I've been watching the debate about this unfold, and I've remained silent on
this forum. I've corresponded with some listmembers in other venues about
my close call yesterday - my father-in-law is a standby pilot for United
flight 93. Until after 10AM yesterday, I had no real idea where he was.
Thank all the gods, he's fine - stuck in Chicago, but physically OK.
In another community I'm a member of, I've read even more extreme reactions
on either side than I've seen here. One member suggested genocide against
muslims, another gloated about his happiness at the attacks. At work, I've
listened to people I've known for years tell me they want the "sand ni**ers"
dead. One coworker that happens to be from Jordan is scared sh*tless - he's
afraid some good old boy is going to take his anger out on him.
I've heard from another coworker that this is all because Clinton bombed bin
Laden's training camps, and yet another that it's all part of the "New World
Order" plot to take away our civil liberties.
All I know for sure right now is that I'm damn happy I can come home and
hold my children, that my father in law isn't dead, and, oddly enough, that
I'm a member of the human race. I think we're seeing us at our best right
now - not the horrific attacks, but the uniting to overcome this.
Like all of you, the horror of this attack leaves me with a void in my chest
and a horrible, bloody rage welling up to fill it.
Adam C. Lipscomb
