Posted by schooner at spider-mtc-ti062.proxy.aol.com on September 12, 2001 at 02:54:42:
Since everyone wants to get their chance to chatter and reinforce themselves, I'm taking mine now. Thanks for reading.
I awoke this morning here on the West Coast to the sound of the TV blaring about terrorist attacks. I grabbed a swallow of coffee and saw a bit of Hell looking back at me. I'll spare you the rest of the narrative.
What I'll never understand is what whoever's responsible thinks they're going to prove. Bankers and bureaucrats never set forth any policies of hate toward them. The individuals killed Tuesday had so little to do with them, and yet they've attempted to shame the victims out of existence... Policy is not going to change, negotiations will never be made in response to terrorist actions.
The proudest moment I've had in a long time occurred today. I heard that blood was direly needed. A local hospital of mine had a planned drive that day, I decided to go down and try to donate. I waited five hours in line, and am going back tomorrow because the load was so heavy. The team there had only six stations ready to receive blood. Every face I saw in there wasn't in tears, wasn't enraged. The people in that waiting area were determined to do whatever they could today. I've never before been especially proud to be part of this country, I've never seen the spirit that movies like Glory, Saving Private Ryan, and countless others attempted to illustrate. The United States I saw before today sat wallowing in its own greed, ignored its own laws, lied to its own people. Now I'm not sure what to think about it. Guess I'll find out.