Re: It All Comes Home ...

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: : Well said Rich.  

: : My flag has been at half mast since the first tower came down.  It will stay there until the first strike occurs then will go to full mast for the duration - however long, however many years it takes, to make organized terrorism a thing of the past.

: : On Friday at noon Betty and I went to Catholic mass.  I am not much for organized religion and going to church.  I do my praying quietly in my heart and at home usually, in my own way. But this time there was no question that church was where my prayers could best be made in the company of my fellow citizens. I didnt go merely because President Bush asked us to: I went to pray for the victims, the families, the rescue workers, the military, my sons, and our country.  

: : This is a small town here. 
: : We got there about 15 minutes early and the church was half filled already.  As noon came up on the clock, it had filled to capacity and folks were jammed in the doorway and out into the street.  The bell started tolling to call to worship.  That bell though it rang at its usual cadence, sounded mournful to me.

: : When the service started, that church was packed full with every seat taken - young and old, families, men and women in suits dressed for work, kids released from school early in jeans and sweatshirts, old folks, young folks.....and all wearing some sort of red, white and blue.  And ALL somber.  Many cried periodically through the service.  I know I did.  Visions of those buildings coming down and the innocent folks killed kept running through our heads.  Along with those images, came images of the families and loved ones left behind and their pain and shock.  And of course, we weeped for our nation.  The end of the mass was the traditional prayer for the dead.  I cried again.

: : The outpouring of support from around the world is a first ever occurrence in MY lifetime at least.  The Queen cries in public. Something she has NEVER done.  The Queen ALWAYS shows a poker face to the world in public. The playing of the Star Spangled Banner and the Battle Hymn of the Republic in countries mourning with us. A world weeps with us and virtually instantly announces it was an attack on them also.

: : But the most searing image that stays in MY mind is the image of the Pope praying for us.  He is kneeling with this hands folded in prayer atop the rail in front of him.  And he is overcome.  His right hand goes to cover his face and his body shakes with his weeping uncontrollably.  The Vicar of Christ mourning deeply for us and the world.  I could picture THE Christ in his stead doing the same thing in that place and in that way.

: : I may not be here much, but Rich - Elaine - all.  Past grievances are forgiven and forgotten.  They have become SO trivial in context that I would be a base person indeed to place them above the pure and simple fact of this time in our history and this realization that we are ALL suffering and stand together for what must come.  We need our mutual support and strength for the coming days and the coming sorrows.  

: : God Bless us all, and God Bless America and the forming coalition.

: : Bill R

: Bill,

: I was writing a long reply to this post earlier but I couldn't finish it. There is so much to say & I still can't quite write them, speak them. For now, I thank you for writing words that have moved me to tears ... again. I hope to post another day, as I have so much I'd like to express. For now, even in the darkness of inhumanity, perhaps especially in the face of inhumanity, humanity has risen to great heights. Universal brotherhood in its purest sense, & a deep, sincere understanding of community is rising & blooming in the ashes that were the World Trade Center - and in the ashes that ARE now mingled and nourished with the blood of martyrs for freedom, civilization, & humanity. 

: I am grieved, but I am also very proud.

: Thank you, my fellow New Yorkers. The light you've held up is bright & inspiring.
: Thank you, NYFD & NYPD & NYEMT & all who've answered the call. You are domestic warriors.
: Thank you, all Americans. Your hearts responded immediately and purely with a common bond we've not shared in this country since WWII.
: Thank you, people of the world, from Europe to Asia to Africa to Australia to South America to North America. The shared tears & desire for peace is what we were ALWAYS called to.

: E


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