Proud to be a New Yorker

Subject: Proud to be a New Yorker
From: Sigma Alpha Rho
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 09:06 AM

Because of the way that my city has come together in unity since we were attacked by mass murdering terrorists on September 11, I have been especially proud to be a New Yorker and an American.

I was also proud yesterday when Mayor Guilliani, Governor Pataki and Mayor-elect Bloomberg stood in solidarity with the people of Israel against the mass murdering terrorists who have been attacking them.

Subject: RE: Proud to be a New Yorker
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 10:41 AM

New York? You mean Hymietown.

Rudy, George and Mike are all in the pockets of rich zionists.

Subject: RE: Proud to be a New Yorker
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 12:35 PM

I lived in New York for four years in the early 60's, and while I don't consider myself a New Yorker, I'm proud of PEOPLE who came together, whether they are New Yorkers, or a volunteer from Wichita, Kansas. Isn't that what one of New York's famous sons hoped for? To Come Together.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Proud to be a New Yorker
From: Mrrzy
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 01:30 PM

Who's coming together on behalf of the palestinians also being slaughtered by mass murdering terrorists as well?

Subject: RE: Proud to be a New Yorker
From: GUEST,hollowfox, at a different computer
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 01:45 PM

Mrzy, a Jordanian acquaintance told me that two hundred Jordanians died in those crashes as well. They were Palestinians killed by terrorists, same as the Hatians, Guatemalans, Irish, and USA citizens.

Subject: RE: Proud to be a New Yorker
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 01:57 PM

Hmmm. Sounds like a lot of propaganda to me, from both sides. Most of the time, the people on both sides of a disagreement are right....and wrong. When people use words like "slaughter" and "mass-murdering terrorists," they'll never be able to resolve their differences.
I vote for peace.
-Joe Offer-

---

Yeah, I thought of deleting the "Hymietown" message from our obnoxious anonymous guest, but I won't. We're all adults here, and we should be able to handle it. While we're quite aware that there is hatred in our midst, maybe it's a good idea if we have a few reminders that not all is right with this world.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Proud to be a New Yorker
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 03:10 PM

Thanks, Joe. I choose to take "Hymietown" as a compliment. New York survives and thrives because of our ability to welcome all races and creeds. We have our share of racists, bigots, and apparently terrorists as well. These are more than compensated for by the millions of people nationwide and worldwide who came to our aid after September 11. All of the support that I know of came for survivors and victims without strings attached -if there was a donation that specified "Not for Jews", "Not for Blacks", or "Not for Arabs", I am not aware of it.

Subject: RE: Proud to be a New Yorker
From: Sigma Alpha Rho
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 04:29 PM

Attention Joe Offer,

The September 11 terrorists murdered approximately 4,000 innocent people in New York and Washington.

The Hamas suicide bombers have murdered hundreds of innocent Israelis, mostly teenagers at pizza joints and town squares.

I do not understand how anyone would not consider these terrorists to be mass murderers.

When Mayor Guilliani, Governor Pataki and Mayor-elect Bloomberg (and President Bush, who I did not vote for) call these terrorists "mass murderers," they certainly speak for me.

Subject: RE: Proud to be a New Yorker
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 04:39 PM

What you say is absolutely correct, SAR. The terrorism is a horrible thing, and we have every right to want to seek vengeance. However, if we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by our craving for vengeance, the cycle of terrorism and death will continue. Somebody has to take a strong step toward peace, or we will never have it.
The terrorists are all dead. They crashed in flames, along with the airliners. Most probably, Oasma bin Laden is the central instigator in the tragedy of September 11, but he is not the only one responsible. What he did was evil, but does that mean that he is purely evil, that there is no validity at all to the cause he represents? We've demonized Bin Laden and blame him for everything. Bin Laden demonizes the U.S. and Israel, and puts all the blame on us. If we can demonize our enemy, we can conveniently forget that he is a fellow human, with both good and bad traits. If our enemy is a demon, we feel vindicated only by his death.
So, both sides are demons. Both are equally evil in the eyes of the other. If we continue this cycle, we can justify continuing the violence endlessly. Isn't there some way we can resolve our differences without more killing?
I vote for peace.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Proud to be a New Yorker
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 04:51 PM

Like Sinsull, I'd consider the "Hymietown" thing a compliment. Made me think of what the great stand-up philosopher, Leonard A. Schneider said once:

If you live in New York or any other big city, you are Jewish. It doesn't matter even if you're Catholic; if you live in New York, you're Jewish. If you live in Butte, Montana, you're going to be goyish even if you're Jewish.
-----Lenny Bruce

Spaw

Subject: RE: Proud to be a New Yorker
From: Susan from California
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 09:10 PM

My father-in-law always says that I'm from NY (I was born in California, but from age 3-17 I lived in a NYC suburb) It used to bug me but not anymore. I have a friend from high school who was on the 102nd floor, and he didn't have a chance. What I am proud of is that much of the time in this country color, race, and ethnicity don't matter as much as they used to. Do we still have a long way to go? Heck yes. Can we do better? You bet. But we have come a long way in my lifetime, may we come even farther in the lives of our children. May we come a lot farther during the lifetimes of my friends fatherless little ones.