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Can we, Bj, at least agree on the proper use of words? If we cannot there is no sane and sensible, no rational and reasonable communication; we may as well all be in a madhouse. A miracle is not "a change in perspective." A miracle is not "the ability to rise above circumstance to a higher awareness." What happened over Pennsylvania was a tremendous act of courage. Do you have the right the call anything you want a miracle? If so, the word or idea looses all meaning. But it does have a very specific meaning. Please look up miracle in any dictionary. And please let’s be honest with each other in using words.
Gene <wochica@msn.com>
USA - Sunday, September 30, 2001 at 22:06:28 (PDT)

Gene, I subscribe to the notion of miracles despite lacking a Christian or scriptural background. I'd refer you to Marrianne Williamson's book A Return to Love, wherein, she describes a miracle as a change in perspective. Not religious...not woowhooey...but choice. Or see Viktor Frankl's magnificent work, Man's Search for Meaning. Nothing has value but what we put on it. A miracle is the ability to rise above circumstance to a higher awareness. One's own awareness...not necessarily the intervention of a higher power. Personally, I rely on a higher purpose...it comforts me. Still, I believe that I co-create miracles with this power and with every other spirit who interacts in my existance. Including YOU! Possibly self-involved financial analysts stopping to help a wheelchair-bound woman down 68 flights of stairs. That's a miracle. A group of people giving their last moments of strength to ensure that an airplane didn't land in my neighborhood. If that isn't a miracle, what is?
Bj
Washington, DC USA - Sunday, September 30, 2001 at 17:59:27 (PDT)

As the world gets more interesting (guess you might say more crazy!) with each day, so our page here grows more absorbing with every post. Glad we gained an important new voice. But now that we have Kim with us, do not, Evan, let us lose you. It is hard to picture the Evan we knew on the March - so intensely down in the dirt with people and groups both large and small - now a Mount Olympus recluse. Please don’t forsake this community too. If it will help, I’ll censure TNH with you. My feelings, in fact, about his posts align right on with yours. I too cannot believe such a person was on the March. I’m sure the whole TNH thing is a big put on. But who would have the evil mind and great genius to pull this off? My guess is Sarah Seeds, and all who saw her at the Reunion will know why I say this. Only she has the imagination, the talent, the chutzpah, the... You should hear Sarah’s terrible tirades against the computer! She hates the whole idea of computers and swears she has no use for them. Ah, but I think the lady doth protest too much, and that clinches it for me. But wait! This whole TNH knavery I wouldn’t past Katea either, though she seemed strangely subdued at Reunion. Was it The Terror? I didn’t get to speak with her much at all. I did speak lots to her husband Brian, and he is pissed! He wants to kick bin Laden’s ass in a major way. And so does Don Wright. Yes Don Wright who brought us ice cream in the desert, who gave us a truck to suck out the porta potty shit, and who surprised us with so many more gifts across the country... the man who loved peace SO MUCH back then now says we should grab the wives, children, aunts, uncles, cousins - every last relative of every terrorist and kill them unmercifully. That’ll teach the terrorists and make them think twice about doing this again! Joe, the work you do in Colorado is magnificent. But do you really believe that miracle stuff or are you using a figure of speech? A miracle is “an event in the external world brought about by the immediate agency or the simple volition of God, operating without the use of means capable of being discerned by the senses, and designed to authenticate the divine commission of a religious teacher and the truth of his message (John 2:18; Matt. 12:38). It is an occurrence at once above nature and above man. It shows the intervention of a power that is not limited by the laws either of matter or of mind, a power interrupting the fixed laws which govern their movements, a supernatural power.” This, I say (Gene), sounds too much like bin Laden's madness for my taste, and I’m sure there are NATURAL reasons why our government has held off so far. Yesterday June and I attended one of the largest peace rallies in the history of San Francisco - over 10,000 strong.
Gene <wochica@msn.com>
USA - Sunday, September 30, 2001 at 17:10:40 (PDT)

For the last cupala weeks I've been hoping we'd hear from you, Evan. I almost requested it on 2 or 3 occassions. My 1st reaction to your post is to correct you about your heart, it is courageous and large. The hermit thing sounds cool, I'm sure your heart will let you know when to step back in to the mix. Our community is always enriched when you do. You even inspired Kim to speak here, wonderful! As for the tnh thing, I know as a fact you were not the only person dissuaded (sp?) from posting here. Hopefully that will work itself out so that this feels like a safe place to share thoughts, for one and all. Also, thanks Sonia, for sharing intelligence. Also, Joe rocks!
BIL COLBURN <bilcolburn@yahoo.com>
Los Angeles, YA USA - Sunday, September 30, 2001 at 15:01:02 (PDT)

Hi everyone! I've been a reader of this site on and off for years; especially on since the tragedies back east. Thanks for sharing your wisdom, intelligence, compassion and humour. It has been healing to experience the energy of this extended family/community. I have been intending to sign on, and am motivated, in this moment, to say, for the record, Evan you do have the heart!
Kim Salerno Hunter <yowbap@home.com>
Olympia, Wa USA - Sunday, September 30, 2001 at 12:49:57 (PDT)

Hi all. Evan,it's good to hear your rare, if frustrated, voice....Left to my own devices, I can't help but occasionally hear things that make me smirk, even in these times. Thought you all deserved to hear them too: On NPR, the commentator noted the ironic double meaning of the current slogan "Enduring Freedom," insofar as enduring can either mean "lasting" or it can mean "putting up with." Then I heard Bush's public presentation with the Japanese Prime Minister. Don't know if any of you were listenening but the prime minister promised to "share intelligence" with Mr. Bush. I'd have to say that would be a godsend and I'm waiting with bated breath. Let me know if you see any evidence that this has taken place. Love to you all, committed and sometimes controversial purveyors of non-violence.
Sonia Cota-Robles <sonia@u.arizona.edu>
Tucson, AZ USA - Sunday, September 30, 2001 at 12:14:22 (PDT)

The International Herald Tribune is a joint publication of the New York Times and the Washington Post. The only thing "International" about it is that it is sold to people (mostly Americans) around the world. If you read the Times and Post, there is nothing new in the Tribune. ... I've done it before, but I want to thank Joe, once again, for standing up to TNH. TNH nearly ruins this site for me. I've asked it to shut up before to no avail. Hard for me to believe that such an arrogant, vicious person was on the peace march. ... I don't usually say much personal on this site, but I will admit to being a regular "monitor" of the site, though not a frequent poster. Remarks like the ones I anticipate from TNH keep me silently reading. ... I will just say that the WTC tragedy's effect on me is to further fuel my withdrawal from most humans and communities. The more I live the hermit existence, the more I like it. ... A few of you may remember my sister. She was on the march four weeks in the midwest and her sleeping bag was stolen. Adelia was thirty blocks from the WTC and her email posts were both chilling and inspiring. She made me realize there's a great writer in her I'd never seen before. ... Julia, I wish you great success in your quest for health. The energy and optimism in your words is inspiring. ... Many thanks to those doing the work that needs to be done..I just don't have the heart, energy, time or money. Thanks again.
Evan Conroy <evanconroy@yahoo.com>
Olympia, WA USA - Sunday, September 30, 2001 at 09:28:57 (PDT)

Yesterday, here in the mountains outside of Boulder, we had our community forum. About 100 people in all came and participated including David Barsamian from Alternative Radio. The first couple hours consisted of speakers and and an audience question and answer session. Then we had a potluck with music and then several concurrent workshops including art for kids, letter writing, parenting in crisis and talking circle along with an information table. Then we had some more music. It was great and uplifting to help people come out of their isolation with the events of 9/11. It was heartening in so many ways. Our next steps will be to get our US Rep Mark Udall up here for a town meeting and also to create an inter-faith dialogue with the local religious and spiritual folks. I am also grateful that the US government has not yet launched a huge attack against anyone. I believe this is a miracle, plain and simple. Given the record of the folks in this administration and given their rhetoric, it amazes and thrills me that there has not yet been a mass slaughter in response to the horrors of 9/11. The corporate media has done everything to support a retaliatory slaughter and to keep the level of fear and anger quite high, yet there has not yet been a corresponding military action. It is simply a miracle.
Joe Kinczel <ash@igc.org>
USA - Sunday, September 30, 2001 at 07:10:19 (PDT)

There is also a good, albeit way too late to do any good, opinion piece entitled, Let the Airlines Go Bankrupt at www.msnbc.com/news/635402.asp, or you can find it at the original source, slate.com. The author makes a good point that those who will benefit from the 5/10B bailout and loan guarantees are stockholders with risky portfolios and those who will lose are taxpayers forced to foot the bill. What I don't understand is, how can an industry that carries massive interruption of service insurance be so quickly gifted like this? Wouldn't it have made more sense to wait 3 months and see what happened before raiding the pantry?
Bj
Washington, DC USA - Saturday, September 29, 2001 at 03:25:41 (PDT)

In chatting with a friend recently about the paucity of alternatives to corporate media, I was directed to The Guardian, a British paper with a less jaundiced eye than, say, the International Herald Tribune. (which seems to be nothing but links to American magazines!) In an editorial at www.guardian.co.uk, I found this list of potential information sources: commondreams.org, laweekly.com, thenation.com, alternet.org, accuracy.org, nowarcollective.com, humanrightsnow.org,, iacentre.org. Some look great, others have potential. I offer it to my fellow news junkies looking for a more balanced voice.
Bj
Washington, DC USA - Saturday, September 29, 2001 at 02:24:53 (PDT)

James, where's the demonstration tomorrow ?
BIL COLBURN
USA - Friday, September 28, 2001 at 17:44:13 (PDT)

I'm glad you stuck, James. Don't forget the sunblock. Though that may be the least of our worries now. I had a vivid view of the stars at 5:00 this morning from Malibu and thought of you and your recent stargazing in Joshua Tree. May we all shine on...
BIL COLBURN <bilcolburn@yahoo.com>
Los Angeles, YA USA - Friday, September 28, 2001 at 17:38:45 (PDT)

These days I'm working on being humble and thankful for every moment of peaceful reflection and every mouthful of nourishing food that I receive in this luxurious life I was miraculously born into. My mother had five miscarriages in a row before me, five souls entering five fetuses only to go back to the sea of souls without ever feeling the sun on a physical face or solid earth under solid feet... but mine took, mine stuck, mine fought its way to the surface, and here I am 42 years old and still unable to figure out what to do with this precious gift that will be meaningful. Not a bad practice, I suppose, even when my world is not in crisis.
james knight <jknight@pacbell.net>
Lala, CA USA - Friday, September 28, 2001 at 12:38:31 (PDT)

The coiner of Hatriotism is a friend named Lee Stepansky who walked (and motorcycled) for a few weeks on the California Peace Walk in '88. Credit where credit's due. Tomorrow I'll be "going down to the demonstration, to get my fair share of abuse" as the Stones song goes, sharing a long-distance peace vibe with you all. Each day that passes without massive retaliation I breath a little easier. The special forces activities I find both encouraging (for their selective nature) and worrying (because we are not likely to know what toll they are taking on remote civilian populations for years). Keep the faith.
james knight <jknight@intelecom.org>
Lala, CA USA - Friday, September 28, 2001 at 12:07:14 (PDT)

Hello and good wishes, everyone. Darryl, I hope I wasn't too critical in my post concerning your Santa Monica concert. I wasn't there, and I've never known you to be a person who lectures, so I'm sure Bob Alei is right, that you did great. Lori Michael, welcome to the message board. I was on the Florida Peace walk after the GPM, as were many other GPMers, so it's good to hear from a Florida walker. Roberta, I don't know that much about HTML, but archiving the message board when Notepad says it's as big as it should be sounds like a good idea. I don't mind having two browser windows open at once. James, thank you for Hatriotism. I'm sorry it's so timely, but it really is... Thank you all, especially Roberta, for this place of sanity and welcome.
Lorien <yenooc@worldnet.att.net>
SF, CA USA - Friday, September 28, 2001 at 11:25:55 (PDT)

Last night was the first night of Yom Kippur, days of atonement, the most holy days of the Jewish year. We had a wonderful service at our house. The rabbi was not present but we said a prayer for him. The confrontation with the rabbi was creative. Several of us from the group have communicated with him and we are engaged in a dialogue with him that will hopefully reconcile our differences and make the group whole again. Listening and understanding are taking the place of ignorance and anger on all sides of our collective relationship with the rabbi. We are all apologizing to each other. I am very hopeful and grateful for the change. It gives me hope that this can happen also on a planetary level. If that comes to pass, then the horror of September 11th could act as a catalyst for creative and postive change. Blessings to all our relations. May mercy and compassion enfold us all.
Joe Kinczel <ash@igc.org>
USA - Thursday, September 27, 2001 at 06:36:09 (PDT)

James, GOOD one. I'm so using that term. And BillO, you are just about my favorite hug of all time. Thank goodness y'all are here...without you, I'm afraid my confusion and disbelief about the state of our world would spin me right off the planet.
Bj
USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 17:36:13 (PDT)

New word for the dictionaries, and for Michael Kelley: Hatriotism.
james knight <jknight@intelecom.org>
Lala, CA USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 16:54:46 (PDT)

Bj -- I just read the Michael Kelly rant (www.msnbc.com/news/634264.asp) and I encourage others to read it, if only to gain insight on those who seek a path quite different from many of us. There are major flaws in the guy's arguments ... he sees everything in black and white terms, where you're either pro-war or pro-more terrorism. Methinks he writes this way to be provocative. So he provokes this response: I think he's a dangerous jerk. Bj, you're a big hug -- and so are the rest of you!
Bill O'Neill <boneill@cape.com>
Hyannis, MA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 16:44:27 (PDT)

Oh my STARS! I cannot believe what I just read on the nbcnews.com site. Under the headline "The Dark Side of Pacifism", Micheal Kelly states: Pacifism in this case is inescapably and profoundly immoral. It is on the side of the murderers, and it is on the side of letting them murder again. The "story" includes the ripe notions that pacifism is a bankrupt ideology (the new Communism?), pro-Fascist and pro-evil. To NOT cry for blood is not only unpartriotic but tantamount to reverse-terrorism. Ohmygawd. I have to go lie down.
Bj
USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 15:26:48 (PDT)

Hey Knarf, I'd ask you to buy me a glass wine and throw in a side of jeez, but I don't drink! And I'd sure like to have met all the fellas interested in sitting around the Franklin stove for a little chatteroo. Send 'em down here, now that the cold is snapping. I could use some company during the coming winter chill!
Bj
USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 15:12:20 (PDT)

Hey Bil! Yup! That was me! Glad my little quip was heard by friendly ears :) Wish I had known it was you. It was a fun night. I'm so happy for Darryl- he really has worked so hard to make his dreams come true.
Deanna <dconstab@hotmail.com>
Oakland, CA USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 12:42:00 (PDT)

I suppose that the latest Spider man film has had to be edited and so will the flight simulator video game that simulates flying into the WTC but now I hear that Mattel will need to remove directions from their toy model bomber that directs children to fly into the WTC. We have wondered where people have conceived of their ideas, could it be from toys that the media advertises and children play with? I wonder why our over budgeted FBI and CIA could never have conceived of these possibilities when many of our children are exposed to these ideas daily. Entering a toy store, a video store or watching a bit of tv is common place for the majority of our youth. I'm very confused about the current state of affairs, I swear something is smelling extremely fishy and when the truth comes out I'm sure I'll be either too old or too withered away in some prison somewhere where no one could ever find me.
Jonnie Dale Lieberman <JonnieDale@aol.com>
Ashland, OR USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 12:24:06 (PDT)

If anyone has any more info about jailed peace activists being put in "isolation" I'm dang interested to find out about this. In an early conversation about WTC 9-11 a friend and I were discussing what, if any ramifications were going to come of this towards grass roots non-violent activists, especially in regards to WTO protests etc and the "new" look at terrorism. Has anyone heard from Rebecca Kanner of late?
Jonnie Dale Lieberman <JonnieDale@aol.com>
Ashland, OR USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 12:08:37 (PDT)

Yah, shurre! Dere goes dat winey BeeChay agin, by golly! Wine, wine, wine... Wit all dat wining, you'd tink she wass one a dem French peacemarchurs! An, acourse, she drovf dat truck alla way across da country an neffer eeffen stopped in Minnesnowta ta warm her teensy weensy leetle feet an havf a leetle genteel convairsayshun aroun da ol' Franklin stovf wit me an Rudy an da boyz. Hoooowheee! Dere musta bin fifty-sevfen guyss in Minnesnowta who'da likedta bought her a cuppa coffee an a kringla! Ennywayss, it's gud ta see da groop emerchin' from da horror uff diss mess wee're all facin'. I tink we need ta jus' try ta keep in mind, don'tcha know, dat, no madder how bad da sitchuwayshun may seem right now, da fewtchur will allwayss emerch ess a synthesis uff all da current partissapants an verryus pointsa viewss. Enger, haytred, nashunalissm an desspair might disstrakt us for awhile, but inda end -- iff we are ta havf peace -- we needta wurrk towards inclewsshun an dat effenchewal but ineffitable synthesis. (8^>?
Knarf Nergmloh
Minneapolis, MN USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 11:00:06 (PDT)

Deanna, was that you that I bought "A Crooked Line" from? I'm the one who let you keep the change from my 10 and 5 dollar bills and you told me you would donate it to george w's re-selection campaign. Nice to sort of meet you. Thanks for posting that insightful and timely quote from Martin Luther King,Jr. Consider yourself hugs.
BIL COLBURN <bilcolburn@yahoo.com>
Los Angeles, YA USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 09:44:18 (PDT)

Ummm, that should have been "Consider yourselves hugged this morning"- not "consider yourselves hugs"- although if you'd like to think of yourself that way, please go right ahead. A hint for writting on a message board- never write with a fever... :(
Deanna "Cough Cough" Constable
USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 08:41:01 (PDT)

Good morning! I am so sorry that I didn't get a chance to stop at the Ventura Reunion- I literally was a few miles away but am suffering from a pretty bad cold and knew that I should continue my drive back up to the bay area. As it happened, my back right tire had a blow out on 880 so I was glad to have had that happen during daylight hours. Still, I wish that I could have put name to face of such wonderful people. Did anyone go to Darryl Purpose's amazing McCabe's concert? If so, did you see that short woman selling his CD's in the lobby? Well, that was me! I wish that I could have yelled out "All GPM people come over here!" and then I would have given you all a hug. Ah well, consider yourselves hugs this morning this way- then you can catch my cold either! "The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it... Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate.... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace, dear friends.
Deanna "Cough Cough" Constable <dconstab@hotmail.com>
Oakland, CA USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 08:37:24 (PDT)

We had our second community meeting Sunday night and it did remind me of many GPM meetings, namely, hard. The first part of our meeting was a check-in for folks to put into words their feelings about Sep 11th and the aftermath. We had about 25 people so it took about an hour. Then we moved on to organizing for our Sep 29th event. It looks like we will have about 5 speakers each of whom will talk about 5-10 minutes and then open up to Q&A with the audience for an hour or so. We have a Pakistani woman and an Afghan woman and a scholar on feminism and a scholar on the Mid-East and an expert on air travel. Then we will have a potluck during which a local will play sufi music. After lunch we will offer several kiosks or groups for folks to visit where they can talk about their feelings, get a massage, write letter to the victims or to the government, pick up informational handouts, do art from the heart with kids or participate in a parenting during crisis group. After all that we will have some more live music. We have advertised locally and put up flyers and will call around to our local friends. We are keeping our fingers crossed that everything will work out. Several of the group participants practice sufism, which is an esoteric branch of Islam. One of them ended a recent email with a beautiful blessing that I want to share. May mercy and compassion enfold us all.
Joe Kinczel <ash@igc.org>
USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 07:50:06 (PDT)

Thanks Roberta. I hope I didn't come off as whiney. I guess, in these shifting times, I'm a little less open to change than say, 3 weeks ago. And more than anything, I'm grateful beyond measure to have this medium at all! So, many cheers to you! And I agree with the newspaper metaphor. This is my Sunday Times, my tv, my church...
Bj <innerstory.com>
Washington, DC USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 07:31:18 (PDT)

WOW! That chatroom thing is so cool! If anyone's interested, I'll check it out as many mornings as I can, around 8:30 (that's 5:30 AM West Coast Time - ouch!). Does anyone else have favorite times they want to chat?
Ben
USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 06:48:14 (PDT)

Last week, I organized the first vigil in our community to commemorate the victims of September 11th. It was named a "Vigil Against Violence," and one of the neat things is that *this* time, the folks waving all the flags weren't at the counter-demonstration, they were at ours.
Ben Atherton Zeman <benz@smoc.org>
Framingham, MA USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 06:16:40 (PDT)

Hi BJ--OK next time I'll leave a week's worth in. But see the archives on the main GPM home page for a link to the recent comments. For a variety of reasons it is hard to archive things. Our guestbook is too large for Notepad. Wordpad won't let me save it as a HTML, Frontpage wants my files as its own set of web files, etc. I'll be trying to find another solution in the coming weeks so that it doesn't take me so long to cut and paste into new files (thus I avoid doing it). (Maybe I just need to do it while Notepad agrees with the file size.) I agree that the BBS format is a pain. Besides we have our own on-line chat going if folks want to communicate in a more dynamic way--see Links. As Marek said, the Guestbook serves as our newspaper, and the chat allows us to converse real-time.
Roberta
USA - Tuesday, September 25, 2001 at 22:04:24 (PDT)

e-mailman, I'm guessing I have a pretty good idea who you are. Does 1/16 of a mile to Antelope Highway mean anything to you? If so, e-me directly.
Bj <bjkt@innerstory.com>
Washington, DC USA - Tuesday, September 25, 2001 at 18:06:48 (PDT)

Hey!! You know what? I didn't mind the loading time at all. I mean, thanks Roberta, for keeping us connected, but am I the only one who didn't mind seeing at least a week's worth of messages to respond to? And about the suggestion regarding the bbs format...please no. I dislike that interface intensely and would much rather scroll through things, being a very visual person. What I don't see doesn't exist! Hmph.
Bj
Washington, DC USA - Tuesday, September 25, 2001 at 18:01:02 (PDT)

Where have all the comments gone? Gone to the archives, every one. Look there, dear friends. It will now be easier to load the guest book. Post away!
Roberta <bertaw@bainbridge.net>
USA - Tuesday, September 25, 2001 at 15:46:22 (PDT)

much does it cost to have our military on the move, planes in the air, ships, and all, in the Middle East "readiness" pattern that keeps escalating? Anyone have a dollar figure? As people are near starvation on the ground.
Lynn Nadeau
WA USA - Tuesday, September 25, 2001 at 09:13:53 (PDT)

Hi folks. First, to Darryl, the concert in Santa Monica was fabulous. I thought your comments were very appropriate and you didn't shove them down anyone's throat. Closing with Traveller's Code in honor of the victims came from the purest source of what this whole human endeavor is about - love. If that ain't patriotic I don't know what is. I too *had* been heartened by a seemingly restrained and respectful attitude on the part of Dubya. But today I was listening to Pacifica and heard that Philip Berrigan and several other peace activists who are currently in jail were put in some sort of isolation (no, it was not solitary confinement) "for their own protection". Sounded fishy. Then it was Dubya himself responding to reports that a US spy plane has been shot down over Afghanistan and the Taliban government claimed responsibility. His comments were "we're not saying anything at this time." Hmmmmm...sound familiar? Like the gulf war? Home spun coverage? I'm having trouble fighting back my fear - not of terrorists or arabs but of all the power that is being amassed and centralized in the power of a few men. Yikes....
Bob Alei <BAleiHi@mediaone.net>
Fresno, CA USA - Monday, September 24, 2001 at 20:53:28 (PDT)

As far as I recall, I haven't ever posted before today, but every once in a great while, I lurk. I kinda dropped out of the GPM community after the Iowa reunion. Today the fire dept. was out on the street collecting for the NYC Police & Firefighter Windows & Orphans fund. Just thinking about all the individuals who have been hurt got me feeling pretty down. I'm at work, in a new job were I don't really know anybody well yet. I wanted some good company, so I thought I'd drop by and see what Peace City residents are up to. I ended up reading almost every post from January 1 to the present. Some of what I read was happy, some sad. Some disturbing, some comforting. Now that I've visited, I'm glad I came. I'm not ready to leave my anonimity just yet (but maybe later). Regards to you all. I miss you. (If you figure out who I am, please don't "out" me.) p.s. I do have a request for whomever maintains this site. Can the guestbook be re-worked so I don't have to load a 1 Meg file? Maybe it can be broken down by month, or have a more traditional bbs interface where individual messages are viewed one at a time.
Peace City e-Mailman
Confused USA - Monday, September 24, 2001 at 14:36:30 (PDT)

Hello All. I was so grateful last week that you all were here. Camille (my 14-year-old) and I were in Italy, my first time ever trip to Europe, vacationing in the country when these horrific event occured. We watched the footage on Italian TV in a tiny appliance shop in a small town while the owners tried to tell us what was happeneing despite the language barrier. And even as I was deeply saddened for the families and friends of those lost, I was simultaneously fearful for the lives of innocents that our government was likely to take in revenge. And to be so far away, from this grieving and angry country, it was such a relief to seek out this website from there and be connected instantly with this community that was thinking these thoughts with me and not heading straight for "revenge." We are home now. Tucson has gotten national coverage for making a giant human flag at the baseball stadium (which is in Sports Illustrated this week). I remember the giant human peace sign we made in Iowa. While mindless patriotism terrifies me, somehow I am not feeling as completely alienated by these American flags as I thought I would. Not that I am flying one, mind you, but I can hear Brenda singing "I am a patriot and I love my country because my county is all I know." I have been generally proud of the citizens of the United States in the face of this tragedy. It did not feel like their first cry was for revenge; it felt like it was for ....donations. They reached out from all over the country to help each other as their first instinct, as neighbors, as a really large community....not just as a country. Giving out of "patriotism" doesn't negate the genuineness of the generosity. If they are more able to give to "their own" it's because it's all they know. As marchers I think we are fortunate enough to recognize our community as beyond borders but at least for now, "patriotism" doesn't seem like a dirty word to me ....and the melody continues to run through my head .... Marek: Camille was completely convinced that she saw you giving blood on the TV coverage we received in Italy. I guess that makes you internationally famous. At least to Camille.
Sonia Cota-Robles <sonia@u.arizona.edu>
Tucson, AZ USA - Monday, September 24, 2001 at 11:38:45 (PDT)

Hey DP, too long, no chat. You must be reading my mind, though. I've had a very similar response and have not been shy (there's a shock) in expressing it. It is far from the case that I am not empathetic to the plight of Americans effected directly and indirectly by these events...in fact, I start volunteering to counsel Pentagon people next week...and I'm in it for the long haul. Treatment will be needed for years to come, not just the initial volunteerism that makes us all so proud until we tire of it and go back to our 'normal' lives. But back on the subject...I've been asking the same thing. Have we, as a nation, EVER stood for 3 minutes of silence over the pain of another country's loss? Bopol, earthquakes in Venezuela, gas attacks in the Tokyo subways? I can't recall if we have. And what about what we have perpetrated as a nation? It's an incredibly unpopular view at the moment...and perhaps we need more time to grieve before we address it, but I don't want that point to be lost. I'm glad you are putting it out there too.
Bj <bjkt@innerstory.com>
Washington, DC USA - Monday, September 24, 2001 at 11:01:33 (PDT)

Oops - Darryl said "blink", not "think". Sorry! :)
Lorien
SF, CA USA - Monday, September 24, 2001 at 10:13:46 (PDT)

Frank, thank you for that beautiful & touching photo website link! Darryl, well, first, hello! On the subject of addressing audiences: my personal opinion is that I would feel defensive if asked if I even thought, but would be glad to know statistics such as the one you presented about Panama. Perhaps you could say this horrific time personally gave you the opportunity to feel more empathetic towards people around the world. I know you already were feeling people around the worlds' pain, but a personal opinion might be easier to hear than a lecture... On the subject of earth flags: http://www.earthflag.net (the site Lynn already listed) also lists some local stores that might have the earth flag. In Tim's case, the Olympia stores listed are: Pacific Stage/Eco Logic 703 Cushing, SW Olympia, WA 98502-5112 360-786-8883 and Radiance Herbs & Message 113 East 5th Ave. Olympia, WA 98501 360-357-5250. Finally, on the subject of Dwarka Bonner: upon entering his name to the Google web search engine, I found one web page, an Ashram in Taos, New Mexico: http://www.nkbashram.org/publications/9909/update.html. I don't know if he's still there.
Lorien <yenooc@worldnet.att.net>
SF, CA USA - Monday, September 24, 2001 at 10:11:56 (PDT)

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As her contribution to the healing process, one of the other nurses I worked with this weekend brought in a beautiful book of photos she'd gathered from the following website. I thought you all might enjoy seeing them, too. Check them out!

http://spot.eroded.org/thankyou/

(8^>?

Frank <peacegeek@hotmail.com>
Minneapolis, MN USA - Monday, September 24, 2001 at 07:50:20 (PDT)

I've been thinking a lot about the best way to address the issues of the day at the shows i'm doing. Friday in Santa Monica i got a little political - inviting folks to remember how they felt in the wake of the recent attacks and then consider how they felt when the US invaded Panama and 5000 people died. I asked, "Did you even blink?". I hadn't planned to say those things and thought later that maybe i didn't give the audience room for their grief. As a performing songwriter I have an opportunty to affect the way people are thinking about these things and feel a responsibility to take advantage of that opportunity. I'm interested in feedback about that. Although a music audience tends to be left of center politically and socially, it's not only peaceniks that i'm singing/talking to. Darryl
Darryl Purpose <dp@darrylpurpose.com>
USA - Monday, September 24, 2001 at 00:04:25 (PDT)

Just left the Reunion a few hours ago after a closing circle and heartfelt farewells. A great reunion - different, of course, than all the previous ones. Sure the Cloud of Terror hung over us and we talked about almost nothing else. But it was not entirely somber. We still sang and laughed and walked the beach and even had a No Talent Talent show in which Sarah Seeds was a riot. We still had children with us and many dogs, still the same great potlucks. We're still Peace Marchers and we did briefly chant "We're still here!"
Gene <inLAnowatANNand DICK's>
USA - Sunday, September 23, 2001 at 17:43:44 (PDT)

Yesterday, while I was helping to coach Alexander's soccer team, Lori and Natasha went on a 4-mile peace walk along with Sawada who walked with us in 1986. They chanted the Heart Sutra the entire time and the walk ended at a rally for peace in downtown Boulder. It was very uplifting for Lori and indirectly for myself. Later we went to Irene Shonle's wedding, which was beautiful. Maybe some of you remember Irene from the GPM. She was about 18 on the walk. This evening we are having a second meeting in our community in response to September 11th. We will be planning the community forum which takes place on the 29th and also providing a space for folks to express their current feelings on the tragedies. I am heartened that our government has not yet attacked anyone. I am also heartened that peace activism seems to be breaking out all over the USA. I am also hearing more calls for restraint and wisdom. Tom Atlee is putting out some fantastic information on his email newsletter which has been daily recently. If you want his email address, please contact me. There is something very special and important about this autumnal equinox. It feels very important to express gratitude for all that we have and to try and embody hope for the future in very uncertain times. Blessings to all our relations. Blessings to our brothers and sisters at the reunion.
Joe Kinczel <ash@igc.org>
USA - Sunday, September 23, 2001 at 11:20:20 (PDT)

Hi, everyone. I haven't read all the posts, so please forgive me if I'm repeating what someone else has written, but I received this petition today and I thought some might want to copy, paste, and send it. Also, I love the idea of a world flag. I had also been envisioning a flag for peace, maybe white with a blue outline of a dove and the word PEACE on it. I'm not much of a flagmaker, so if anyone wants to take this idea and run with it, be my guest, and I'll buy one! Here is the petition: Bomb them with butter, bribe them with hope. Last night on NBC it was reported that 81% of Americans want restraint. Perhaps this suggestion is what they have been waiting for! A military response, particularly an attack on Afghanistan, is exactly what the terrorists want. It will strengthen and swell their small but fanatical ranks. Instead, bomb Afghanistan with butter, with rice, bread, clothing and medicine. It will cost less than conventional arms, poses no threat of US casualties and just might get the populace thinking that maybe the Taliban don't have the answers. After three years of drought and with starvation looming, let's offer the Afghani people the vision of a new future. One that includes full stomachs. Bomb them with information. Video players and cassettes of world leaders, particularly Islamic leaders, condemning terrorism. Carpet the country with magazines and newspapers showing the horror of terrorism committed by their "guest". Blitz them with laptop computers and DVD players filled with a perspective that is denied them by their government. Saturation bombing with hope will mean that some of it gets through. Send so much that the Taliban can't collect and hide it all. The Taliban are telling their people to prepare for Jihad. Instead, let's give the Afghani people their first good meal in years. Seeing your family fully fed and the prospect of stability in terms of food and a future is a powerful deterrent to martyrdom. All we ask in return is that they, as a people, agree to enter the civilized world. That includes handing over terrorists in their midst. In responding to terrorism we need to do something different. Something unexpected .. something that addresses the root of the problem. We need to take away the well of despair, ignorance and brutality from which the Osama bin Ladens of the world water their gardens of terror. Kent Madin ************************************* Please lend your support to this petition. Copy the body of the message and all the names below into the text of a new message. Add your name to the list and forward to as many people as you know. If you are person 150 on the list, please forward the entire email to president@whitehouse.gov and then forward a new copy of the email to your friends with your name as number 1. Thanks Dear Mr. President, Dear Mr. Vice President, We the undersigned are writing to you at this moment to express our profound sadness at the events of September 11th, and to plead with you and those making the very difficult decisions which have to be made at this time for calm and a non-retaliatory stance. We have all been deeply affected by this tragedy and our hearts and sympathies go to all those who died and to the loved ones they left behind. In the wake of this event there is shock and sadness, and emotions run very high. It is human to want to respond quickly, to find those responsible and ensure that this cannot happen again anywhere. However, retaliating with more violence only breeds more violence and ensures that future generations will live in fear with mistrust and suffering. We urge you and our fellow citizens to remember that vengeance offers no relief, that retaliation can never guarantee healing and that to meet violence with violence breeds more rage and more senseless deaths. Only love leads to peace with justice. We believe it is our duty as a civilized nation to rise above the desire for retaliation and to find a way of dealing with this tragedy that is peaceful and good. We do not ask that we ignore that this happened or that those who are responsible not be held accountable. Rather we ask that we lead the world as an example of another way, a better way for all mankind. Further violence and the deaths of more innocent people will not resolve this situation or ensure the safety of future generations. This is truly an opportunity to show the world that leadership is earned, not imposed through violence and bullying tactics. Please Mr. President, give us all hope for a future where good will truly prevail over evil, and where violence has no place. Our goal should be to build bridges of love, respect and understanding among all people. This is the only way to ensure that the tragedy of September 11th and similar tragedies around the world do not happen again. > >1. Maura Duignan, San Francisco, CA 94110 >2. Sarah Ellison, San Francisco, CA 94110 >3. Katie Bonier, San Francisco, CA 94114 >4. Jane Cote, Somerville, MA 02144 >5. Cynthia Pratt, Wellesley, MA 02481 >6. Hermine Makman, Cambridge, MA 02138 >7. Dorothy Burlage, Newton, MA 02458 >8. Emmie Adams, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 >9. Joan C. Browning, Ronceverte WV 24970 >10. Jean Chalmers, Gainesville, FL 32607 >11. Joshua Dickinson III, Gainesville, FL 32608-2120 >12. Sarah Dickinson, Gainesville, Florida 32608-2120 >13. Beverly Thomas, Gainesville, Florida 32603 >14. Virginia Seacrist, Arlington, Virginia 22202 >15. John Webb, Branford, Florida, 32008 >16. Joni Ellis, Gainesville, FL 32605 >17. Will Ellis, Gainesville, FL 32605 >18. Cathy DeWitt, Gainesville, FL 32605 >19. Neill Vaughan, Bloomington, IN 47401 >20. Sarah E. Vaughan, Tallahassee, FL 32316 >21. Kathy Maxwell, Athens, GA 30606 >22. Margaret Freeman, Athens, GA 30606 23. Thomas G. Camp, Athens, GA 30606 24. Lawrence B. Camp, Morganton, NC 28655 25. Holly F. Camp, Morganton, NC 28655 26. Shannon Carswell, Connelly Springs, NC 28612 27. Barry Carswell, Connelly Springs, NC 28612 28. Eric Biggins, Granite Falls, NC 28630 29. Carolyn Deal, Marshall, NC 28753 30. Steve Andreas Boulder CO 80302 31. Connirae Andreas " 32. Mark Andreas " 33. Loren Andreas " 34. Darian Andreas " 35. Richard Shane, Boulder, CO 36. Bruce Nygren, Crestone, CO 8113137. 37. Steve Ellison, Atlanta, GA 30312 38. Lori Michael (Shulman), Atlanta, GA 30305
Lori Michael <lori.michael@onebox.com>
Atlanta, GA USA - Saturday, September 22, 2001 at 21:38:06 (PDT)

Hey Julia and Lynnm Thank you both for the directions to the various peace flags. I just ordered my flag so I'll be waving it proadly. Julia, Congrats and Hope all is well. I'll be thinking of you.
Marek <Marekp@juno.com>
Buffalo, NY USA - Saturday, September 22, 2001 at 17:28:45 (PDT)

Here's another place or two to get some nice flags: American Peace Flag International Peace Flag World Peace Flag One World Flag Earth Flag International

By the way, I came through my surgery pretty well and am home now, sore but on my way. I am already down 10 lbs. Here's the complete story if you're curious. Love to everyone.
Julia Moseley <jmoseley@microsoft.com>
Kirkland, WA USA - Saturday, September 22, 2001 at 11:51:46 (PDT)

Here in Eugene we have made paper "flags" with the earth, and "one planet, indivisible" underneath. I would send them to anyone who wants one. Let me know.
Jeanine <dsoper@clipper.net Working for peace -->
USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 21:34:58 (PDT)

I'd love to see production of flags, too, like the beautiful hand-painted one we had of the DNA double helix. I think it was Dwarka's. (Last I heard of him was many years ago, NM - anyone have more recent information?)
Lynn again
WA USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 21:30:14 (PDT)

One place earth flags are for sale is via www.earthflag.net. From $9 for 8x12 inch to $45/$57 for 2x3 ft or 3x5ft.
Lynn Nadeau
WA USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 21:27:47 (PDT)

You're right, Marc. It wasn't a nice or even fair remark. [Sorry, TNH.] Truth is I was a little choked up by your comment about being "nearly moved to tears" by parts of Bush's speech. I've shed a lot of tears myself this past week and that's not something I'm accustomed to doing. This whole thing just hurts too much. Sometimes it feels like everything I value and want is slipping away. At others, it feels like the courage and creativity, born of this disaster, could actually move us all closer to accomplishing those things. Quo Vadis, my friends?
TEACH
USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 21:08:48 (PDT)

Thanks Marc. Tim Great to see ya here and If anyone does find out where to get those flags from please let me know because I would love to habg one on my house.
Marek <Marekp@juno.co>
Buffalo, NY USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 20:57:21 (PDT)

I'm seeing lots of American flags these these days. Remember the flag with the Earth on it from the march? I would like to fly one of those. Anybody know how to get a flag like that?
tim hunter <yowbap@home.com>
olympia, WA USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 20:21:03 (PDT)

thanks for the phone number, Marek. I passed it on to Dan. And I'm sorry about your virus. Teach, you're a peculiar one: a hateful dig at TNH for being hateful . . . hm. And I'm still not convinced you aren't the same person; seems to me that you admitted as much once long ago.
marc
USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 14:16:11 (PDT)

Lynn, thanks! After readining your post, I finally called my anti-war opinion into the white house.
Jeanine
USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 11:18:01 (PDT)

Hey all, I think this e-mail is safe to send to... : ). Ben, Fridays don't work for me. Monday or tuesday would be better. But we can also have several different times to chat.
Marek <Marekp@juno.com>
Buffalo, USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 10:59:21 (PDT)

I find this CNN tidbit to be vaguely heartening: Powell battles Pentagon over terrorism strategy (CNN) The Bush administration is engaged in an internal tug-of-war ... Secretary of State Colin Powell is pushing for a limited military component ... and instead wants to place more emphasis on less traditional "tools" in the United States arsenal -financial, political, diplomatic and legal, according to several senior State Department officials familiar with the department's planning. Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, his deputy Paul Wolfowitz and others... are pushing to broaden this campaign in the short term, to target so-called state sponsors of terrorism like Iraq...
Lynn Nadeau
WAA USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 10:52:37 (PDT)

Hello All: If anyone receives an e-mail from me in the next few days, and it has an attachment, please delete it right away. My computer has been infected with a virus and I'm having trouble getting rid of it. Sorry. Marc and Carol I sent you both an e-mail but there should be no attachment, better to just delete. My home phone number which I was sending both of you is 716-894-1014. Marc, if you could let Dan know that he could call me after 11:30 PM onight East coast time that would be fine. : ) Thanks. And Ben, Yes I feel much better! I knew you would be understanding and not quick to judge.
Marek
USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 10:28:05 (PDT)

One more thing - I've written two columns about a peaceful response in the face of what happened last week. I wrote the latest this morning after watching President Bush's speech last night - yecch! I'd be happy to send them to anyone who's interested. Take care and have a good weekend - hug your loved ones.
Ben Atherton Zeman <benz@smoc.org>
Framingham, MA USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 08:10:11 (PDT)

I love the idea of a weekly chatroom - during the work day would be better for me (sheepish grin) since I only have internet access at work. How about Fridays at one, 10 AM West Coast time?
Ben Atherton Zeman <benz@smoc.org>
Framingham, MA USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 08:07:07 (PDT)

Marek, I'm so glad you've finally come out of the closet. Don't you feel better? :)
Ben Atherton Zeman <benz@smoc.org>
Framingham, MA USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 08:07:00 (PDT)

TNH, I commit to an ongoing dialogue with the Rabbi. I also commit to an ongoing dialogue with you. I would prefer that our dialogue take place via email and I would not reveal your email identity. If not then the dialogue will have to continue on the guestbook. Peace. Blessings to you, TNH.
Joe Kinczel <ash@igc.org>
USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 07:37:38 (PDT)

Hey all, Roberta suggested that we have a weekly hour or so schedulded for when people know that there are others in the chat room. Any suggestions for when this might be a good idea? We can take turns monitoring it and welcoming others. E-mail or post yopur sugrgestions here. (Roberta's suggestion wa for Sunday's at 7 PM East time. Any thoughts on this?
Marek <m.p.parker@worldnet.att.net>
USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 00:31:17 (PDT)

Hey all,For the first few days all I seemed to be hearing is how good it was that the good Old US of A was gonna kick some ass, but the last two dyays or so I've heard more restrained and thoughful statments from people around me. Are others finding the same think true or is this just a bit of wishful thinking on my part. Poor Ben, I must admit, that I've not been very honest to all of you. Like Ben, I two avoid the long posts here, but I never offered a word of support and joined in others poking jest at him. Ben I am sorry and will no longer be silent. : ) Joe, the fact that you didn't feel heroic only shows that you truly arr. I want to call you an asset, with out any toungue in check meaning. Thanks for reminding me and I'm sure many others of what we can do and say to help make a difference. P.S. Sorry gang, I hadn't realized that my copmmunity was partly responsible for the attack. Asama Bin Ladin (SP?), Fallwell and Robertson all give truly loving, spritual people a bad name.
Marek <m.p.parker@worldnet.att.net>
Buffalo, NY USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 00:24:29 (PDT)

Yeah, that's true. I don't think they're all followers of Satan over there in DC. The world is a-bubble and we're in for some big big changes. Everybody's looking for a place to stand. Gotta go to bed, now. It's getting late. See ya in the webpages!
TEACH
USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 00:06:12 (PDT)

HA! Only if TNH means 'TEACH No "Hatred!"'. What a loser! BTW... Sorry to see your brainstorm ended up on the cutting room floor. What are they calling it now? Something like: "Operation One Small Step On The Way To Everlasting Justice?"
TEACH
USA - Friday, September 21, 2001 at 00:02:02 (PDT)

Confession: I was moved near to tears tonight when George W. Bush talked about Islam with such reverence and respect, and at such length. Seriously, whoever wrote that speech chose some good words.
marc
USA - Thursday, September 20, 2001 at 23:49:50 (PDT)

Hey TNH. Hey Teach. Are you the same person? Me, I'm the wordsmith who made up "Operation Infinite Justice." Aren't I clever? See, that's why they pay me the big bucks.
Marc
USA - Thursday, September 20, 2001 at 23:47:16 (PDT)

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Hmmm ... Not to ignore these fascinating little intra-group squabbles, but this announcement appears to be of significant importance. There's a war brewing out there, folks. (Sorry for taking up so much space.)

Come to DC on September 29!!!
WAR AND RACISM ARE NOT THE ANSWER
Sat., Sep. 29, 12 noon, Lafayette Park

International A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) - a new
anti-war coalition - has secured permits for Lafayette Park, the
White House sidewalk and for a mass march to the Capitol for
Saturday, September 29. Please see the Call and signers below. Email
back to sign on and get involved!

Join a New Anti-War Coalition:
International A.N.S.W.E.R.
[Act Now to Stop War & End Racism]

Please join us in signing this call:

We join with people all over the world in condemning the horrific
killings of thousands of persons in the September 11th attacks on the
World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Our most heartfelt sympathies
and condolences are with those whose loved ones were lost or injured
on September 11, 2001. At this moment, we would all like to take time
to reflect, to grieve, to extend sympathy and condolences to all. But
we believe that we must do more. We must act now.

We are assembling International A.N.S.W.E.R. to call for worldwide
rallies against war and racism. On September 29, there will be a
national march and rally at the White House in Washington DC, as well
as marches on the West Coast of the U.S. and around the world. We
call on all people of conscience and progressive organizations to
take up this call and organize rallies around the world.

Unless we stop President Bush and NATO from carrying out a new, wider
war in the Middle East, the number of innocent victims will grow from
the thousands to the tens of thousands and possibly more. A new,
wider U.S. and NATO war in the Middle East can only lead to an
escalating cycle of violence. War is not the answer.

We must also act against racism. Arab American and Muslim people in
the United States, in Europe and elsewhere, as well as other
communities of color, are facing racist attacks and harassment in
their communities, on their jobs and at mosques. Anti-Arab and anti-
Muslim racism is a poison that should be repudiated.

The U.S. government is attempting to curb civil liberties and to
create a climate in which it is impossible for progressive people to
speak their mind. The Bush administration is attempting to take
advantage of this crisis to militarize U.S. society with a vast
expansion of police powers that is intended to severely restrict
basic democratic rights.

On September 29, tens of thousands of people had planned to
demonstrate against the Bush administration's reactionary foreign and
domestic policy and the IMF and World Bank. In light of the current
crisis, with its tragic consequences for so many thousands of people,
we have refocused the call for our demonstration to address the
immediate danger posed by increased racism and the grave threat of a
new war. We call on people to demonstrate around the world on that
day.

Now is the time for all people of conscience, all people who oppose
racism and war to come together. If you believe in civil liberties
and oppose racism and war, demonstrate on September 29 in front of
the White House and around the world. October 12-13 will be
International Days of Action Against War and Racism. We urge all
organizations internationally to join together at this critical time
and take action.

Initial Signers:
-Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General
-Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Auxiliary Bishop, Catholic Archdiocese of
Detroit
-Al-Awda, New York and New Jersey
-Barbara Lubin, Exec. Director, Middle East Children's Alliance
-Jews Against the Occupation
-Rev. Lucius Walker, Pastors for Peace
-Nania Kaur Dhingra, Sikh Student Organization, George Washington
University
-Chuck Kaufman, National Co-Coordinator, Nicaragua Network
-Karen Talbot, International Center for Peace & Justice
-Committee for a Democratic Palestine
-Michel Chossudovsky, Professor of Economics, University of Ottawa
-Howard Zinn, Author
-Michael Parenti Ph.D., author of Against Empire
-Ben DuPuy, former Deputy Ambassador-at-Large, Haiti
-Teresa Gutierrez, Co-Director, International Action Center
-Martin Espada, Poet
-Sakhi for South Asian Women
-Women for Afghan Women
-Michele Naar-Obed, Plowshares activist, Jonah House, Baltimore
-Pam Africa, International Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
-Tom Hansen, Mexico Solidarity Network
-Michel Collon, author and journalist, Belgium
-Heidelberg Forum Against Militarism and War, Germany
-Italian Tribunal on NATO Crimes in Yugoslavia
-Maryland Green Party
-Heidi Boghosian, Executive Director, National Lawyers Guild
-Helena Papadopoulos, Center for Comparative Study of Law and
Society, Lebanon
-Elmar Schmaehling, Retired Admiral, German Navy
-Wolfgang Richter, President, European Peace Forum
-Nino Pasti Foundation, Rome, Italy
-Information-Post on Militarism, Tobias Pflueger & Claudia Haydt
(Germany)
-Ricardo Juarez, Pasamontañas
-New Communist Party of the Netherlands
-African Immigrant and Refugee Coalition of N. America
-Dominican Workers Party, NY
-Ray LaForest, Labor Organizer, 1707 AFSCME
-Kriss Worthington, Berkeley City Council
-Leonora Foerstal, Women for Mutual Security
-Asha A. Samad, Human Rights Center
-April 25 Movement of the Dominican Republic, NY
-Njeri Shakur, Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement
-Michel Shehadeh, Los Angeles 8 Case Respondent
-Muslim Student & Faculty Association
-Marco Frucht, Editor and Publisher, Activist Times
-Leslie Feinberg, Transgendered author, Co-Founder, Rainbow Flags for
Mumia
-Kadouri Al Kaysi, Committee in Support of Iraqi People, NY
-Minnie Bruce Pratt, writer and ant-racist activist
-Vieques Support Campaign
-Mitchel Cohen, Green Party USA, Brooklyn Greens
-Milos Raickovich, College of Staten Island, CUNY
-Carlos Eden, Raweshrar Project for Indigenous People--Chile
-Jamie York, Cuba Advocate Newsletter, MT
-Brian Barraza, Association of Mexican American Workers (AMAT)
-Justin Vitiello, Professor, Temple University, Philadelphia
-John Kim, Veterans for Peace, NYC Chapter
-Mahtowin Munro & Moonanum James, United American Indians of New
England
-SAFRAD Somali Association
-Arab Cause Solidarity Committee, Madrid, Spain
-Korea Truth Commission
-Congress for Korean Reunification
-Struggle Against War Coalition, Italy
-Trades Union International of Building and Wood Workers, Finland
-LEF Foundation, St. Helena, CA
-SEIU Local 1877, Bay Area, CA
-Vanguard Public Foundation, San Francisco
-Consuela Lee, musician
-Bohemian Grove Action Network, Sonoma County, CA
-Sonoma County Free Press (CA)
-Susan E. Davis, co-chair, NY Local, National Writers Union, UAW
Local 1981
-James Lafferty, National Lawyers Guild, Los Angeles
-Campaign Against Racism & War, Oberlin, Ohio
-Vietnam Veterans Against the War Anti-Imperialist
-Dr. Pol De Vos, President, Anti-Imperialist League, Belgium
-Refuse and Resist
-Klaus von Raussendorff, Anti-Imperialist Correspondence, Germany
-Dr. Bert De Belder, Coordinator, Third World Medical Aid, Belgium
-Dr. Jean Pestieau, Professor, Catholic University of Louvain,
Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
-Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment, California
-Klaus Hartmann, President of World Union of Freethinkers, Germany
-California Prison Focus
-Sally Davis, President, AFSCME 1072
-Anuradha Mittal, Executive Director, Food First/Institute for Food
and Development Policy
-Sandra Robertson, Georgia Citizens Coalition on Hunger
-Freedom Road Socialist Organization
-Al-Awda Massachusetts (Palestinian Right to Return Coalition)
-Radio Arabiyat, Boston, Mass
-Vanessa Marques, Portuguese-American Relief for Palestine
-Rima Anabtawi, Al-Awda Coordinating Committee
-Committee to Defend Amer Jubran and Palestinian Free Speech Rights
-Steven Gillis, Executive Board, USWA Local 8751, Boston School Bus
Drivers
-Falco Accame, former president, Defense Commission, Chamber of
Deputies, Italy
-Gerry Scoppettuolo, Director of Education, So NH HIV/AIDS Task Force

International A.N.S.W.E.R.
(Act Now to Stop War & End Racism)

National Office: 39 W. 14 St. #206, NY, NY 10011
(212) 633-6646·iacenter@iacenter.org·www.iacenter.org
Washington DC Office: 1247 E St. SE, Washington, DC 20003·(202) 543-
2777

TEACH
USA - Thursday, September 20, 2001 at 23:26:18 (PDT)

Hatred? Joe, do you plan to go through life now accusing anyone, who might challenge or question your ideas or actions, of being 'filled with hatred'? What on earth or in this guestbook can you quote that shows I have ever demonstrated 'hatred' for other human beings? "Mixed up", in the wake of these disasters, is likely to be the most widespread psychological state for quite sometime to come. Few, including me and you, are likely to escape going through periods of it. My belief is that we will be better off struggling together to keep one another on the path to truth, than dismissing one another's input without consideration. You, on the other hand, do appear to have 'taken pride' in silencing those you believe to be your opponents. Blessings to all our relations, including those who happen to see the world differently than we do.
TNH <yeahyou@judgenotlestyebejudged.org>
Bliss Falls, CO USA - Thursday, September 20, 2001 at 22:05:45 (PDT)

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Nuclear Plants Could Be Next Targets of Terrorists by Rear Admiral (RET) Eugene Carroll

In the wake of the attacks that destroyed the World Trade Towers in New York and damaged the Pentagon, American security officials have begun to think in earnest about some of the other targets that future terrorists might attack.

Among those that come to mind are America's huge oil refineries, which could be set aflame with catastrophic economic and environmental consequences. Also in the crosshairs of terrorists saboteurs are the country's communication centers and banking systems, which are essential to domestic and international commerce. But by far, the most dangerous, vulnerable and significant targets are the 104 nuclear power plants in the United States.

While these plants are said to be secure, too much evidence suggests otherwise.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission administers a number of supervisory programs to ensure security, chief among them being an Operational Safeguards Response Evaluation inspection program.

Under the OSRE routine, a nuclear plant is warned that a simulated sabotage effort will be made against their installation by a team of would-be saboteurs in a force-on-force exercise. These teams are composed of both NRC and private contractor personnel under the direction of a David Orrik, a retired Navy SEAL.

In approximately half of recent tests, the intruders succeeded in defeating the security measures, even reaching the central control room on occasion. The NRC downplays these security failures by claiming that they always lead to positive improvements and overall security is adequate. Indeed, so sanguine are NRC officials that they are starting a pilot program to allow private reactor operators to conduct their own security evaluations. Since when have private companies voluntarily disclosed security shortcomings and made costly improvements to their security systems and personnel training?

Compare this gentlemanly security program with the fierce determination of a trained team of terrorists attacking a reactor without warning and taking it over long enough to disable the safety controls. At that point, a major Chernoble-syle disaster would be all but assured.

Now that the initial shock and sadness of Tuesday's horror have given way to anger, many members of Congress are calling for aggressive military action directed against not only the responsible terrorist organization but against the nation providing them shelter and support. Though popular here at home, such action will not provide any protection against further terrorist actions. If anything, it may well intensify the cycle of attack and reprisal.

Whatever action is finally taken, the first objective should be to protect American citizens in the United States. But terrorists are not single minded nor stupid. Seeing a major security effort in process at the airports, they will simply look elsewhere for vulnerable targets -- like the country's nuclear power plants. These need protection -- not by their owners but by government forces.

The sad truth is we cannot guard everything in America all the time against terrorist attack. The only realistic hope to reduce the danger of future attacks lies not in violent reprisals by American forces, but in positive preventive programs, taken in concert with other nations to attack the root causes of terrorism by political and economic means.

Only by alleviating abject poverty and hopelessness in the poorest nations in the world can we eliminate the spirit that breeds terrorists -- that sense that even death is preferable to life under unbearable conditions. This will not be an easy or inexpensive challenge. But it is far less costly than the perpetual cycle of attack and reprisal and with targets like nuclear reactors to aim at.

Carroll, a retired rear admiral, served as director of U. S. military operations in Europe and the Middle East.

TEACH
USA - Thursday, September 20, 2001 at 21:18:36 (PDT)

TNH, I feel sorry for you just as I do for the Rabbi. Both of you are very mixed up. Taking pride in one's hatred for others is neither a sign of intelligence as you seem to think nor a sign of spirituality as the Rabbi seems to feel.
Joe Kinczel <ash@igc.org>
USA - Thursday, September 20, 2001 at 20:27:30 (PDT)

Congratulations, Joe. The "teach-in" is a great idea, as these were very effective back in the 60's and 70's. It also clearly took guts to stand up to that Rabbi and his hateful opinions. Sounds like you effectively stifled him, for the moment anyway. Possibly, if we can just keep people from hearing these anti-peaceful attitudes expressed in any public forum, we can put an end to this war-frenzy. Right? Ironic though, isn't it, that it took a Buddhist ideologue to silence an outspoken Jew? Or, do you, as Gandhi did in his study of comparative theology, actually wear more than a single yarmelke? Blessings to you and all our relations, guided and misguided as they may be in their pursuit of truth.
TNH <yeahyou@holierthanjustaboutanybodyelseinmyorg.con>
Bliss Falls, CO USA - Thursday, September 20, 2001 at 18:42:15 (PDT)

Seattle, Sept 19: A candlelight procession of what I'd estimate to be about 4000 people down Broadway in Seattle --blocks and blocks, a full traffic lane wide, solid-- moving from St Mark's church to St James gigantic Cathedral, where the overflow crowd was addressed by leaders of Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Bahai, and other faiths. VERY impressive. Hardly any news cameras in sight, though. Handsome bearded turbaned Sikh men (often Seattle taxi drivers, among other things) carrying flags, and getting hugged and blessed and hands shaken with person after person as they joined the demonstration (there's been violence against them this week). I'm glad I joined a dozen others from here for the 3 hr trip to Seattle to participate.
Lynn Nadeau
WA USA - Thursday, September 20, 2001 at 14:59:32 (PDT)

A friend led me to a great website today. You can add a prayer for peace to thousands of others. www.ulc.org/peace
Joe Kinczel <ash@igc.org>
USA - Thursday, September 20, 2001 at 12:58:00 (PDT)

Thanks for your support. I felt like a plumber(and I love plumbers) cleaning out a stopped toilet. I did not feel heroic.
Joe Kinczel <ash@igc.org>
USA - Thursday, September 20, 2001 at 08:52:54 (PDT)

As I ponder my response to this, I feel a similar sense of urgency to that which I felt in late 1985. At that time, I stumbled upon a convergence of like spirit that has since matured into us. I am open again, looking for a larger convergence, knowing that "our" being, while magnificent and my deepest blessing, is not enough. How do we hook up with a larger consciousness (soul, energy, spirit call it what you want - and Gene, you can call it a scientific committee :) ) to move that hundredth monkey. This is the question I am pondering deep inside. Do we walk again? Through the Middle East? Do we do a global "walk" via the net, sending messages of tolerance to any we can? Use the net to work globally? Or do we trust that our individual, local efforts will add up to what is needed? Thank you all for sharing your deepest sense of right action on this page. And for doing what you all are doing. I trust that our collective wisdom will surface and be felt.
Bob Alei <BAleiHi@mediaone.net>
Fresno, CA USA - Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 20:58:55 (PDT)

We're in Paso Robles now reading this page in the town library. Incredible messages that wring our heart and move us to tears. We printed one message to read to folks later, and so Joe's heroic deed will be known at the Peace March Reunion.
Gene <ontheroad@pasorobles>
USA - Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 20:22:50 (PDT)

Joe .... agree with the words about your deeds the other night...your my hero too! In the spirit that unites us...bless you.
Daniel Chavez
Herndon, VA USA - Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 14:29:15 (PDT)

Wow, Joe! You, Marc and Jeanine have given me much needed heart this morning- actually you all have. I wanted to share a poem that came to me this morning. It sounds like it was written concerning the recent events but look at the author of the poem : Zero Circle:/Be helpless, dumbfounded,/Unable to say yes or no./Then a stretcher will come from grace to gather us up./We are too dull-eyed to see that beauty./If we say we can, we're lying./If we say No, we don't see it, That No will behead us/And shut tight our window onto spirit./So let us rather not be sure of anything, Beside ourselves, and only that, so/Miraculous beings come running to help./ Crazed, lying in a zero circle, mute, We shall be saying finally,/With tremendous eloquence, Lead us./When we have totally surrendered to that beauty, We shall be a mighty kindness./Author: Rumi. Peace and love to all of you amazing people.
Deanna <dconstab@hotmail.com>
Oakland, CA USA - Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 11:44:51 (PDT)

Oh, and Lori M, welcome! We are stonger together.
J9
USA - Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 10:49:50 (PDT)

Good morning, dear Tribe! Oh, Deanna, I am so sorry about your fear for your sister! I too am working and hoping (ETC) that there will be no need for her to go to war. A group has formed here in Eugene. There are daily peace vigils (from 5 - 6 PM at our federal building). A teach-in is being planned for early Oct. $$$ is being raised for an ad in our local newspaper, and to widely distrbute world flags. At this point, folks are gaining strength from each other. Joe, you are awesome!! How hard that must have been, and I am so glad you were able to do it. I hope I can do something similar when it is needed. Tonight is our Jobs with Justice steering committee meeting, and I'll admit to being a bit scared. You all will give me strength. love and peace
J9
USA - Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 10:47:59 (PDT)

Well, yesterday I wrote an email to Rep. Lee telling her she was my hero. Today, Joe, its you. I also wrote her that I had been asking "where are the Gandhis? Where are the Kings?" They are all around me. They are us.
james knight <jknight@intelecom.org>
Lala, CA USA - Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 08:35:12 (PDT)

Joe, What you did took courage. It also is an example of creating an infertile ground for the seeds of hate and terrorism to grow. If more people would stop other's hateful talk instead of politely ignoring it in a group, the power of peer pressure could be felt in a positive way. That rabbi was right--you did exclude him, at least you excluded him while he's behaving in such a hateful manner, but you said you're willing to talk with him outside the group. Bannishment used to be a potent force when the individual had only one community in which to live. These days, bannishment has few consequences, except when a person wants to be part of a particular group. I commend you for your actions.
Ejlizabeth
Dallas, USA - Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 08:05:57 (PDT)

Bless your heart Joe. What a painful task that must have been. I have so purposely isolated myself from any chance of being confronted by such hatred spewing that it shocks me to hear that you had to endure it. Somehow, it seems less threatening when you hear such vitriol on tv or read about it in the papers, but when those close to you let loose...wow. I can't imagine it.
Bj
Washington, DC USA - Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 07:19:15 (PDT)

On a less encouraging note, our Rosh Hashanah was marred by comments our local Rabbi made about Arabs, Muslims and Palestinians. He basically said that all Palestinians supported terror against Israel and the US and that all Muslims consider Osama bin Laden to be a hero. Further he said that the Arab world has been conducting Jihad against the US and Israel for 25 years and the horror of last week finally woke the US up to that fact. We were all in shock at what the Rabbi said and stopped him from continuing. The task fell to me to actually confront him on his hateful and racist comments. He stood by his ideas and maintained that he knew "what Arabs are really like" having lived in Israel. I told him that he had forfeited his position as the Rabbi for our little group and that he could not expect to lead services on Yom Kippur. He accused me of being an exclusionary. I admitted that I was excluding him from Yom Kippur and would try to have a further dialogue with him at a later date. Maybe I will invite him to the Sep 29 inter-faith dialogue. Blessings to all our relations especially those stewing in hatred.
Joe Kinczel <ash@igc.org>
USA - Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 06:42:44 (PDT)

Yesterday, we had a meeting in our local Teen Center attended by 15 people. We are organizing a larger community gathering for Sep 29. That gathering will include a 2-hour seminar by University of Colorado scholars on a variety of subjects associated with last week's horror. We will then break into smaller groups for 1 hour or so. The smaller groups will center around political action, work with children, inter-faith dialogue, guerilla theater, and getting voices for peace heard in the media. Our meeting yesterday consisted of a variety of locals including a shaman, a Christian fundamentalist, Jews, Buddhists and the granddaughter of a German Nazi Storm Trooper. We are trying to bring as many disparate voices together as possible to reach consensus on how to act in ways that will promote peace and love. Three GPMers particpated. It was very encouraging. Blessings to all our relations.
Joe Kinczel <ash@igc.org>
USA - Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 06:27:39 (PDT)

Some good news, from CNN.com. Forgive me, I'll stop hogging the page, but I just wanted to post this: GAZA CITY, Gaza (CNN) -- The Israeli Defense Ministry said Tuesday it is canceling all offensive operations against the Palestinians after Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat reaffirmed his determination to honor a cease-fire. In a statement earlier in the day, Arafat ordered his security commanders not to fire on Israeli targets even when under fire from Israeli forces -- the first time he had told his police officers not to shoot back in self-defense if attacked.
marc polonsky <marcwordsmith@sfo.com>
El Cerrito, CA USA - Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 00:35:20 (PDT)

Deanna, take heart. If your sister is on the medical team, she will not be in the line of firen in the event of a conflict. And there may not be an invasion anyway. Our international allies are advising against it. Does anybody out there know of active peacework going on now, in the Bay Area or even CA? Dave Pettee, are you still checking in? Lori, welcome to the march. Please "hang out" any time. Everybody, I received an email from Dan Cohen-Peltier, in which he wrote something that I feel should be shared on this page (and he gave me his permission to share it): "may all tears bring healing, all sobbing freedom, every act of violence a lesson, smoldering mountian of terror an incomprehensible blessing, one degree turn of heart, critical mass of something finally learned, fresh air updraft, souls unite from every side...peace."
marc polonsky <marcwordsmith@sfo.com>
El Cerrito, CA USA - Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 00:28:38 (PDT)

I am so grateful to have found this website, and to read some of the posts. I was not on the Great Peace March, but my cousin Lewis was. I did walk to Cape Canaveral on a later, smaller march to protest the testing of the Trident II nuclear submarine. For the last few years my desire for peace has had me searching for my own inner peace, as I've worked to grow and develop spiritually. But tonight I got into a lengthy debate with my dad about the options for the U.S. response to Tuesdays' tragedy. I can't get over the number of intelligent people who don't even consider nonviolent responses valid, or who don't even consider them at all. That's when it occurred to me to go online and try to find out if there was any kind of website for some of the groups I remembered -- Seeds of Peace in Vermont, and the Great Peace March. I was so glad to find you all here! I feel so much less alone with my feelings and views on this situation. I wasn't on the March, but I still want to join the Great Peace March, in the larger sense. So I hope it's cool that I come "hang" with you guys online, at least until there's another event I can come to in person. Thank you all for being here. When I think of how many people worldwide are working for peace, meditating on peace, thinking peace, I have hope even now.
Lori Michael <lori.michael@onebox.com>
Atlanta, GA USA - Tuesday, September 18, 2001 at 23:53:29 (PDT)

Dear Friends, I just found out this morning that my little sister, Heather, a beautiful strawberry-blonde, blue-eyed happy girl, who is a YOUNG 24 and in the Air Force, has VOLUNTEERED to go over to the Middle East. She has been accepted based on her medical training and is set to leave with the first group within 3 hours of being called up. To say that I am upset about her volunteering is beyond mere words. I have already lost my mother and brother far too early. Heather is much too soft hearted and gentle to last long if she were to go to war. It's a sort of suicide decision. Her job in the Middle East would probably be to decontaminate soldiers and her boss has already ordered her a state-of-the-art gas mask. How can I express my fear and terror?? I never wanted her to go into the Air Force in the first place but she wanted to get her education paid through them. I understand that she made her commitment and received benefits which she has enjoyed- but does it have to cost her life?? Her decision cannot be undone so the only thing I can do is to stop her from going in the first place. I plan to do ALL in my power- whatever that can be done to be part of the solution to peace NOW. Marc and anyone who is in the Bay Area- actually anyone- please give me ideas on what I can do- where I can go to do more than just write letters to my representatives (I’ve already done that). I can’t tell you how I am feeling- I see her death surely will come if there is even a short act of revenge. It’s only been a week! What has happened took us all by surprise last Tuesday- now I see death coming and I don’t know if I can stop it. I am crying as I write this. Thanks for being there and for reading.
Deanna <dconstab@hotmail.com>
Oakland, CA USA - Tuesday, September 18, 2001 at 13:18:08 (PDT)

Frank, I meant that the CIA put nightmares into Bin Laden, when they trained him to fight the Russians in the early '80s. Can you imagine what it might have been like to be trained by the CIA? That's what I meant. Joe, as always, thank you for your unstintingly heart-inspired thoughts and words. I would aspire to have all my own words and actions informed by that level of clarity. And BJ, thank you for sharing the brave and generous vision that came out of your grief group. I will try and aspire to that as well. It's nice to get camaraderie, nurturance, and homework all on one web page.
Marc
USA - Tuesday, September 18, 2001 at 11:13:10 (PDT)

There is an incredibly poignant and informative letter to the editor in today's New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/17/national/17WEB-LETT.html. Written by an Afgan living in London, it offers real perspective on what war with Afganistan would accomplish. I highly recommend it.
Bj
Washington, DC USA - Tuesday, September 18, 2001 at 10:59:13 (PDT)

We're off! First, to soak in a hot spring - two full days -in the hope of washing away some of this ugliness. Then to bask in the beauty of our Peace March friends. Love to all, we're out the door...
Gene <wochica@msn.com>
USA - Tuesday, September 18, 2001 at 08:14:49 (PDT)

Feeling our feelings and talking about them with others is a crucial step in this necessary healing. Returning daily to a spiritual place of nourishment is also a crucial step in this healing process. Please reach out to others in our lives especially those in NYC and DC. Love, love, love all beings. Act. Go out on the street with a sign that says "I love you." or "I love NY" or any message of love. Blessings to all, each and every one of our relations.
Joe Kinczel <ash@igc.org>
USA -

Thanks for your reply, Marc. I am inspired to hear that you, Carol, BJ and others are making headway towards healing these wounds. Every tragedy does provide opportunities for improvement. I just think it's important for every person to find and speak what's in his or her heart now, as healing and growth cannot take place without an honest assessment of what it is that compels the correction. Beaming good vibes to the heart of Bin Laden and his crew can't hurt, and doing so will probably help the folks who do it to reconceptualize and accept the events of this past week. I think we will need plans and strategies of a more concrete nature to end terrorism, but good vibes are a start and will serve to reinforce our belief that we are part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. I also think working with the sick and suffering tends to shape my view of such events, and I'm sure you understand that like everyone else, I'm searching for a way out of this mess for humanity. I'm not sure who it is you believe put the bad dreams into Osama Bin Laden and Crew's heads, though I expect your comment is introspective and self-critical. I have, personally, believed for the past thirty years that our primary problem, as a nation, is that we blythely take too much and give too little. Perhaps we will come to understand this now and assume a more equitable position in this world. Meantime, however, I think we will be best served to stay in touch with our honest feelings, remembering as we do that we are part of a peace-oriented movement. As none of us knows what's coming next, there's really nothing more important at this point. Experience tells me that time and additional information do heal most wounds. Peace.
Frank Holmgren <peacegeek@hotmail.com>
Minneapolis, MN USA - Tuesday, September 18, 2001 at 07:22:15 (PDT)

One thing that came out of the two grief groups I've run this week is a pretty unpopular, but unabashedly peaceful notion. What would happen if quote-good people-unquote were to reach down inside themselves and pull out the strength of conviction and personal determination the hijackers exhibited? What would it be like if we lived fully our commitments to our faith and ideology? Could we, in fact, overcome our cynicism and shift the world energy to love rather than greed, compassion rather than hate, fulfillment rather than deprivation? A converse question is, what has kept us from doing so up until now? Is complacency a disease of which we can be cured? This entire experience has inspired the ultimate opposite in me than I have seen in my kin. I haven't had a single moment of hate or revenge seeking. I have had shame that I have not lived my life as the fully loving person I like to pretend I am. I've been telling everyone that I beieve the best answer to global terroristm is for the US to become a better world citizen. I guess that begins with me. Whether living next to the Capital means I am at 'ground zero' or not, I refuse to give into the fear. I will...at least until I forget...seek to embrace everyone I can with the compassion and understanding I would hope that might foster for me. I credit my growth from and connection to all of you with helping me to find peace in these moments of uncertainty. God(dess) bless you all.
Bj
Washington, DC USA - Tuesday, September 18, 2001 at 03:13:40 (PDT)

I don't know just what nightmares fill the hearts of bin Laden and his men. But I'm pretty sure I know who put them there.
marc
USA - Tuesday, September 18, 2001 at 00:21:33 (PDT)

Alta, I remember you from both reunions. I love what you posted, and I agree with you entirely. Your logic is flawless. By the way, ask your mom about me: She and I sang Incredible String Band songs together all the way across the country in '86. Frank, as I think I've acknowledged before, I am not above feeling hatred when I've been hurt, and I have been hurt this week, and I have hated those hijackers, just hated them. But you know, I think Carol Littlebrandt is on to something. I think if we have a future, the wave of the future is going to look something like what she suggested. The way to win the war is to send loving vibes into the heart of bin Laden and convert him. What a way to wage peace, huh? Talk about "rooting out terrorism." What if it were possible? I wonder . . . I mean, it sounds like a fairy tale now but, I just think there is SO much we don't really understand, so much we don't know.
Marc Polonsky <marcwordsmith@sfo.com>
El Cerrito, CA USA - Tuesday, September 18, 2001 at 00:16:43 (PDT)

Well thank you Marc, I wish I had received your post. It astonishes me no end, this love and respect we steadfastly accord each other. Looks like we shared something so incredible on the GPM that for the rest of our lives – no matter how we disagree – we will remain a devoted band of sisters and brothers. I was not a red diaper baby – June was. Both her parents were members of the Communist Party. And the book we are writing is about a children’s camp, Wo-Chi-Ca, the attendees of which were all red diaper babies. I was an orthodox Jewish baby and my parents took me to Hebrew school, “yeshiva,” full-time rabbinical school for eight years. I never saw a public school but wore a “yalmukah” and had long sideburns and studied the Old Testament with its cruel and vengeful god. I rebelled against it a thirteen and have been an atheist for fifty years now. June and I maintain an egroup of about seventy-five people for the Wo-Chi-Cans, now in their Seventies. Their posts on this crisis are in marked contrast to ours on the GPM page – theirs are hawkish as hell! Our Peace Marchers, perhaps because most of us are much younger, are a joy to read in comparison. Will I see you at the Reunion?
Gene <wochica@msn.com>
USA - Monday, September 17, 2001 at 15:46:16 (PDT)

Gene, the other night, I addressed you in a post, but somehow my post never got posted. Hmm. Anyway, I don't remember exactly what I wrote at the time, but I teased you a little about the fact that you're a red diaper baby and therefore must have known your entire life that the Soviet Union was a militantly atheist state. I also said that I hoped that you, unlike Iago, would speak again. Dan Chavez, I didn't know you lived and worked in D.C., but I'm thankful that you and your family are safe and sound, and your thoughtful honest posts are always refreshing to read. (And what kind of a peace community would we be anyway if we would "hate" people with different points of view?) One small thing that I did, which made feel a little better for what it's worth, was that I sent Rep. Barbara Lee a thank-you email for her vote the other night--she was the one member of Congress who did NOT vote to give Bush & Co. carte blanche support for whatever they deemed appropriate retaliatory action. Her e-address is barbara.lee@mail.house.gov
Marc Polonsky <marcwordsmith@sfo.com>
El Cerrito, CA USA - Monday, September 17, 2001 at 14:56:54 (PDT)

Gene, Isn't it amazing how a poet's name can sound so threatening these days!
Elizabeth
Dallas, USA - Monday, September 17, 2001 at 14:40:45 (PDT)

Me, too, James. Sad and worried. At work, this past weekend, the first thing I noticed was a colorful poster, with a picture of a Zebra, posted on the wall of our breakroom, where we receive report on the patients on our unit, just prior to our beginning the night's shift. (I work 12-hour nights on the Surgical ICU.) It was my first night back, since the hijacking/suicide attacks. I've been doing this for a little more than twenty years, now, and though I'm feeling quite depressed I knew it would be good to be back on the job, where I could focus on the immediate problems and needs of my patients and, temporarily anyway, forget about world 'outside'. Of course, nothing was the same. Patients and staff, alike, had all been watching the news and feeling the same intractable pain and weariness I have been feeling this past week. The grieving process is universal now, as we try to prepare for the future. The poster was one of those informative ones from the Minnesota Department of Health, made specifically for healthcare folks to update them on various new infections and epidemics, etc., and it had nice large print at the top that read something like: "Do you recognize the hoofbeats of these Zebras?" (The way they had it layed out kind of reminded me of Guy Colwell's artful renderings of the peace march.) I moved closer to read the small print. It went on to describe the early symptoms of anthrax, brucellosis, hemorrhagic fever, smallpox, and three or four other diseases anticipated to be the ones we will see used by bio-terrorists. Naturally, as healthcare workers, we will be the most likely to recognize those symptoms, if or when they begin to appear in our communities and/or hospitals. Over these past twenty years, I have seen the effects of diseases and physical damage that most people never even realize they don't know about. I have looked inside the human body and seen hearts pumping and lungs expanding. I have cleaned up and been exposed to and treated and fought with profoundly disgusting bacteria and purulent secretions, all the while trying simultaneously to comfort and soothe the suffering psyches and bodies of the patients I was working with. So, as you can probably guess, I'm pretty hardcore. Not much shocks or disturbs me so deeply, anymore, that I cannot carry on with normal functions like eating and sleeping. But, as Joe pointed out earlier, "Everything has changed, now." I couldn't eat my usual 3-AM lunch, that night, and I keep waking up with these dreams of burning skyscrapers collapsing on unsuspecting people, airline passengers crying and screaming, and hospitals filled beyond all capacity with sick and injured patients writhing and groaning for relief and comfort. Today, after a full three hours sleep, I woke up dreaming about the VA hospital I did about half my clinical experiences in -- back there in nursing school, five or six years before the GPM. I "saw" hallways full of wounded, maimed, dying, and dead young military women and men. My son, Eric, just got married this past June and, along with tears of happiness, I breathed a sigh of relief at the wedding, as he and his bride were beautiful, and his life looked as if it would never have to wander through some of the causitive, meaner streets of the 60's and 70's that we rarely talk about, when we're reminiscing about how great those days were for the country and the world. "Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n Roll, Baby!" Ahhh, sweet rebellion and righteousness! Those were the days! Except ... of course ... for the concommitant death and destruction and the hatred and pain. We didn't have to worry about widespread outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever, in those days. Or even very much about massive areas of the US being taken out by nuclear terrorists. Those worries came along, a little later. The genie's out of the bottle, now, though. Bin Laden has demonstrated clearly to the terrorists and lunatics of this world that all that is required to wreak widespread havoc in the lives of any nation or people, no matter how great or small, is a few poorly armed madmen willing to sacrifice their own meaningless existences to accomplish some megalomanic, self-aggrandizing end. They don't even need a strategy or plan for the future. They don't have to think and formulate and present demands for changes they believe would lead to a better world. They are Nihilist's. All they need is to spill the blood of their enemies... and their enemies children. Sadness and weariness is mostly what I expect to feel for a long time to come, assuming of course that I don't succumb to some unanticipated outbreak of brucellosis or hemorrhagic fever... or, the odd nerve gas attack... along the way. Dan, I understand that quandry you say you have always felt about nonviolence. I have felt it, myself, since the first time I learned about "revolutionary nonviolent direct action" from a wonderful group of people in Philadelphia, back in 1976. I, too, grew up in a violent neighborhood, where parents abused their kids and those kids, in turn, abused other kids. My first few years of nursing were spent at LA County General, though, so I do have a pretty good idea of just how much more intense your experience may have been. The problems of "self-defense" and "home-defense" troubled me greatly when I got involved with those nonviolent revolutionaries, back then, but I soon learned that it was not inconsistent with what they were promoting. Survival and the survival of one's family is instinctive. Most of us will never approximate Gandhi's example, and no matter how inconsistent it might sound that seems perfectly reasonable to me. I choose survival over philosophy. Those hijackers didn't. As I am certainly not "pro-suffering", I do prefer to work things out nonviolently whenever possible, but I also do choose survival and I can live with the moral and emotional fallout that may accrue from harboring that inconsistency in my character. My emotions rarely rise to the level of "hatred", but I do hate the pain and suffering this guy and his cohorts have already sown. As a nurse, a father, a son and an almost always peaceful nonviolent activist, I really despise the impact they have had on our world. I want them stopped, now. And, until someone comes up with a workable nonviolent solution, I am personally willing to accept and deal with the moral and emotional consequences of my intellectual ambiguity. I'm looking forward to the day, when only terrorists and their ignorant sycophants will know terror at the thought of what a united humanity would do, should they ever get the idea that they might get away with hurting people again. I know these feelings set me apart from many of my fellow GPMers, and I do love you all for what we have dreamed and accomplished together, but we are who we are and there's not much chance of personal change in the short run. Peace. (8^>?
Frank Holmgren <peacegeek@hotmail.com>
Minneapolis, MN USA - Monday, September 17, 2001 at 13:52:58 (PDT)

JOE said it ALTA MAY JEFFERS TRACY - "Now is a good time to be loving toward everyone else." Love is still the Answer to All of the Questions ... Tell your friends and try it for a few days and see what hapens ... You were a little girl in Iowa. I remember you. ... and, thanks, Joe, ... and that fits in with my notion of everybody sending massive love vibes to the heart and mind of a guy named bin Laden because he is a brother, whether or not we don't like his behavior or the appearance of things, and the least that can happen is he'll feel confused ... That's a start ... and the same for the nutzy "war dreams" of the brothers on the ABC news special ... and at the same time the zealot part of me and others who like to solve problems and go out there and choose to do something about them in a non-violent way is the lovely passion field that grows enough good collective energy to make shadows disappear and coalesce into a forever family on a GPM Board. See ya' Bye for now Alta May and Joe. Love, Carol
Carol K. Littlebrant
USA - Monday, September 17, 2001 at 13:24:33 (PDT)

I don’t know just where you’re coming from, James, but I hope to find out at the Reunion. I do remember many of your previous posts in which you called Clinton the worst mass murderer in the world, or something to that effect. Shall I assume you feel our country just got what is coming to us? Then again, you seem also to despise the onetime mighty opposite of the United States – the former Soviet Union. With whom do you sympathize; where DO your loyalties lie? I’ll see you at the Reunion and, by the way, I’m bringing with me Ghiyath al-Din Abul Fateh Omar Ibn Ibrahim al-Khayyam!
Gene <wochica@msn.com>
USA - Monday, September 17, 2001 at 12:31:36 (PDT)

Alta May, I remember you from the reunions along with your Mom. I agree with you that our country should be careful how we respond. Now is a good time to be loving towards everyone else. Peace.
Joe Kinczel <ash@igc.org>
USA - Monday, September 17, 2001 at 11:46:15 (PDT)

I'm hoping that they don't bomb Iraq or anywhere else because that's where they THINK the terrorists could have come from. And there are people over in those countries that like America but if we bomb them we'll have even more people that hate us. I'm 11yrs old, and I was at the Iowa and the Colorado reunions, remember me? I'm Karen's kid.
ALTA MAY JEFFERS TRACY <ktracy@dnaco.net>
USA - Monday, September 17, 2001 at 11:37:02 (PDT)

Random thoughts this morning as I re-enter "the horror"...Tracy Bartlett and I hiked out deep into the desert Saturday night, moonless and star lit. The deep stillness of the desert was marred by the steady, earth shaking practice bombs at the 29 Palms military base...Its a done deal that we're going to war. Kill a thousand Bin Laden's and 2000 more will spring up. An eye for and eye and the whole world will be blind. Which "religious slaves" said that? Jesus, Gandhi. Which "Moslem maniacs" guide my life daily? Rumi, Hafiz...And when the Imperialist Soviet Union (those noble, selfless athiests) invaded Afganistan for its strategic position, they, with the U.S., created the Taliban, created Bin Laden. And the goat herder in the mountains of Afganistan wished then the same thing his sons wish now- to be left alone, to love and feed his family. But they will be the first to fall. The Gulf War was described as a "surgical strike", and this will be the same. How many children were murdered? How many will be killed now, in my name, to "protect my way of life"? I am unspeakably sad today, and thank you for being here to recieve this. I love you all.
james knight <jknight@intelecom.org>
Lala, CA USA - Monday, September 17, 2001 at 09:56:06 (PDT)

Hi - all familiar names (well most). Haven't been here for a while, but the devastating event of Tuesday and the aftermath of War Fever has been quite enough to commit to organizing and changing what seems to be a quick route to an Apocalypse. I've been glued to my television set, and it first reminded me of the first time the nation gathered as a family for JfK, Jackie, Caroline, John, Teddy, Bobby et al. By Friday, I realized that the mega-corporate-owned traditional networks (I don't have cable) were now doing the intense conditioning to create the fervor and support for war. Canned patriotic music was inserted wherever possible. On Sunday night on ABC, with Ted Koeppel moderating, I heard total insanity. My response to ABC's special news program follows. I rejoined Grandmothers for Peace International today, and my intention is to contact every network I am associated with to mobilize whatever it takes to change the energies, public opinion, and the course of war, described as lasting at least a decade, probably more, with body bags coming sooner, not later. I post my e-mail here. Some of you may not agree. But I've been around since the Depression, and along the way I've learned a thing or two, plus my intuitive senses are extremely well honed and fed with heavy-duty scholarly information and varied and intense life experiences of many, many kinds. I know we are in more danger now than we were in 1984-85-86 and on a few years. It is time already, unless Pakistan or the Taliban actually hands over bin Laden, which I doubt is possible or that they will, the gates of hell will open and everything everywhere is in for it. The posting: Re the ABC News Special at 10 p.m. tonight (9/16/01) with the former general with the bright, eager eyes; the former secretary of state who wanted "to cut [his] wrists" because we were sounding like impotent wimps who could do nothing NOW; the former C.I.A. director embittered by slashed budgets and a "cut-to-ribbons" agency et al. and etcetera. I have never in my life heard such far-and-away, off-the-charts insanity of this "war-time planning board." This testesterone-driven, money /military/power/ego-driven government and society of ours has just opened up the gates of hell and the beginning of the Apocalypse. And they really don't get they are unleashing a potential holocaust. I am not religious, but I take my spirituality very seriously. And that is very different. I don't think these "gentle"men have a clue about what they are going to let loose.. "Hunt them down. Smoke them out of their holes." "These people hate freedom." "We are a country of law." Hello. "This is a CRUSADE"! Guess who? ...And Scowcroft or the general on the all rightness of going after Iraq ... even though there seems be no connection with Bin Laden. "It doesn't matter." Bombs are justified anyway. Saddam Hussein is a bad guy. Hello. Oil.Oil.Oil. or Ole Ole Ole .. ... But don't use the word Crusade, George, because we need the Muslims on our side. (Scowcroft) I keep hearing that everyone supports the President on his decision that "It's WAR." There are thousands upon thousands upon thousands of us who do not. The majority of us are women, but there are considerable numbers of men also. I never see or hear the women (not the C. Rice Thatcher variety, thank you) asked how they would go about solving this terrorist problem and what they think. Rarely does anyone consult the ordinary women. Yes, we have been walloped with a great tragedy. But so was more than a decade of Vietnam and the 17,000 "collateral damage" dead of men, women, children and babies in Beirut and so many other places, even here at home. Was the WTT demolition just a little old-fashioned karma comin down? Aw(e)ful, but it would seem so. My grandsons are now 11 and 8. "Decades" of this insanity with them coming home in body bags? No way. Regular terrorism predicted: maybe a little anthrax from their side and our side (the Pentagon is growing the stuff), and let's now also distrust our neighbor next door and give a free ride for wire tapping and search and seizure. I personally will be reuniting with many from the Peace Movement/Civil Rights/Human Rights, etc., and The Great Peace March of 1986/L.A. to D.C. and the spiritual networks on the Internet encircling the globe to solicit their help. This is going to be stopped! Non-violently and lovingly ... but massively. There are other ways to solve this problem than unleashing a holocaust of global warfare. I ask you, please, to have regular programs, and certainly one now (an hour or two), with women... and maybe ordinary, unknown women who are still extra-ordinary people. We/they are never asked about war plans. We are the mothers/ grandmothers who are asked to turn over our sons with a tear and a smile, and damn it, this will not be done this way this time. Enough killing and violence. If we spent all this military-might money and energy to help all those poor mid-eastern countries and others in various ways (not hand-outs, but hand-ups), we would be a lot further along than obliterating a town such as Koble with just a turn of phrase and wink of an eye. Tony Blair stated angrily that the terrorists had no regard for human life. Well, he comes from a natiion that doesn't have a very good record as a colonial power, and the U.S.A., generous as it may be sometimes, has lost its moorings for quite some time. Regard for human life? Check out the homeless in the park and the hungry kids in the Bronx, and the ongoing, predominantly Black tragedies in our ever-more prisons. I'm venting. I can't help it. I was screaming with thick tears in my eyes, and then listened to clergy at a Buffalo rally talking about GOD IS ON OUR SIDE, and reading scriptures about love and then talking and reading about God/Him helping to destroy our enemies. Good Grief. Poor God. When will people grow up? I will be watching tomorrow at 10 p.m. and the hour Nightline. I expect to hear more insanity. I hope to be watching a Nightline and special someday on a regular basis...with the viewpoint of the other side...and with women. We do use both sides of our brains and usually have gestaltish visions and abilities to act on many tracks at once in a variety of sequential ways. Not linear ... thump, thump, 1.2.3. bang. bang. You're dead. *** I liked the parallel of the War against Drugs and the War against Terrorism. Last I knew, the U.S. is still the biggest client for illegal drugs. How much did those ads cost and how much money and military might are we dumping into Columbia? Since our success story on this is miserable, I assume that's why we don't hear much about it on the news. But ... over-all, it's the economy, stupid. And Bush the younger knows that his daddy didn't do so well after just an eight-day war and so he has commmited to focus ONLY on a war that will take a very, very long time to "win." Too cynical in the face of the WTT tragedy? I think that's a realistic assessment, which does not mean I think Mr. Bush is not moved and is not righteously angry. But there is no question that what can be exploited from this tragedy politically and economically will be part of the "war games" by him, the Veep, the Cabinet, and by most members of Congress. The U.S. government and economy is based, in large part, on the exploitation of others here at home and globally And that, I don't think, is a secret. Hence, acts of terrorism. It's that simple and that complicated. Whoever gets to read this, thank you for listening. Many of us are deeply hurting with the spectres of once and future tragedies. At the risk of raising the wrath of the mega-corporation that owns ABC, please help anyway by allowing the exploring of other remedies to terrorism than global warfare. Corporate wrath may be a moot point if there is no station and no building for the station and Times Square is out of time. Carol Littlebrant ******** Hey, Nancy ... You got married! How nice. Of course I stillyou in my mind's eye dancing in a filmy harem-type skirt from 1986 so maybe it's been almost forever already that you added a name. Just IM-ed with Marek. Saw him last when Daryl Purpose was in Buffalo on a gig in March. ... But I'd better stop here because I'll pick up on everyone. Time for that next time. I welcome your diverse thoughts, but whatever, I am already committed. (Just listening to the news the Taliban will consult the clergy now. A little time, and if the bombing which will happen in 2 l/2 days is not "necessary," I will be happy to eat crow (cardboard...I love my crows) with tabasco sauce. Best ... Carol
Carol K. Littlebrant <Miracleyes1SD@aol.com>
USA - Monday, September 17, 2001 at 09:46:52 (PDT)

After the trauma of last week, I feel as if I am approaching my center again, though the center now has a new occupant sharing the space. Today is the first day of Rosh Hashanah and we are having about 20 friends and neighbors over to celebrate peace and the Jewish New Year. I organized a meeting for tomorrow morning at a local community center to strategize about what we can do in our local community to promote love and peace and lessen the feelings of fear/hate and the government's push toward war. I feel as impelled to act now as I did before and during the GPM. We are now in a new time and the horror of the hijackings and subsequent bombings present huge risks and opportunities to all of us. Now is a time to act for Lori and I. As always I love and deeply appreciate all of the voices on this page. We are all coming from such deeply held beliefs and such deeply felt pain. We honor each other and those who died by our honest and respectful dialogue. I believe in personal responsibility and as such do want the criminals who are behind the bombings brought to justice. I also believe that everyone and everything is holy and sacred and as such do not want to see more wanton destruction and slaughter. I am going to try and prevent such wanton destruction and indiscriminate slaughter by peaceful means. If I cannot prevent it, then I will bear witness and protest and work for peace and reconciliation. There is no other way for me. I wish we could come to the reunion this weekend. We will be attending Irene Shonle's wedding here in the mountains. I would appreciate any suggestions for local action. Blessings to all our relations.
Joe Kinczel <ash@igc.org>
USA - Monday, September 17, 2001 at 07:18:50 (PDT)

the local paper here in santa fe ran a petition calling for restraint, with letters for folks to sign and send to their congresspeople. not sure if other parts of the country have started similar petitions. i'll share this one here for anyone who wants to start one in their area, or to amend it to first person, to send to your representatives " We, the undersigned, extend our deepest sympathy to the victims of last week's terrorist attacks. We call on our elected leaders to respond with the utmost wisdom - and restraint - to these acts. We must bring the guilty to justice, but we cannot kill innocent men, women, and children. To do so would betray our deepest values. Such a course of action could very easily draw us into a spiral of violence that would truly destroy our security, undercut our humanity, and damage our democracy far more than could any terrorist act. To lure us into a vengeful response may well have been a goal of the attackers. We must resist this temptation. No terrorist attack from the outside, however severe, can destroy America. Only a betrayal of our core values could do so. For this reason we must also be especially careful to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans - especially Arab-Americans, who are now vulnerable to unwarranted accusation, discrimination, or worse. We need to strengthen civil liberties, not abridge them. If we wish to be a truly great democracy, secure from fear, we must have the courage to lead the world in the paths of justice, not those of violence. " i am frustrated that all i can do is sign a pettion, or send a letter to my congressperson. doesnt feel like nearly enough. peace to everyone- and thanks for all of the new baby love that people sent my way. having this beautiful, innocent little babe in our home has certainly helped us to balance the shock and sorrow of this weeks events. nancy/kiwi
nancy mcmanus miller <nemmiller@yahoo.com>
USA - Sunday, September 16, 2001 at 17:46:55 (PDT)

Dan, I was just explaining to someone today that the GPM included many gradations of peace work Everyone was against the production, stockpiling and use of nuclear arms. But beyone that opinions and choices varied from support of a non-nuclear military to complete non violence. There was and is room for more than one point of view.
Elizabeth
Dallas, USA - Sunday, September 16, 2001 at 16:20:13 (PDT)

Gene, Thanks for coming back and speaking again. As you said, we need all voices.
Elizabeth
Dallas, USA - Sunday, September 16, 2001 at 16:12:03 (PDT)

I feel I must clarify my position, and I hope I can do so with the same honesty Daniel just demonstrated. I do not wish to impose my thinking on everyone. I know my fanatic personality and dogmatic manner turn people off. In my own way I am just as intolerant as bin Laden. But it would be unfortunate if people, because of the stridency of my tone, do not hear me. The time calls for revolutionary rhetoric. Bin Laden is attempting to impose on the whole world – through the most despicable terrorist violence - a radical extremist fundamentalist religious tyranny. It now becomes a worldwide struggle to resist such absolutism and totalitarianism, such slavery. I believe that atheism will lead the way in this struggle. But every liberal person on the planet, every skeptic, freethinker, progressive, secular humanist, every science minded person – every CHURCHGOER who still respects the right of others to think and yes even worship as they will – ALL will participate in this fight. And therefore let us gather at our Reunion next week – under the shadow of bombers and with the cries of Afghani women and children in our ears – let us be together in this terrible crisis. Please everyone – come to Ventura if it’s at all possible. I just got a call this morning from Sarah Seeds. She wants to join us in the worst way (she needs a ride: her number is 510-582-7020). Sarah has much to say about this terrible crisis, as I’m sure we all have. If only we had ten days as we did last year in Colorado! Maybe some will stay longer in Ventura. But we MUST get together.
Gene <wochica@msn.com>
USA - Sunday, September 16, 2001 at 16:00:56 (PDT)

Just wanted to let folks know I'm OK here in DC Land. I drive by the Pentagon every day on the way to work...was driving by there 30 before the plane hit it. Heard the explosion from my office. My wife works for Veteran's Med Center..so she was on emergency status for the expected many injured to flood the hospitals. Unfortunately, far too many deaths and too few injuries. It's times like these when I know I've never been fully part of this great peace march family. Always felt it during the march and feel it again. I'm not a pacifist...have been aganist nuclear weapons and seek peace, conduct myself in a peaceful way for the most part, but my life experiences in protecting my family has always involved force. Ideally the force of ideas, words and good deeds...but also physical force to protect my family. I was in too many gang fights living in Watts, our family would have to fight off gang attacks on our home by having to physically fight. Even after the peace march the gang element in my neighborhood respected my presence both because I was fair to them and treated them like individuals...but also because if one of them attacked my kids (one pulled a knife on Christina)I would "call them out - parlance of the gang -and they would spend time in jail, or punished in some other way (hopefully by their parent, although too many in my neighborhood had parents who would just as soon best the shit out of me then spend time nurturing their kids). At times I would work with neighbors to build coalitions to target the worse gang members and with the police would coordinate court sentences with them to get the gang members off th


Nuclear Plants Could Be Next Targets of Terrorists by Rear Admiral (RET) Eugene Carroll In the wake of the attacks that destroyed the World Trade Towers in New York and damaged the Pentagon, American security officials have begun to think in earnest about some of the other targets that future terrorists might attack. Among those that come to mind are America's huge oil refineries, which could be set aflame with catastrophic economic and environmental consequences. Also in the crosshairs of terrorists saboteurs are the country's communication centers and banking systems, which are essential to domestic and international commerce. But by far, the most dangerous, vulnerable and significant targets are the 104 nuclear power plants in the United States. While these plants are said to be secure, too much evidence suggests otherwise. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission administers a number of supervisory programs to ensure security, chief among them being an Operational Safeguards Response Evaluation inspection program. Under the OSRE routine, a nuclear plant is warned that a simulated sabotage effort will be made against their installation by a team of would-be saboteurs in a force-on-force exercise. These teams are composed of both NRC and private contractor personnel under the direction of a David Orrik, a retired Navy SEAL. In approximately half of recent tests, the intruders succeeded in defeating the security measures, even reaching the central control room on occasion. The NRC downplays these security failures by claiming that they always lead to positive improvements and overall security is adequate. Indeed, so sanguine are NRC officials that they are starting a pilot program to allow private reactor operators to conduct their own security evaluations. Since when have private companies voluntarily disclosed security shortcomings and made costly improvements to their security systems and personnel training? Compare this gentlemanly security program with the fierce determination of a trained team of terrorists attacking a reactor without warning and taking it over long enough to disable the safety controls. At that point, a major Chernoble-syle disaster would be all but assured. Now that the initial shock and sadness of Tuesday's horror have given way to anger, many members of Congress are calling for aggressive military action directed against not only the responsible terrorist organization but against the nation providing them shelter and support. Though popular here at home, such action will not provide any protection against further terrorist actions. If anything, it may well intensify the cycle of attack and reprisal. Whatever action is finally taken, the first objective should be to protect American citizens in the United States. But terrorists are not single minded nor stupid. Seeing a major security effort in process at the airports, they will simply look elsewhere for vulnerable targets -- like the country's nuclear power plants. These need protection -- not by their owners but by government forces. The sad truth is we cannot guard everything in America all the time against terrorist attack. The only realistic hope to reduce the danger of future attacks lies not in violent reprisals by American forces, but in positive preventive programs, taken in concert with other nations to attack the root causes of terrorism by political and economic means. Only by alleviating abject poverty and hopelessness in the poorest nations in the world can we eliminate the spirit that breeds terrorists -- that sense that even death is preferable to life under unbearable conditions. This will not be an easy or inexpensive challenge. But it is far less costly than the perpetual cycle of attack and reprisal and with targets like nuclear reactors to aim at. Carroll, a retired rear admiral, served as director of U. S. military operations in Europe and the Middle East.