What The Holy Hell Is Going On?

[go4hockeyaddict]

Ritt -

Thank you and God Bless You! You've been in my thoughts quite a bit this week. I don't know anyone who even lives in NY so it was the people from the board that my thoughts were with. Even though I don't really know you, I have read your posts and had some good chuckles. Your accounts on Tuesday just chilled me and I was worried when you had to sign off. Even today at the church service I went to, you were on my mind. It was nice to come home and hear that you are ok, well as ok as you can be right now.

Henry -

Truer words were never spoken...For this stay at home mom/hockey fan, this board is a lifeline. I feel like there are many friends out there that I have just not met yet. Hockey is our common interest, but the community (insert foghorn here) and fellowship that I have seen here this week will stay with me always. As Handy said, it is comforting to come here and hang.
Here in MN some of us Hockey lovers actually met for a beer on Wednesday night and it was really fun. It would be awesome to be able to do it with everyone on the board.

Take care - better days are ahead!

God Bless America and God Bless You All!

[Handyman]

someone sent me this, so I felt like posting it...

I am the flag of the United States of America. My name is Old Glory. I fly atop the world's tallest buildings. I stand watch in America's halls of justice. I fly majestically over institutions of learning. I stand guard with power in the world. Look up and see me. I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice. I stand for freedom. I am confident. I am arrogant. I am proud. When I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer. I bow to no one! I am recognized all over the world. I am worshipped - I am saluted. I am loved - I am revered. I am respected -- and I am feared. I have fought in every battle of every war for more then 200 years. I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox. I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy, Guam. Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me, I was there. I led my troops, I was dirty, battleworn and tired, but my soldiers cheered me And I was proud. I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free. It does not hurt, for I am invincible. I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my country.> And when it's by those whom I've served in battle -- it hurts. But I shall overcome -- for I am strong. I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon. I have borne silent witness to all of America's finest hours. But my finest hours are yet to come. When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield, When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier, Or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter, I am proud. MY NAME IS OLD GLORY LONG MAY I WAVE. DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN LONG MAY I WAVE

Very inspiring huh?

[Scott Murphy]

Here's something I swore to, and which every soldier is required to know. In case you really want to know the caliber of most people who swear to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America".

Code of Conduct
(1) I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
(2) I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command I will never surrender my men while they still have the means to resist.
(3) If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
(4) If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades.
(5) When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am bound to give only name, rank, service number, and date of birth.
(6) I will never forget that I am an American fighting man, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

[omahasioux1]

Civilians can not get the medal of honor.

[vicb]

Amen Leonard:

By Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald

It's my job to have something to say. They pay me to provide words that
help make sense of that which troubles the American soul. But in this moment
of airless shock when hot tears sting disbelieving eyes, the only thing I
can find to say, the only words that seem to fit, must be addressed to the
unknown author of this suffering. You monster. You beast. You unspeakable
bastard. What lesson did you hope to teach us by your coward's attack on our
World Trade Center, our Pentagon, us? What was it you hoped we would learn?
Whatever it was, please know that you failed.

Did you want us to respect your cause? You just ****ed your cause.
Did you want to make us fear? You just steeled our resolve.
Did you want to tear us apart? You just brought us together.

Let me tell you about my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome family, a
family rent by racial, social, political and class division, but a family
nonetheless. We're frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotional
energy on pop cultural minutiae -- a singer's revealing dress, a ball team's
misfortune, a cartoon mouse. We're wealthy, too, spoiled by the ready
availability of trinkets and material goods, and maybe because of that, we
walk through life with a certain sense of blithe entitlement. We are
fundamentally decent, though -- peace-loving and compassionate. We struggle
to know the right thing and to do it. And we are, the overwhelming majority
of us, people of faith, believers in a just and loving God. Some people --
you, perhaps -- think that any or all of this makes us weak. You're
mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong in ways that cannot be
measured by arsenals.

IN PAIN

Yes, we're in pain now. We are in mourning and we are in shock. We're
still grappling with the unreality of the awful thing you did, still working
to make ourselves understand that this isn't a special effect from some
Hollywood blockbuster, isn't the plot development from a Tom Clancy novel.
Both in terms of the awful scope of their ambition and the probable final
death toll, your attacks are likely to go down as the worst acts of
terrorism in the history of the United States and, probably, the history of
the world. You've bloodied us as we have never been bloodied before.But
there's a gulf of difference between making us bloody and making us fall.
This is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the last time
anyone hit us this hard, the last time anyone brought us such abrupt and
monumental pain. When roused, we are righteous in our outrage, terrible in
our force. When provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any
suffering, pay any cost, go to any length, in the pursuit of justice. I tell
you this without fear of contradiction. I know my people, as you, I think,
do not. What I know reassures me. It also causes me to tremble with dread of
the future. In the days to come, there will be recrimination and accusation,
fingers pointing to determine whose failure allowed this to happenand what
can be done to prevent it from happening again. There will be heightened
security, misguided talk of revoking basic freedoms. We'll go forward from
this moment sobered, chastened, sad. But determined, too. Unimaginably
determined.

THE STEEL IN US

You see, the steel in us is not always readily apparent. That aspect of
our character is seldom understood by people who don't know us well. On this
day, the family's bickering is put on hold. As Americans we will weep, as
Americans we will mourn, and as Americans, we will rise in defense of all
that we cherish. So I ask again: What was it you hoped to teach us? It
occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to know the depths of your
hatred. If that's the case, consider the message received. And take this
message in exchange: You don't know my people. You don't know what we're
capable of. You don't know what you just started.

But you're about to learn.

[Randy May]

Originally posted by Scott Murphy
Here's something I swore to, and which every soldier is required to know. In case you really want to know the caliber of most people who swear to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America".



So what your saying is...the easiest thing about being a soldier is what you have to verbally agree to? No offense but that list is pretty much nothing more/less than I would expect/naturally simulate as a civilian under attack in my own country as did at least a few people on the Penn jet.

Don't get me wrong...training to be a soldier in the US Military is one of the biggest resposabilities a human being can partake in...but the basic fundamental rules laid out are a piece of cake to anyone with any loyalty to The United States of America. It's like signing a check at the grocery store.

[morgan]

Speaking of the Congressional Medal of Honor, most people don't know that there was to be held the Congressional Medal of Honor convention in Boston this weekend. Over 100 of the 150 living CMH winners were to be in Boston attending. Several cousins and I were to accompany one of my uncles, who had a table for the event, at the Sheraton this (Friday) evening.

Sadly, because of travel plans, it has been postponed for the immediate future.

Check out CMH website (http://www.cmohs.org) for more information and some very inspirational stories about these heroes.

[Scott Murphy]

Originally posted by Randy May
It's like signing a check at the grocery store.

If you think it's so ******** easy to ascribe to the Code and live it on a daily basis, or swear to defend this country, I would suggest that instead of "signing a check at a grocery store" you sign your "John Hancock" to a set of enlistment papers and see how god**** it "easy" is, especially if somebody is trying to kill you.

"Duty, Honor and Country" may sound like quaint platitudes to those who have never sworn an oath, and worn the uniform, but they mean a hell of a lot to those who would put their *****es on the line to defend this country.

Our freedom was bought with the blood and sweat of courageous men and women who understood the meaning of sacrifice and devotion to their country, and don't you ever ******** forget it "civilian."

[Ranger]

Originally posted by Randy May
So what your saying is...the easiest thing about being a soldier is what you have to verbally agree to?

....the basic fundamental rules laid out are a piece of cake to anyone with any loyalty to The United States of America. It's like signing a check at the grocery store.

Living by the code is no easy task...maybe you should ask John McCain that question, or any other POW who has experienced torture by the hands of their enemy. I recommend you watch the documentary "Return With Honor" before making such shallow comments.

I'm floored you honestly believe it's as simple as "signing a check at the grocery store." Please tell me I'm reading this incorrectly. If not, this sadly defines the man that you must be.

RLTW!

[Randy May]

Originally posted by Scott Murphy


If you think it's so ******** easy to ascribe to the Code and live it on a daily basis, or swear to defend this country, I would suggest that instead of "signing a check at a grocery store" you sign your "John Hancock" to a set of enlistment papers and see how god**** it "easy" is, especially if somebody is trying to kill you.

"Duty, Honor and Country" may sound like quaint platitudes to those who have never sworn an oath, and worn the uniform, but they mean a hell of a lot to those who would put their *****es on the line to defend this country.

Our freedom was bought with the blood and sweat of courageous men and women who understood the meaning of sacrifice and devotion to their country, and don't you ever ******** forget it "civilian."

You make me proud to be an American you hot-headed warmonger (affection here) you! Hey man I would have been a Marine just like my old man if not for a congenital defect of L5/S1. But I have earned no such recognition and honor through no fault of my own. Believe me I would have.

There is nothing "quaint" about "duty, honor, and country" and while your misplaced anger borders on and blows past the edge of unreasonability, at least I know it comes from the heart of a fighting man in one way or another. "duty, honor and country" however IS EASY TO ME...a mere rule that I try to live my life by despite my birth defect. Trust me...if someone tries to hijack my flight...I will pour my blood all over those slimy maggots while someone else gains control of the situation. Despite my defect I have had corrective surgery whhich to this day allows me to lift a 200lb man over my head and run with him (did this recently) and a few other things after he's up there. I can damage a great deal of important nerves with one blow and know a pretty mean trick that can allow a guy to see see his feet while his skull remains parallel with the floor he is standing on. Learned that from a Chicago cop and almost miused it on a good friend in a bar just messing around once.

Again, I'm not a tough guy normally at all...regular 6'2" 210lb *****cat. I quit college football because I didn't have that killer instinct when it comes to sports (+ my defect) but when it comes to S H I T like Tuesday September 11th, 2001, fuggetabowtit.

Try to chill a little bit, Murphy...have a Guiness and flip on some old U2 CD's or something. Us Irish have to watch our tempers...no? For cryin' out lowd...we ARE on the same side here!

[Randy May]

Originally posted by Ranger


Living by the code is no easy task...maybe you should ask John McCain that question, or any other POW who has experienced torture by the hands of their enemy. I recommend you watch the documentary "Return With Honor" before making such shallow comments.

I'm floored you honestly believe it's as simple as "signing a check at the grocery store." Please tell me I'm reading this incorrectly. If not, this sadly defines the man that you must be.

RLTW!

You seriously underestimate me. I would trade places with any of those in such tough situations for the honor of my country. I'm not the smartest guy in the world (140ish IQ) and am an even worse athlete, but I have a deep seeded love for my country that I regret EVERY SINGLE FREAKING DAY OF MY LIFE is wasted on selling retail collectibles. Believe me or not...I really don't give a ****. I don't know how you could possibly call my bluff but you are more than welcome to try.

[Todd Patten]

This email from a friend of mine in Israel...

<i>I stand by your side in this most hard time, I know you're powerful enough a nation to overcome this crisis and bring up the torch of freedom to the world, torch that hopefully will scorch and diminish all darkness, and make a pure, clean, world arise from the ruins of the old world.

Peace,
Yahav</i>

[Bobo]

Originally posted by Greyeagle
Bobo - What do you think the timing will be for a retalitory strike of somesort. My gut tells me this weekend will be interesting, but iI'd be curious to hear your opinion as you were a professional
:cool: in this field. Thanks.


Greyeagle,

I can't pretend to know what's going to happen here. Every situation is different, and this one is especially unusual, going after not a country but a group of people in a country, or more likely, countries.

If it were a country we were after, I think we'd already be talking about when to stop, and start the war crimes trials. But rather than just lashing out half-*****edly, I think the gov't is trying to make sure they do this right, and completely, without compromising our own values.

I do know that militarily this is very simple now, it's all about targets. Nothing more, nothing less. Indentifying them, acquiring them, destroying them. It's just a matter of sorting through the intelligence, and dealing with the logistics of putting the right people in the right place with the right equipment. I think as soon as they have a target it'll be about 5 minutes before they put something on it. I'd be surprised if Monday comes and nothing has happened, but it took weeks to kick off the Gulf War so...as long as it's done right and done completely.

(I do have a sneaking suspicion that Sudan is in this heavily. Regardless, someone is in for a world of hurt, they are going to regret the day they kicked this off.)

[Randy May]

Question:

What does anyone here know about the chemical/biological ability of bin Laden? I have heard speculation with some evidence that he may have in his possession some pretty nasty stuff. What are the FACTS if any???

[winger]

I don't know how to even begin.

I have been posting on this board for a couple of years. I keep to myself and never really cause any troble. Mostly stay with what I know and don't mention anything bad that I feel about certain teams because it will get me in troble.
But I have gotten to know some of you more than you may know me. The "superfan's" of amherst know who i am, but to the rest I just melt away in the crowd.

I'm still in shock about most of this stuff. I woke about at 10 tuesday morning brushed my teeth and my mom began to tell me the horrible news. I couldn't believe it just seemed so absurd. But it most certainly has. it's crazy really.

Two things that have stood out in the past couple of hours. I was listening to oppie and anthony and they were talking to some people from philly, about a project called brotherly love, they were gathering goods for the rescue workers. A bunch of arab/muslim guys pulled up in a large truck, dressed in their traditional clothing and opened the back. It was filled with supplies for the relif effort. So we need to remeber not a Arab/Muslim people are bad, just like all white,green and blue people are good. The unfotunate part is someone reuined the scene by poping one of them in the nose.......

Also the last post from Ritt, i have gotten to reconzie your name and when i saw you were near the mess i was concerned. And they story you had to tell has made me feel a little better about the whole thing. thanks.

See i orignaly was walking around in fear....but that is what they want. We never realize how lucky we are until those freedoms are tested. I have always been one to stand perfectly still as the banner is played at hockey games.....and one year when i marched drum corps our show revloved around the banner and music from this countries roots......and that get's me pumped. Just as much as being in the presence of where the miricale on ice occured.

I am no longer scared....maybe because i know an former MDC rink with a 25 year old zamboni is not very high on a list of places to attack. And im lucky I don't know anyone lost in the WTC or the pentagon.

IT doesn't mean what has happened is not shocking......there are 220 stories of rubble on the floor of manhattan now......that is just over welming, It is all really crazy. Right now I don't hate the yankees, I don't hate the rangers. I just want things to be normal again. i want to feel safe.

I know normal won't happen, i know there are good chances this country is going to go to war. And I don't know what to think of it.

That said, thanks for your time......my prayers to those of you who lost someone or who is still waiting to hear from someone.


Karen A Winger

[Da Big Bad Cow]

if this has been posted, my apologies...just thought it was a good article on the contributions of many sports figures, as posted on ESPN

http://espn.go.com/gen/news/2001/0914/1251544.html

i also heard that godsmack will continue its tour without any cancellations, however they will donate all merchandise sales from the rest of their tour to the relief efforts in NY...im sure other bands may make similar efforts as well.

[Da Big Bad Cow]

not sure if this has been posted either, but its been circulating via e-mail...ill post the text of it here.....maybe some of the numbnuts out there like falwell could learn a thing or two from it......

This, from a Canadian newspaper, is worth sharing. America: The Good Neighbor. Widespread but only partial news coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator. What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional Record:

"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States. When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it. When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped. The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars! into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans. I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon -! not once, but several times and safely home again. You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here. When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke. I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced
to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake. Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is ****ed tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are
gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not oneof those."


Stand proud, America!

[Todd Patten]

Cow -- this has been addressed earlier in the thread. While it is a beautiful and moving piece, it is actually text from a speech made by Sinclair on a Canadian radio show back in the 70's.

If ever the words ring true though, it is now.

[Section96]

It's 10:06 CST. I'm watching C-Span, and the House vote on military action is taking place. The Senate has already passed it's version 98 - 0. There is 1 Democrat who has voted against this resolution. All others, so far, have voted YEA. I want to know who this idiot is that voted NO, and his flimsy excuse of a reason for doing so.

[BCeagle]

Originally posted by Randy May
Question:

What does anyone here know about the chemical/biological ability of bin Laden? I have heard speculation with some evidence that he may have in his possession some pretty nasty stuff. What are the FACTS if any???

I'm not sure of his capabilty to produce it, but he sure has enough money to buy these weopons from those willing to sell it. Countries like Russia and Iraq certainly may sell biological weopons in secret. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union the whereabouts of all nuclear weopons have not been accounted for. A show on Frontline indicated that the Russians have biological weopons and continued to develop them even after the fall of communism even though they deny it. These are easier in terms of cost to develop and easier to hide. A Russian defector who worked in the biological development of these weopons revealed what he knew. He knew the danger of these weopons and felt guilt enough to defect to reveal what the Russians have that could be catastrophic if these weopons were ever unleashed.

Declaring war and putting the country on a war time footing involves a lot of sacrifice and resolve. A war time economy may provide jobs but the cost would be monumental. You're talking about re-instituting the draft to have enough men and women in the arm forces for a protracted war. After bombing and missle strikes, you need an army big enough to strike in more than one place and one big enough to occupy territory once you win a battle or a war. Rooting out terrorists like these means occupying countries like Iraq and Afghanistan for a long time once you win the war. Iraq is doable but the terrain in Afghanistan is much more difficult to deal with. The logistics would be a nightmare since Afghanistan is a landlocked country. The Russians had a terrible time in the mountains trying to eradicate them and open to constant ambushes. That was their Viet Nam. We would have to be able to tolerate high casualties and the headaches of being an occupation force. I suppose if you capture Iraq, you can take their oil to make them pay for the war and the price for sponsoring terrorism.