[pyrnet] Re: pyrnet-l-digest.20010912-1

[Rhonda Collins <rhonda@castlepublishing.com>]

        

As I sit
reading on various lists the different viewpoints and emotions that have
resulted from the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon, I am struck by how generally sensible, kind, and generous the
American people are. Many of us, myself included, are furious, and that
rage has caused most of us to want bloodshed of some kind in return. This
is a normal reaction to such an intimate violation as our country has
experienced. I'm amazed and astounded that we are, as a people and as
individuals, still--beneath that rage--able to desire a solution that
will allow us to spare innocent lives. While many of us realize this
simply may not be possible, we still desire it.

        

We are
good people, and we come from every country on this planet and from every
religion. We have our own disagreements among each other and our own
instances of inequality, raciscm and prejudice, but behind all that we
are still AMERICANS. I have seen so many acts of bravery and goodness in
the past couple of days, it makes me proud.

        

I pity our
President, because he has unbelievably difficult choices ahead of him,
and I hope he will respond well. I think he will, and I KNOW he will try
his absolute best. I have heard people complaining about how previous
administrations have allowed terrorism to flourish, and I can't help but
agree,  and I hope that if President Bush undertakes this effort to
root out and punish/destroy terrorism (and he must), that he continues
with it until it will actually do some good. I believe the administration
is making a good start, what with contacting governments and leaders
worldwide to form a Coalition Against Terrorism, but that coalition must
also have teeth and USE them. America cannot be perceived as a
"Paper Tiger", nor can the coalition as a whole. These animals
who attacked us have attacked us and others before and gotten away with
it. They must be made to understand that this time they have the Tiger by
the tail.

        

The
question is going to be, will all these countries who have agreed to
support us do more than pay the idea lip service? As many have pointed
out, America spreads herself thin attempting to help others...but how
often do any of those others actually help US? In this fight against
terrorism, they are going to have to realize that in helping us, they are
helping the entire world community...including themselves. I sincerely
hope that all the Arab nations will also step forward and offer their
genuine assistance in this endeavor. I know some of them will, but I
would like to see ALL of them work toward this greater peace for all
mankind.

        

We, as
human beings, must become adult enough to grow beyond our petty hatreds
and prejudices. We have to stop fighting Arab against  Jew, Muslim
against Jew, Christian against Christian (as in the Protestant/Catholic
division), one religion against another, one race against another, one
country against another. There are too many of these divisions to
name...but it HAS to be put aside or we will, indeed, destroy
ourselves.
Rhonda Collins
http://members.tripod.com/~RhondaCollins/index.htm
Beauty and the Beast fanfiction
http://www.castlepublishing.com
Romance novel - "Kahramaan" and "Beyond Saqqara" -  First and second novels of the Castles in the Sand series. Review available at: http://www.roadtoromance.dhs.org
http://www.addicted2romancebooks.com/CollinsMcClaren1.htm
http://www.roadtoromance.dhs.org/spotcollinsmcclaren.htm