Posted by Gordon on September 17, 2001 at 20:12:04 from 212.137.176.68:
In Reply to: Re: Disrespect - none intended posted by Ian E-N on September 17, 2001 at 09:18:42:
I am sure that Ian did not intend to remove any messages other than those that might have been considered offensive. I posted the following to an e-mail group in the USA that I have been a member of for some years. It is - just - relevant to this wwwboard and might strike a chord with some readers.
THREE MINUTES IN ENGLAND
As you may know many European countries held a 3 minute silence today.
Here on Coniston Water in the English Lakes we seemed a million miles from New York and Washington DC, yet our two launches cut their engines and fell silent as the traffic around the lake came to a standstill. We dipped our ensigns in respect and our passengers stood in quiet comradeship with those whose lives had been so unnaturally ended, and those whose lives would never be the same again. it is a small world, and we have many friends in far away places.
I was on the lake shore with my two dogs. They stood stock still staring out into the distance, not knowing what was going on, but aware that this was something different, something that was touching their lives through my strange behaviour, something that it was not given to Flatcoated Retrievers to understand.
As the three minutes drew to a close a flight of duck that had been calmly circling far out on the water suddenly lifted from the surface and flew Westwards, fast and straight, higher and higher- as souls to the heavens - until we could see them no more in the gentle mist of this Autumnal day.
Before this matter lies easier in our minds Great People will utter many sage words, deeds of heroism and selflessness will be committed, things - some right, some wrong - will be done and political, economic and military loyalties will be put to the test.
All this is beyond me and my small world, and beyond my two dogs and theirs. But here, in rural England, there is a strong feeling of support and comradeship towards those of all nationalities, but especially Americans, who are now faced with such raw emotions. We understand the anger and the frustration, we hear the bellicose words with sympathy, and we appreciate the very natural desire for revenge.
Perhaps it is easy for us county-dwellers to find the time to take a reflective pace backwards, to look deep into our souls, and to hope with all our hearts that others, who do not have the luxury of time and distance, will find the wisdom that will forge the hot desire for retribution into the steel of true justice.
With kindest wishes on a sad day.
My apologies to those who consider this to be too far 'off topic' for TARS
Gordon