Neotame. To tell the truth, I had never even heard the word before. Thanks for that. This week I will drink imitation perrier. Our horse hoofy, did pass the horse called wind, and overtook the other horsie too. What is this place coming to? It makes me laugh, so it must be GREAT!
Today, is an excellent day. It is a day I remember an excellent man. Happy Birthday Bench! Your first comment, on the first entry is the stuff legends are made of. A round of applause for Bench puh-leeze.(and i will probably forget everyone elses birthday this year so apologies in advance--- i am very bad with important dates)
Speaking of dates. Can you remember where you were the day you found out that Diana had died? For those of you a bit older, what happened the day John F Kennedy died? What about John Lennon? I can remember vividly, being seated, at an excellent restaurant, in fact a place I would not be able to afford to go to today, when I heard about Diana. The young waitress, sobbing, broke the news in a touching display of dignified emotion before we could even ask her why she was upset. Diana.
I can also remeber the fireman standing on the street corner. He was sincere. He had his hat on his head and an empty boot in his hand. He was standing on the street corner. I didn't have much money, in fact I wish I had had more, but I threw my little bit of coin into the filling boot. He gave me a sticker, and a smile which magnified to me his kinship, his feeling for those who were racing up the stairs, searching for those who were suffering, hearing the cries but not having time to release their own anguish, and not knowing they had but seconds left before their own lives were extinguished. Do you remember the weeks after Septermber 11th?
Auschwitz. I have been told, but have not experienced, that there is a presence today, at this site. Agonies, sufferings and human claw marks upon the cement walls of the gas chambers. We are truly fortunate. Let us remember that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:May311944_auschwitz.jpg
It is alleged that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has dismissed these atrocities as nothing but a myth perpetuated by Israel. The US, among others is negotiating with Iran to deter them from continuing with their uranium enrichment programme. It doesn't matter though, whether the negotiations succeed or fail, because Iran will never have a nuclear bomb. I should correctly say, Iran will never have nuclear capabilities without a conflict with Israel. Iraq will look like a tame little school yard scuffle compared with the battles this new conflict.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5045604.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5045214.stm
Let us hope diplomacy works.
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13 comments:
I get to be first wink wink
Yes I remember hearing about Diana, Amanda was visiting me with her friend, and I remember thinking that it was some sort of joke, we heard it on TV and I remember being stunned, and full of disbelief. I also remember 9-11,, I remember being in the living room with frankie, who was just 2, turning on the TV and thinking, stupid US thing stopping regular programming. As I continued to change the channels I realized it wasn't just the US but it was EVERY channel.... I remember that feeling of panick wash over me, as I watched with wide eyes,, thinking it must be a movie this can't be real.
Every channel it was on, over and over and over again. No planes flew that day, constant fear we lived in. Today in Canada we are hearing more about the 17 individuals arrested in Ontario for haveing 3 Tons of Ammonium Nitrate, amung other things. No longer can we live in denial, or in the shadow of the US, no longer can we think that it will occur somewhere else, today it's in our own back yard, today we must stand up and take a stand, today we must do something. It's unfortunate that something drastic must happen before ppl realize that it was yesterday that they should have done something.
On another note (it's long I know) I find it interesting Chanks, how we always remember every detail of the big events that take place in our lives, we remember them like they were yesterday, it's etched in our minds so vivid and life like.
I remember a friend of mine Ran Doberts being in Europe for Diana's funeral and actually watching the procession with his own eyes. I've got lots of friends who are just as fine people as Diana was, and I really didn't know her at all, so I felt no need to be sad or mourn. It was an unfortunate thing happening somewhere way far away that I couldn't do anything about and didn't affect me.
Nine eleven was surreal. It was devastating and I knew the US was going to make all the mistakes that they have now since made, but I felt powerless to stop it. It is all so senseless.
With the threat of terrorism looming, I believe we have two options. One is a long-term state of war that has no end in sight. The second is youth exchange programs between the cultures that are in conflict with each other. The only way for this sort of thing to diffuse is if the citizens in both nations refuse to let their government force them to kill people. The only way for them to realize the importance of this is for them to have met and gotten to know people from the other nations. Muslims, Jews, and Christians must learn to respect each other, or we can kiss the world goodbye. They must learn to exist beside each other as friends. Anyone that refuses to acknowledge the validity and beauty of another religion is a threat to the planet. If we really want to fight a war against the true enemy that is causing this war of terrorists versus oppressive capitalist exploitists (both equally harmful, both killing innocent people), we should go around the world and ask people "Are there any religions you think should be removed from the planet?" and shoot anyone that says yes. If you're going to shoot people, at least shoot the ones that are truly the cause of the problems.
deypmiYes, I too remember the death of Lady Diana but I don't feel it left much of an impact on my life. 9-11 will probably stay with me for ever, because, for a short while my safe little world felt threatened. I know the memories of others who do remember the holocaust but can only imagine their terror and grief for it never touched me on a personal level. Don't get me wrong, I am very compassioate for all who suffer. I notice that the deaths that are mentioned have all been violent in some form. Chanks, you are so right, we need to remember.
As Targo says, there is the threat of terrorism here in Canada. Now that does rock my boat. Canada has lost her innocence.
AV
I remember sitting having coffee at A&W and finding out about Diana, I was saddened.... not because I knew her but because I respected who she was and dying before her time seemed so unfair.
9-11 didnt seem real to me at first, i watched the TV, I went to CNN online and watched in horror, I remember just wanting to hug my girls. It became even more real to me when I had friends that went out there for the rescue efforts, some of them lost their lives and the others had their lives changed forever. Since then I have listened with a heavy heart to voices of retaliation and war, it becomes a neverending cycle. I completely agree with Psam and his thoughts on youth exchange programs.....they are the world's future and if they go into it with the same thoughts of war and evening the score there won't be anything left. Learning to love your fellow man regardless of race, religion, and difference of opinions is the only answer I can see worth thinking about.
Removing myself from my soapbox to run off to work.
Hope everyone has a great day
Deb
I can't believe that peace mongering Psam said "at least shoot the ones that are truly the cause of the problems." in his last post.
SHAMEFUL.
Bad Psam
Go to your room.
I agree with sweet babycakes. Puh-sam put the puh-gun puh-down and go to your puh-room.
Freak.
Come on, just shoot 'em all. That way you will know you TRULY got all the ones that cause the problems. Leave no room for mistakes!
hhmmm, I guess when we all 'know' each other
There is no need to be diplomatic....imagine someone stubbling through here, would they be shocked at our lack of diplomacy towards one another, yes some of us hide behind our usernames, but we have been around long enough to know what each other is about and to know the 'game' ...........
I've become somewhat addicted to this darn blog, like a bad accident I have to keep coming back to look at it LOL I'm enjoying the banter and opinions, will be easier when i get to know everyone a little more.
As of January 2006, the U.S. stockpile contains almost 10,000 nuclear warheads. This includes 5,735 active or operational warheads: 5,235 strategic and 500 nonstrategic warheads
When the shooting begins ,Psam,(i.e. When Iran gets ONE nuclear warhead) the Jewnitedstates will be ready.
Child exchange programs sound all good & dandy.....but what parent is going to be crazy enough to let their child go to a nation where they are hated. HATED!! There may be a few open minded people in every nation but they will be a minority. This stuff goes back to the beginning of time. I know it won't be my child sent into harms way. You don't want to send soldiers but you will send kids?
Psam, sorry, but you are a walking contradiction. You want to shoot religious people, send your kids to places you wouldn't send soldiers and when someone who is a prominant person, who uses her position in life to better those who are less fortunate you don't even acknowledge that the world was better off with her doing what she did.... then you become a giant of morality and get up on a pulpit and critisize a country for attempting to avenge a terrorist act.... wow give your head a shake. LOL but you get my point.
p.s. chankslee I do acknowledge Princess Diana's beautiful presence in the world, even after she died and left her legacy as an inspiration to those who share her goals of kindness. I do not wish to be a giant of morality. Who have I criticized?
Speaking of criticism, I've received a lot of it since my last entry here. I'd like to respond to it. Obviously from the number of people who've responded to me, it seems I have a lot of people to thank for hearing me out. And it seems from people's reactions that I have a lot of people to apologize to.
If you believe I want to see anybody shot, you are wrong. I hope we can agree on that. I believe it would be possible to have a world where nobody got shot. Now before you go telling me I'm so naive that it's ridiculous and I'm an idiot that you don't want to listen to anymore, let me just rephrase that and ask you a question. I HOPE it's possible that we can have a world where nobody would have to get shot. Can we agree on that? Is that something you hope for too? If so then read on.
The reason I'd like to apologize for my previous comments is that, as a lot of people pointed out, I was misguided in my approach and ideas. I must confess I'm upset about the realization that terrorism now affects Canadians. I'm also upset that there are Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan endangering the lives of innocent people there. I pray for their safety, both the Canadian soldiers AND the innocent people who may be lined up in the sights of said soldiers. As a consequence of these new events and how upset they make me, I'm a little shook up and my mind is desperately trying to come up with ways to stop these horrifying problems. If I come up with some misguided ideas, I am sorry if they have wasted your time.
The one thing I noticed is that nobody realized the real reason why my ideas would fail. Just imagine for a second that one thousand Iraqi children were flown to the US for a couple of months and each individually taken care of by one American family for that time, then be sent home to Iraq. That's one thousand children that have met American people in person and seen what wonderful people they are. They will each end up telling hundreds of people there. That would mean hundreds of thousand Iraqis will have heard what great people Americans are, and they will not support terrorist activities that try to kill American people. Now, of those thousand Iraqi children that return to Iraq from America, several hundred will either be killed in skirmishes involving American soldiers, or see members of their families being killed in these battles. THOSE people will HATE America, and the people in it, and they will want to support terrorist activities that endanger American lives, and they may end up outnumbering the ones who've had good experiences that are praising American people. That is why my idea would fail.
So let me conclude by apologizing again, and thank you for reading this far. I hope you are also thinking about how the world is going to get out of this mess with minimum tragedies, and I hope your ideas are better than mine.
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