,

I have witnessed a horrible history. I was supposed to go to NJ for a seminar. I was on the BQE bridge going into Chinatown, Manhattan, when I saw an explosion at exactly 8:48am on the first Twin Tower. The radio said that it was a plane accident. I immediately called my sister in NJ, who normally has to get to the World Trade Center station (she works for the Mayor's office, 4 blocks away from WTC). I told her that there has been an accident and told her to avoid that station. She said that my brother will drive her to Manhattan instead. I then placed another phone call telling my best friend to stay away from the area. My friend has jury duty and the Supreme Court is 3 blocks away. Suddenly, I saw a second explosion but did not see the plane. I was horrified and knew immediately that this was no accident but acts of terrorism. I tried to call my sister again to tell her not to go to work. All cell phone connection lost. I tried to call so many times without success. I was feeling shock, sad and worry. When I got to the exit to enter another bridge to Chinatown, it was block off so I had to turn around to go back to Queens and Long Island to work. I was praying so hard and tears were blurring my vision. I couldn't concentrate driving. Praying did calm me down and I made it back to work. Then I tried to make more phone calls and used the email. There wasn't phone connection for me to call home in Queens.

My company decided to close officially at 11:00am. Still in shock, my first instinct reaction was to pull my sister out of her high school and to collect all my family members in one place. When I got to the high school, there were so many other parents waiting anxiously. Students were in hallway using their cell phones. Because the high school has the Manhattan view, some classes saw the collapse of the Twin Towers. My sister told me a lot of students were crying.

I got my sister and drove to another high school to pick up her friends. I then drove them all to my parents' place and saw my father. Everyone was already there except for my sister and mom. My mom was already in upper Manhattan and no words from my sister whether she got into Manhattan or not. I was feeling another worry. I realized that there may be looting because all the firemen and most of the police officers were dispatched to Manhattan. I prohibited my siblings from going out.

Suddenly I got phone calls from all over. Even my relatives in Australia knew about it. I talked to them at around 4:00am, their time. The answers were all the same that no words from my sister and mom. Between 12pm-4pm, I was feeling so frustrated and anxious. Sirens of ambulance and fire trucks were blaring continuously. Lots of traffic on the local road in Queens because of the detour. I received more phone calls, couldn't concentrate, and was having a headache. The images kept playing back and forth in my mind.

Finally at around 4pm , I was able to contact my sister on her cell phone. She told me that she got stuck at the Holland Tunnel on the NJ side. I was so relief. She told me that she watched from Jersey City. She actually saw the second plane crashing into the Tower and witnessed the collapse of both buildings. My brother's wife who worked in Midtown, was able to take the limited ferry to go across to NJ. Her company let her out at 10am but she didn't get into NJ side until 3pm because they were ferrying out the injuries first.

Then I got phone call form my best friend. She told me that she decided to go downtown after my phone call. She was there and saw the two buildings on fire. Immediately she decided to go back into the subway and headed for home in Upper Manhattan, which was the last train running. She was wise for doing that. Had she stayed to watch, she would have been caught in the collapse.

My mom eventually made it back to Queens at 8:30pm when the train started running again. I was able to contact my Uncle who worked in Midtown. He and his daughter also got out of Manhattan late at night. However, he told me that his son's friend was trapped in the WTC. On that unfortunate day, his boss sent his friend to the WTC. When the first building was hit, his girlfriend called him. He was on the other Twin Tower watching and talking to his girlfriend. Suddenly, he said "Oh, shit". The cell phone went dead and that was the last heard from him. No word from him yet.

My mom, sister, brother, and sister-in-law all stayed home today. Only my uncle was brave enough to go to work in Manhattan.

My family members had been fortunate. Normally my sister would have gotten to the WTC station at 9am but she was late for work on that day. I was also running late heading toward NJ. Had I gone a bit earlier, I would have gotten to downtown Manhattan and be trapped. Tardiness helped save us. My best friend made it out in time. God was watching over us.

Throughout the whole day yesterday and until this morning, I could hear the sirens constantly and as the day progressed I suddenly felt very angry and still feeling angry. We must be tough on those who did these evil acts. I know I am not alone with this sentiment.

Gosh, no more WTC. So many innocent lives lost. NYC will never be the same.

H.X.
Dear C.,

I wiped my tears several times reading your email. I thought of you when I heard about the attacks. I guessed I was so much in shock that I didn't think straight all day yesterday. I was not even feeling sad, not until last night when things started to sip in and sank my heart into some sort of depression. I guess your email is what set whatever inside since the news broke yesterday free.

Probably sharing is the only thing we can do in this moment of pain through out the country. Thanks my dear.

God, please, help us all.

M.T.
I don't know if anyone has suggested this yet, but perhaps we should contact ourgovernors and senators to let them know we do not want to see Arab Americans scapegoated. All ethnic groups in this country should show solidarity because, who knows, it could have been the Chinese who were responsible for yesterday and us Asian Americans could be the target of scapegoating tomorrow.

Q.N.
Hello everyone,I've been guided by the following for the last two days:True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude towards others does not change even if they behave negatively.........I believe that at every level of society --- familial, tribal, national and international --- the key to a happier and more successful world is the growth of compassion. We do not need to become religious, nor do we need to believe in an ideology. All that is necessary is for each of us to develop our good human qualities.~ His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso the XIVth Dalai LamaWe have it in our power to begin the world all over again....The birthday of a new world is at hand.~ Thomas Paine

T.N.
Since yesterday I don't feel safe in US any more. You said like to say in DC)-- are frightening and horrific and I want to move to another country, now more than ever.

I don't know any country in the world can be safe any more. Which country? Maybe I can move there too :-).

L.L.
Ladies -

While international flights landed in Canada, D. and I joked how we can't make fun of our northern neighbor anymore. What can anyone gain from attacking Canada?;) (Ok, except the folks in Quebec.)

I think M. has an excellent point on how insidious the CIA can be...definitely flies into the face of Bush's rhetoric on why we were attacked because we are beacons for freedom and because we're "so good." I doubt folks in Central America and other governments would agree. And besides, we are just beginning to see a glimpse of what people around the world see everyday. Imagine the terror that Palestinians feel at the other end of American funded tanks, guns, etc. Americans better wake up to the idea that we're being attacked for our foreign policy, that there are reasons behind such grievances and not some sort of economic/religious vindictiveness or jealousy. Not that they're great reasons but we don't exactly have clean hands or herald all things good.

M.N.
What is also very frustrating for me is this whole talk about how the United States will stand and be the strength in defense of democracy. Our lives are so precious and yet people are killed everyday and we don't seem to care very much. Even though some of those deaths are carried out with our weapons and financial support...

Interestingly, and perhaps not surprisingly, Osama bin Laden was (like Saddam Hussein before him) formerly a protege of CIA covert operations in Afghanistan during the civil war fought with the then-USSR (the subject of Rambo 4, I believe). In fact, most of the towering "madmen" of the last few decades have been former proteges of the U.S. intelligence service (see also Noriega).

I don't want to leave my house because I'm afraid of looking into people's faces and thinking with alarm and fear, "Are you one of the 94% who believes in swift retaliation and total destruction?" (Whatever polls are worth, in any case.) Of course, it has not occurred to most that the "retaliation" of the U.S. might be seen as "terrorism" to others, as it has been for the last forty years of U.S. foreign policy, or that the "terrorism" of yesterday's attacks might be someone else's "retaliation" for, say, the last ten years of sanctions against Iraq (killing over 1 million Iraqi civilians) or the bombings in Sudan (which destroyed a pharmaceutical plant responsible for manufacturing all kinds of vaccines and antibiotics). In any case, the calls for blood --and more innocent blood, since most seem to believe it is justifiable to murder innocent civilians like the ones who died in the World Trade Center as long as they're somebody else's "innocent civilians" (or collateral damage, as they like to say in DC)-- are frightening and horrific and I want to move to another country, now more than ever.

G.N.
Just heard over the radio and from several techs, that there has been a bomb sniffed out in the area of Copley Square - only several blocks from Boston's Chinatown.

Still waiting to hear if we get to go home from clinic as the rest of the neighbourhood is being evacuated. Oh dear...

L.D.
AFGHANISTAN from the book: The CIAs Greatest Hits by Mark Zapezauer

During the Reagan years, the CIA ran nearly two dozen covert operations against various governments. Of these, Afghanistan was by far the biggest; it was, in fact, the biggest CIA operation of all time, both in terms of dollars spent ($5-$6 billion) and personnel involved. Yet it not only generated little controversy, but enjoyed strong bipartisan support. That's because its main purpose was to "bleed" the Soviet Union, just as we had been bled in Vietnam.

Prior to the 1979 Russian invasion, Afghanistan was ruled by a brutal dictator. Like the neighboring Shah of Iran, he allowed the CIA to set up radar installations in his country that were used to monitor the Soviets. In 1979, after several dozen Soviet advisors were massacred by Afghan tribesmen, the USSR sent in the Red Army.

The Soviets tried to install a pliable client regime, without taking local attitudes much into account. Many of the mullahs who controlled chunks of Afghan territory objected to Soviet efforts to educate women and to institute land reform. Others, outraged by the USSR's attempts to suppress the heroin trade, shifted their operations to Pakistan.

As for the CIA, its aim was simply to humiliate the Soviets by arming anyone who would fight against them. The agency funneled cash and weapons to over a dozen guerrilla groups, many of whom had been staging raids from Pakistan years before the Soviet invasion. Today, long after the Soviet Union left Afghanistan (and, in fact, has ceased to exist), most of these groups are still fighting each other for control of the country.

Besides tossing billions of dollars into the conflict, the CIA transferred sensitive weapons technology to fanatical Muslim extremists, with consequences that will haunt the US for years to come. One notable veteran of the Afghan operation is Sheik Abdel Rahman, famous for his role in the World Trade Center bombing.

The CIA succeeded in creating chaos, but never developed a plan for ending it. When the ten-year war was over, a million people were dead, and Afghan heroin had captured 60% of the US market.

K.V.
Dear Ladies,

C., thank goodness you and your family are safe. I hope all the ladies of VWF and their families are well. Manhattan resident, Mai Hoang is safe though still shaken. I got word from chi A. that her friends in the east coast are safe and sound. I’ve called most everyone and they are also fine. Still, there are plenty of friends and family members who are stuck in cities far away from home. Everyone is a bit shell shocked about traveling by air and I don’t blame any of them.

We seem to be a lost country. There is no sense of accountability for all this. Bush’s cowboy attitude is annoying. He firmly places the US on the side of ‘good’ and the terrorist on the side of ‘evil.’ The American government is acting like “evil” people have nothing better to do than to blow up US buildings because they are jealous of our “democratic,” “freedom loving” society. As so many of you have pointed out, this could not be further from the truth. Yet, I have not heard any reporting about the US role in all of this. The blame goes to the FAA or Logan Airport or Arabs and Muslims, but it’s the US subversive policies that should be scrutinized.

What kind of leadership does Bush offer when after BIG words that push for war and more violence, he rushes off to a bomb shelter. How is his life worth more than any of us here? Is it too much to ask that our head of state act with some courage and dignity?

There’s the explosion and the aftermath. I have to wait to see which one is more damaging. On that note, I think it wise that we take T.’s suggestion to write a letter denouncing anti-Arab and Muslim rhetoric and action. Would anyone like to draft a letter on behalf of VWF? If members of this group feel differently, then we can draft a petition instead.

D.V.
Thank you Q.T. for sharing the Peace thought. I really think that L.L. got it on the nose to notice that yesterday was International Peace Day.

T.N.
Sistas: after monitoring everyone's feedback, stories, and personal traumas, it would be a good direction to reground our energy and take a more proactive, yet empathetic stance: writing a petition and letter (of course in an empathetic tone/context) to denounce Bush's (and others) reaction to "hunt the terrorists..." and the anti-Arab/immigrant/people of color reactions.

Our office for new Bostonians is now strategizing on providing a support network and services for our immigrant communities. there are already a high volume of anti immigrant/Arab American (this includes working with the police to raise consciousness, Muslim Somalis) backlash here in Boston.

Since the U.S. government, bush, powell, etc. had already set a "revengeful" and hatred retaliation ambiance, it will definitely be a challenge to shape the context of denouncing anti-arabic/immigrant actions.

p.s., a good start for bostonians here is to attend some of the emergency meetings that arab student coalitions are having across campuses here and see how we can build allies.

J.L.
Dear Ladies,

So far I have heard from a few members expressing peace and denouncing war, but I have not heard from the 100 or so other members. Most who have expressed themselves are basing it on the media and not first hand experience. It is not the same.

It is always easier to express peace than expressing anger and actions. Nobody wants to be perceived as being aggressive or in other negative sense.

When it happen in your backyard and you have to go through the experience of witnessing it and worrying all day about the safety of your love ones (knowing that there are still people who are close to your family and friends are still missing) and seeing some Palestinian men, women and children on TV celebrating and cheering on the lost of innocent lives, well, I have no sympathy for them. When Palestinian people died, we, the American people may be indifferent but we do not celebrate. I truly do want those behind this punish. Even as a hard-core democrat, I will stand by President Bush. Many of you may not like this, but I firmly believe we need to take this course. Is this right or wrong or will this resolve anything? The answers will be different for all of us.

Some of you criticized the US govt, the US in general, and racism here. You give me one country or govt that is perfect.

All I can say is do a petition but my sentiment is not to write on behalf of VWF for now. Some of you may beg to differ from how I feel. Even if I am alone in how I feel, at least I get to express it.

T.N.
There have been some unconfirmed reports of harassment, intimidation and violence targeted against South Asians, particularly Sikhs, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis in the New York Metropolitan Area.

All incidents should be reported to Sinyen Ling, who handles anti-Asian violence for the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. The number is 212-760-9110 or 212-966-5932. Or incidents can reported via email to: sling@aaldef.org.

All information will be kept confidential and in the custody of attorneys. It is very helpful to report as much specificity about the incident as possible, such as the name and ethnicity of the victim, what happened, what was said, done, thrown, where the incident occurred, time of the incident, and description of the assailants.

For more information contact AALDEF at 212-760-9110 or 212-966-5932.

D.V.
Hello everyone:

In an effort to do something concrete and positive, I tried to call the Red Cross to no avial. The following has some specific info with regards to Orange County that may or may not be relevant to you. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO REMEMBER THAT BLOOD DOES NOT KEEP FOR VERY LONG. CONSIDER DONATING 2-3 WEEKS FROM NOW when the supply will run low again. Right now, with the lines being as long as they are, the supply should be ok.

1-800-GIVE LIFE

Blood Donations Every year, the Orange County Red Cross supports the collection of 40,500 units of blood and blood products through the Southern California Red Cross Blood Region. Blood cannot be stockpiled. The shelf life ranges from a few hours for some cells to 42 days for others. People must donate blood on a regular basis to maintain an adequate community supply.

You may be a volunteer blood donor and help save a life if you: Are age 17 or older. Weigh at least 110 pounds. Are in good health. Are not at risk for HIV/AIDS or other blood borne infectious diseases.

The Red Cross enhances blood safety by questioning all blood donors about their medical history and their risk behavior. Each blood donation is tested for infectious disease, including hepatitis, and HIV. As a safety precaution, the Red Cross maintains the only national registry of ineligible blood donors, and checks each donor against this list—before allowing them to give blood--to ensure the safest possible blood supply. For an appointment to make a whole blood donation at any site, please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE.

Donor Sites in Orange County:
Brea Community Center
(Inside Brea Community Hospital)
380 W. Central Ave.
Brea, CA 92821

Thomas Guide 709 A4)Fountain Valley Donor Center
(Next to Costco Shopping Center)
17800 Newhope St., Suite A
Fountain Valley, CJA 92708
(Thomas Guide 858 H3
)

D.V.
Does anyone else agree that bombing for peace is like fucking for virginity?

Dear T. Never been able to use that metaphor before. Great application.

T.B.
What is also very frustrating for me is this whole talk about how the united states will stand and be the strength in defense of democracy. our lives are so precious and yet people are killed everyday and we don't seem to care very much. even though some of those deaths are carried out with our weapons and financial support...

M.D.
Candle Lighting: Friday Night at 7 p.m. step out your door, stop your car, or step out of your establishment and light a candle. We will show the world that Americans are strong and united together against terrorism. Please pass this to everyone on your e-mail list. We need to reach everyone across the United States quickly. The message: WE STAND UNITED- WE WILL NOT TOLERATE TERRORISM."

M.N.
From Michael Moore...(the political commentator/comedian/filmmaker, Not the head of the WTO)...

Death, Downtown

Dear friends,

I was supposed to fly today on the 4:30 PM American Airlines flight From LAX to JFK. But tonight I find myself stuck in L.A. with an incredible range of emotions over what has happened on the island where I work and live in New York City. My wife and I spent the first hours of the day -- after being awakened by phone calls from our parents at 6:40am PT -- trying to contact our friend JoAnn at the World Trade Center.

I called JoAnn at her office. As someone picked up, the first tower imploded, and the person answering the phone screamed and ran out, leaving me no clue as to whether or not she or JoAnn would live.

It was a sick, horrible, frightening day.

On December 27, 1985 I found myself caught in the middle of a Terrorist incident at the Vienna airport -- which left 30 people dead, both there and at the Rome airport. (The machine-gunning of passengers in each city was timed to occur at the same moment.)

I do not feel like discussing that event tonight because it still brings up too much despair and confusion as to how and why I got to live. A fluke, a mistake, a few feet on the tarmac, and I am still here, there but for the grace of God.

Safe. Secure. I'm an American, living in America. I like my illusions. I walk through a metal detector, I put my carry-ons through an x-ray machine, and I know all will be well.

Here's a short list of my experiences lately with airport security:

* At the Newark Airport, the plane is late at boarding everyone. The counter can't find my seat. So I am told to just "go ahead and get on" --without a ticket!

* At Detroit Metro Airport, I don't want to put the lunch I just bought at the deli through the x-ray machine so, as I pass through the metal detector, I hand the sack to the guard through the space between the detector and the x-ray machine. I tell him "It's just a sandwich." He believes me and doesn't bother to check. The sack has gone through neither security device.

* At LaGuardia in New York, I check a piece of luggage, but decide to catch a later plane. The first plane leaves without me, but with my bag-- no one knowing what is in it.

* Back in Detroit, I take my time getting off the commuter plane. By the time I have come down its stairs, the bus that takes the passengers to the terminal has left -- without me. I am alone on the tarmac, free to wander wherever I want. So I do. Eventually, I flag down a pick-up truck and an airplane mechanic gives me a ride the rest of the way to the terminal.

* I have brought knives, razors; and once, my traveling companion brought a hammer and chisel. No one stopped us.

Of course, I have gotten away with all of this because the airlines consider my safety SO important, they pay rent-a-cops $5.75 an hour to make sure the bad guys don't get on my plane. That is what my life is worth -- less than the cost of an oil change.

Too harsh, you say? Well, chew on this: a first-year pilot on American Eagle (the commuter arm of American Airlines) receives around $15,000 a year in annual pay.

That's right -- $15,000 for the person who has your life in his hands. Until recently, Continental Express paid a little over $13,000 a year. There was one guy, an American Eagle pilot, who had four kids so he went down to the welfare office and applied for food stamps -- and he was eligible! Someone on welfare is flying my plane? Is this for real? Yes, it is.

So spare me the talk about all the precautions the airlines and the FAA is taking. They, like all businesses, are concerned about one thing -- the bottom line and the profit margin.

Four teams of 3-5 people were all able to penetrate airport security on the same morning at 3 different airports and pull off this heinous act? My only response is -- that's all?

Well, the pundits are in full diarrhea mode, gushing on about the "terrorist threat" and today's scariest dude on planet earth -- Osama bin Laden. Hey, who knows, maybe he did it. But, something just doesn't add up.

Am I being asked to believe that this guy who sleeps in a tent in a Desert has been training pilots to fly our most modern, sophisticated jumbo jets with such pinpoint accuracy that they are able to hit these three Targets without anyone wondering why these planes were so far off path?

Or am I being asked to believe that there were four religious/political fanatics who JUST HAPPENED to be skilled airline pilots who JUST HAPPENED to want to kill themselves today?

Maybe you can find one jumbo jet pilot willing to die for the cause -but FOUR? Ok, maybe you can -- I don't know. What I do know is that all day long I have heard everything about This bin Laden guy except this one fact -- WE created the monster known as Osama bin Laden!

Where did he go to terrorist school? At the CIA!

Don't take my word for it -- I saw a piece on MSNBC last year that Laid it all out. When the Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan, the CIA trained Him and his buddies in how to commits acts of terrorism against the Soviet forces. It worked! The Soviets turned and ran. Bin Laden was grateful For what we taught him and thought it might be fun to use those same techniques against us.

We abhor terrorism -- unless we're the ones doing the terrorizing. We paid and trained and armed a group of terrorists in Nicaragua in the 1980s who killed over 30,000 civilians. That was OUR work. You and me. Thirty thousand murdered civilians and who the hell even remembers!

We fund a lot of oppressive regimes that have killed a lot of Innocent people, and we never let the human suffering THAT causes to interrupt our day one single bit.

We have orphaned so many children, tens of thousands around the world, with our taxpayer-funded terrorism (in Chile, in Vietnam, in Gaza, in Salvador) that I suppose we shouldn't be too surprised when those orphans grow up and are a little whacked in the head from the horror we have helped cause.

Yet, our recent domestic terrorism bombings have not been conducted by a guy from the desert but rather by our own citizens: a couple of ex-military guys who hated the federal government.

From the first minutes of today's events, I never heard that Possibility suggested. Why is that?

Maybe it's because the A-rabs are much better foils. A key ingredient In getting mericans whipped into a frenzy against a new enemy is the all-important race card. It's much easier to get us to hate when the object of our hatred doesn't look like us.

Congressmen and Senators spent the day calling for more money for the military; one Senator on CNN even said he didn't want to hear any more talk about more money for education or health care -- we should have only one priority: our self-defense.

Will we ever get to the point that we realize we will be more secure When the rest of the world isn't living in poverty so we can have nice Running shoes?

In just 8 months, Bush gets the whole world back to hating us again. He withdraws from the Kyoto agreement, walks us out of the Durban Conference on racism, insists on restarting the arms race -- you name it, and Baby Bush has blown it all.

The Senators and Congressmen tonight broke out in a spontaneous Version of "God Bless America." They're not a bad group of singers!

Yes, God, please do bless us.

Many families have been devastated tonight. This just is not right. They did not deserve to die. If someone did this to get back at Bush, then They did so by killing thousands of people who DID NOT VOTE for him! Boston, New York, DC, and the planes' destination of California -- these were places that voted AGAINST Bush!

Why kill them? Why kill anyone? Such insanity. Let's mourn, let's grieve, and when it's appropriate let's examine or contribution to the unsafe world we live in. It doesn't have to be like this.

Yours,

Michael Moore mmflint@aol.com

D.V.
An Afghan-American speaks You can't bomb us back into the Stone Age. We're already there. But you can start a new world war, and that's exactly what Osama bin Laden wants.

- - - - - - - - - - - - By Tamim Ansary

Sept. 14, 2001 | I've been hearing a lot of talk about "bombing Afghanistan back to the Stone Age." Ronn Owens, on San Francisco's KGO Talk Radio, conceded today that this would mean killing innocent people, people who had nothing to do with this atrocity, but "we're at war, we have to accept collateral damage. What else can we do?" Minutes later I heard some TV pundit discussing whether we "have the belly to do what must be done."

And I thought about the issues being raised especially hard because I am from Afghanistan, and even though I've lived in the United States for 35 years I've never lost track of what's going on there. So I want to tell anyone who will listen how it all looks from where I'm standing.

I speak as one who hates the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. There is no doubt in my mind that these people were responsible for the atrocity in New York. I agree that something must be done about those monsters.

But the Taliban and bin Laden are not Afghanistan. They're not even the government of Afghanistan. The Taliban are a cult of ignorant psychotics who took over Afghanistan in 1997. Bin Laden is a political criminal with a plan. When you think Taliban, think Nazis. When you think bin Laden, think Hitler. And when you think "the people of Afghanistan" think "the Jews in the concentration camps." It's not only that the Afghan people had nothing to do with this atrocity. They were the first victims of the perpetrators. They would exult if someone would come in there, take out the Taliban and clear out the rats' nest of international thugs holed up in their country. Some say, why don't the Afghans rise up and overthrow the Taliban? The answer is, they're starved, exhausted, hurt, incapacitated, suffering. A few years ago, the United Nations estimated that there are 500,000 disabled orphans in Afghanistan -- a country with no economy, no food. There are millions of widows. And the Taliban has been burying these widows alive in mass graves. The soil is littered with land mines, the farms were all destroyed by the Soviets. These are a few of the reasons why the Afghan people have not overthrown the Taliban.

We come now to the question of bombing Afghanistan back to the Stone Age. Trouble is, that's been done. The Soviets took care of it already. Make the Afghans suffer? They're already suffering. Level their houses? Done. Turn their schools into piles of rubble? Done. Eradicate their hospitals? Done. Destroy their infrastructure? Cut them off from medicine and healthcare? Too late. Someone already did all that. New bombs would only stir the rubble of earlier bombs. Would they at least get the Taliban? Not likely. In today's Afghanistan, only the Taliban eat, only they have the means to move around. They'd slip away and hide. Maybe the bombs would get some of those disabled orphans; they don't move too fast, they don't even have wheelchairs. But flying over Kabul and dropping bombs wouldn't really be a strike against the criminals who did this horrific thing. Actually it would only be making common cause with the Taliban -- by raping once again the people they've been raping all this time.

So what else is there? What can be done, then? Let me now speak with true fear and trembling. The only way to get Bin Laden is to go in there with ground troops. When people speak of "having the belly to do what needs to be done" they're thinking in terms of having the belly to kill as many as needed. Having the belly to overcome any moral qualms about killing innocent people. Let's pull our heads out of the sand. What's actually on the table is Americans dying. And not just because some Americans would die fighting their way through Afghanistan to Bin Laden's hideout. It's much bigger than that, folks. Because to get any troops to Afghanistan, we'd have to go through Pakistan. Would they let us? Not likely. The conquest of Pakistan would have to be first. Will other Muslim nations just stand by? You see where I'm going. We're flirting with a world war between Islam and the West.

And guess what: That's bin Laden's program. That's exactly what he wants. That's why he did this. Read his speeches and statements. It's all right there. He really believes Islam would beat the West. It might seem ridiculous, but he figures if he can polarize the world into Islam and the West, he's got a billion soldiers. If the West wreaks a holocaust in those lands, that's a billion people with nothing left to lose; that's even better from Bin Laden's point of view. He's probably wrong -- in the end the West would win, whatever that would mean -- but the war would last for years and millions would die, not just theirs but ours.

Who has the belly for that? Bin Laden does. Anyone else?

September 16, 2001
M.N. Indian man shot dead in US in apparent backlash to terror attacks http://sg.news.yahoo.com/010916/1/1gqxh.html

Store owner killed in spree A gunman shot at two Mesa gas stations and a house Saturday afternoon, killing the owner of one of the stores, police said.

To read the full story, simply click on the link below, or copy-and-paste it into your Web browser: www.arizonarepublic.com/arizona/articles/0916shooting16.html

L.L.
Friends -

I really fear what America's coming to. How we can target others unquestionably and with such gross ignorance?

Please report hate crimes and pass on word about this first fatality.

Council on American-Islamic Relations, to report anti-Muslim hate crimes: http://www.cair-net.org/ireport

For information and to document the targeting of Sikhs: www.khalsapride.com

To help walking children to school: arabfamilies@yahoo.com

For alternative press, see "Enough!" www.commondreams.org/views01/0913-08.htm and "The War Comes Home" www.commondreams.org/views01/0912-07.htm. For the responses of the peace movement, see Peace Action www.peace-action.org and the Fellowship of Reconciliation www.forusa.org. Check also the War Resisters League: www.warresisters.org

For an analysis of the risks to Arab and Muslim communities in this country, see the American-Arab Antidiscrimination Committee www.adc.org.

Other orgs collecting info:
New York Civil Liberties Union
212/344-3005

National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium (NAPALC) in Washington D.C., at (202) 296-2300

G.N.
Dear Vote.com voter,

As our nation recovers from Tuesday's unprecedented assault on key symbols of U.S. military and financial power, Vote.com invites all Americans to register your support for our leaders in Washington - and to tell them what YOU think America should do in response to the attacks.

Log on to www.vote.com to tell government leaders:

-Whether Congress should declare war on terrorists and the countries that harbor them

-Whether America should attack Afghanistan for protecting Osama bin Laden

-Whether the U.S. should end the ban on assassinating foreign leaders

When you vote, your opinion will be sent to Congress, President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Please forward this message to friends and family so they can participate as well. Thank you.

T.
I think that America is going crazy. The FBI is arrested people just because they look different. My friend's Fiance was heading back to Bermuda and now he is arrested. This craziness has to stop.

K.V.
Hi ladies,While at the shooting range yesterday I was met by an enthusiastic range owner who encouraged me to chose the Bin Laden target. He assured me that they had plenty of them left and bragged about how he had quickly produced the target for his clients.Okay, there were a million things wrong with that moment, but I won’t get into it. Just focusing on Bin Laden though—if he has had a hand in the attacks, how do we wage war against him?

K.N.
I would urge people on the list to respond to this kind of reporting. This is very sensationalistic and does not report fairly on what other opinions there are in Vietnam on the tragedy that visited the U.S. last Tuesday. What I am particularly troubled with is the simple equation of people's sentiment on US. policies toward the Middle East as well as in other parts of the world over time on the one hand and on the other, their genuine shock and grief at what happened to innocent Americans. Most decent people around the world don't harbor hatred for Americans, but they do have serious grievances and resentment against the U.S. government and its policies.