MJ: there is no need to insult me. We can also agree to disagree. <BR>Yes, some 3,000 people (latest estimate of the New York Times) died in the 9/11 attacks. Terrible. <BR>Your reference to Chamberlain (you can't even spell his name) is totally inaccurate. The situation today can not be compared to Europe in the 1930's, when Hitler was preparing a "conventional" war of one country against other countries. This is a struggle of radical criminals who can live and hide everywhere. Bin Laden is probably already in Iraq, Sudan or Syria. <BR>Terrorists need to be stopped. No doubt about it. But only good internal security (better FBI, CIA, INS, police) is going to achieve that. I am convinced that the current war in Afghanistan is creating more terrorists, not less. You have no idea about anti-American feelings in many poorer countries around the world. The ordinary citizens of Afghanistan are suffering just as much as the victims of the WTC. But nobody (well, only few people) in the USA care about them. Nobody will say it in so many words, but an American life is more valuable to Americans than an Afghan life. If the Western world wants to be safe again, this attitude needs to change. No more support for corrupt, non-democratic regimes. (Saudi Arabia) No more support for states which commit acts of state terrorism. (Israel) <BR>But in the mean time, while politicians are debating the options and are only making matters worse so far, please go on with your life. Enjoy every day. Carpe diem. Eat, drink, party and travel. Don't let the terrorists win.

Backtonormal - <BR>Everyone deals with grief and pain in their own personal way. While I think it is wrong to say everyones pain is equal at the same time no person's pain is more legitimate than another's. I lost my sister to a drunk driver in 1983. My mother's stills struggles with this tragedy. I live in NYC, worked across the from the Towers, saw them imploded from the West Side Highway - I didn't lose any friends. I've come to realize over the past month that while some people can pick themselves up and move on for others it's just not as easy.I agree with you - seize the day, live large if you can. But other people need to be given as much time as they want. It's fine line - the sun will rise tomorrow, life does go on - sorry if i'm sounding new agey (personally can't stand the stuff myself) As a gay man I have never had the privelge of feeling safe - I felt insulated here in NYC - but this attack was so different than being gay bashed and things here are different. Maybe if there were terrorists attacks like 9/11 every week maybe we would shrug it off like car accidents - kinda sad though if that was the case. I'm always saddened when I read about thousands of people being drowned during just one monsoon in the Pacific. I'm also saddened when I read about a bride being murdered on her wedding day, in front of her family, by an ex boyfriend. One doesn't get through life without experiencing tremendous pain - if you do, if you haven't really lived.

Oh Mark-well said!

I agree,thanks Mark that was very well put.

you topped a <b>6 year old</b> thread???

Uh - why . . . .

(what did you search for to find this old moldy thing anyway)