Guys and Gals,

I've noticed something over the days since the terrorist attack while watching TV and browsing the Web. All over the TV there are stories of unnamed heroes; firefighters, hijacked passengers, police officers, rescue volunteers, doctors. These people are busting their humps to help people, in some cases it's cost them their lives. These people are the definition of an American. They are what we should aspire to be.

On the internet, I've found the opposite. Here on PP, on other fishing BB's, and on the football BB's I read, I keep reading people cursing each other and ridiculing each other for having opposing opinions about what our next step should be. Should we nuke the Middle East? Should the NCAA, NFL, and MLB games be played this weekend? This is what people are fighting about.

We need to pull together, not start to bicker amongst ourselves. We're all wound a little tight right now, how could you not be? These ba$tards just killed thousands of our fellow Americans. This isn't the time to fight with our fellow Americans who weren't killed. It's time to pull together and act like Americans should.

Show your family, your neighbors, your American brothers, that you care. Don't put off telling them what you might not get the chance to tell them tomorrow. Buy some stock on Monday and keep the US economy strong. Support our President as he begins the journey toward justice for the victims. Buy a flag and raise it proudly. Know what that flag stands for. Do NOT take your aggressions out on somebody because they "look like a hijacker". Wave at a soldier tomorrow on the way to work, I'll bet he or she waves back. Vote in the next election for the candidate of YOUR choice. Say a prayer in your house of worship. Tell somebody your opinion, THEN listen to theirs.

We live in the greatest country on Earth, folks. It's not a perfect country, nor are we perfect people. But, we're Americans and WE WILL PREVAIL. Let's pull together, get along, get our country back on her feet, and show these terrorist organizations that neither they nor anybody else will drag America down.

The United States of America. I LOVE this country.

I agree with you and it will happen. Right now people are justifiably outraged.I wouldn't take suggestions of genocide as anything other than merely venting.I think this is a good place to do it.
It's a big country and there will doubtless be cases of injustices commited against innocent people.It won't be widespread.I don't think anyone here will attack their neighbors.
ABC is now reporting that our enemies have again tried to board airplanes,today.They were caught.It would appear that we are still under attack.May God protect this country and guide our president and leaders.

[ 09-13-2001: Message edited by: Leadslinger ]

Right on Dan S. Well said

Amen My Brother.....Os

Nuke 'em. and let Allah sort em out.

You are a wise man, Dan S.

Right on my friend!!!!!
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff

Excellent words Dan. It's times like this we should be speaking with one voice while we sort through the rubble.

A new flag is flying at the Gray home. There's also a thread going around the net asking folks to put a candle anywhere outside at 7:00 p.m. Can't hurt.

Bruce

Thanks Dan for taking the time to remind us all of who we are and what it means to live in this great country. well said

God Bless America

Right on, Dan. Thanks for sharing your views. In the spirit of your fine advice, I'd like to share with everyone something I pulled off of MSNBC.com in an article entitled "Fighting back: Ten things you
can do right now." It's a bit long, but it's well worth reading, I believe. Here goes...

THE TERRORISTS WANT us to be afraid; they want us to stay home, hoarding fuel and food. They want to crush our free and open society by paralyzing us with fear. We can stop them, and so can every other American. Our collective actions have a tremendous effect and will repel this terrorist threat and send a clear message to the world.

1. Keep your money in the stock market; leave your investments where they are.
Show your faith in our economy by making a new investment when the market opens. Don’t think for a moment that the terrorists didn’t have a keen sense of the timing of their actions. As consumers and agents of our economy, we hold its future in our hands.

2. Fill your car’s gas tank as you normally would. Don’t run to the gas station to fill up your car. Stay with your normal pattern of fueling. If you’re a gas station owner, don’t give in to price-gouging. If you find yourself and your community victims of price-gouging (at gas stations or grocery stores), bring it to the public’s attention. Report gas-gouging to the local chapter of the American Automobile Association (AAA). You can also contact your state’s Attorney General or the U.S. Energy Department Hotline at 1-800-244-3301. These organizations are aware of this kind of activity. Bring it to the attention of your local newspaper or broadcast outlet. Provide accurate information and shine a bright light on this lack of civic virtue.

3. Buy things — anything, no matter how small. Consider buying a new car, something fuel-efficient to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. If you’ve had a project or purchase on your mind, now is the time to follow through. Don’t put off purchases that you have planned because of this incident and fear for the economy. These delayed purchases can be self-fulfilling prophecies of a failing economy. Our collective purchases will have a phenomenal impact and help us fight fear-induced volatility of the price of everyday goods and services.

4. Fly the American flag. Fly it from your house. Fly it from your car. Fly it in a position of respect anywhere you can. Stand tall and be American. Our country has been politically divided, especially since the last election. But let us not forget that it is precisely the mechanism of democracy that allows us to be politically divided in a productive fashion. Terrorism attempts to take that productive division and turn it on itself.

5. Withdraw cash from the bank as you usually would. Don’t help cause a run on the banks by withdrawing all your money. Our financial systems are strong and resilient. Withdraw cash as you normally do. Terrorists fully intend to scare us into thinking that our systems are vulnerable well beyond the point of impact.

6. Use transportation systems. Make business and travel arrangements as you normally would. Book a flight as quickly as you are able in order to show your confidence in our airlines, the new airport security guidelines, and our public safety system.

7. Conserve energy. This will help to stabilize prices and supplies. Take public transportation, walk, bike, carpool, do whatever you can to avoid driving. Taking public transportation to work once a week will be a tremendous help. Turn off unused lights and appliances at home.

8. Write your state and local representatives and members of Congress to demand more funding for alternative fuel research. Our dependence on foreign oil is a huge vulnerability. If the United States decides to take military action, our oil supplies may be affected. By reducing our dependence on foreign oil, we enable our government to do what is deemed necessary.

9. Help unify this country by engaging your neighbors and community. We need to have one voice to fight terrorism. Everyone must come together in order for our collective actions to defeat this evil. Acts of violence against our own people, regardless of their faith or background, can only be destructive.

10. Get back into your normal pattern of work and living.Do what you can to continue your normal routines. Embrace the new security guidelines in airports and other public places and don’t complain. Support airport security personnel and let them know you’re proud of what they are doing. Don’t be frozen by shock and fear: that was the terrorists’ objective. Fight them by continuing to live normally in our free and open society.

IT’S UP TO YOU

There are many great lessons to be learned from these events: among them is the understanding that we each have the ability to defend our nation. We are each empowered to make decisions that will collectively allow us not only to survive this time of crisis, but to emerge ever-stronger in our response to this unspeakable act of evil.
Invoking Winston Churchill, this could, indeed, be our finest hour.

Right on.Dan S,GOD BLESS AMERICA and good luck,
STRIKE ZONE