September 1997

[Kefla]

An anniversary is coming up this month. (Thanks to Agent Pat for the heads-up) If you get a chance, pop in a video of The Visitor or catch the marathon on the Sci Fi Channel. <BR> <BR>It takes approximately 60 seconds to get all caught up in the mood of this show once again. How'd they do that?

[Kefla (Kefla)]

This is my first post on a BBS since 9/10/01. I had nearly forgotten about The Visitor marathon airing on the Sci Fi Channel tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 14. Probably, most of us have other things on our minds right now. I'll be working but will videotape the marathon. You never know when the "feel-good" optimism of this show might come in handy. ;-) <BR> <BR>Here's my non-violent solution to terrorism, in case President Bush is browsing the BBS tonight. Our tech industry is in a slump and our war on drugs is escalating. Instead of bombing countries that harbor terrorists, lets have a massive airlift of Gameboys and recreational drugs seized by authorities. Instead of contributing to Red Cross, we all buy computer game soft and hardware to donate to the cause. We can drop them from planes, deliver them to fanatical youths in much the same way as we dropped food for the Kurds in northern Iraq. This should mellow these would-be suicide assasins. Before long, they'll be missing cell meetings because they just wanna get to the next level of their game. Instead of increasing their hatred by bombing them, we develop some complacency and share our culture at the same time. <BR> <BR>;-)

[In the beginning, there was... (F_U_N_G_U_S)]

Very... interesting... <BR> <BR>I'm inclined to agree with you however, on the subtle statement about our own complacency. <BR> <BR>The drugs though, well... it would only be more fuel for their "Satanist USA trying to control the world!" sentiments.

[Sheri Gordon (Sheri)]

Very interestingly (and aptly) put, Kefla. <BR> <BR>Complacency is a dangerous thing. Thankfully, America has been given two cold slaps in the face out of theirs. Let's hope we never fall into it again.

[Kefla (Kefla)]

Sorry, guys. I must have been in some strange frame of mind last night. Never did entirely get this "humor" thing down. <IMG SRC="http://www.electric-ent.com/bbs/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)">

[Kefla (Kefla)]

To the extent that we react with anger and violence, IMO, the more we increase this negative energy in the world. I know there are not simple solutions, but I do hope some good minds who are in a position to influence policy will think outside the box a little bit. Finding the source of the pain that led to this attack and addressing that whole-heartedly . . . . <BR> <BR>We're all connected, you know. Sometimes much to our discomfort.

[JustinHill]

I servered in the Army for 8 years. Let me assure you that the United States did not 'Thankfully' need a cold slap in the face to suddenly understand the threat of terrorism. There are many steps that we can take now with the full support of our government, and its people, to try to limit the ability of future tragedies like this. However, as long as those who hate and despise the ideals that make this Nation great, continue to pursue their terrible acts with complete and utter abandon for the value of innocent human lives, the threat will remain. It is, however, a testimate to the people of this country that we are able to take a horrendous act like this and draw together with one resolve and an eye to the future of strengthening our great country and the safety of those that live in it. This, of course, being balanced with preserving the individual rights of our citizens that were established by the Bill of Rights. <BR> <BR>The following story written in 1973 by a Canadian jounalist is as valid today as it was then. <BR> <BR>> > America: The Good Neighbor. <BR> <BR>> > 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: <BR> <BR>> > “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. <BR> <BR>> > 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. <BR> <BR>> > 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. <BR> <BR>> > 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? <BR> <BR>> > 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. <BR> <BR>> > 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. <BR> <BR>> > 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. <BR> <BR>> > 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. <BR> <BR>> > Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I’m one > > Canadian who is damned 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 one of those.” <BR> <BR>> > Stand proud, America! Wear it proudly!! <BR> <BR>I would hope that each of you would send this to as > > many people as you can and emphasize that they > > should send it to as many of their friends until > > this letter is sent to every person on the web. I am > > just a single American that has read this, TRIBUTE TO > > THE UNITED STATES <BR>This is the story behind that article, which was broadcast originally after the Viet Nam War. It's very appropriate now as well: <BR>CRO <BR> <BR>News Broadcasting - "Unique Stories" <BR>"The Americans" - by Gordon Sinclair <BR>On June 5, 1973, Gordon Sinclair sat up in bed in Toronto and turned on his TV set. The United States <BR>had just pulled out of the Vietnamese War which had ended in a stalemate - a war fought daily on TV, <BR>over the radio and in the press. The aftermath of that war resulted in a world-wide sell-off of American <BR>investments, prices tumbled, the United States economy was in trouble. The war had also divided the <BR>American people, and at home and abroad it seemed everyone was lambasting the United States. <BR>He turned on his radio, twisted the dial and turned it off. He picked up the morning paper. In print, he saw <BR>in headlines what he had found on TV and radio - the Americans were taking a verbal beating from <BR>nations around the world. Disgusted with what he saw and heard, he was outraged! <BR>At 10:30, on his arrival at CFRB to prepare his two pre-noon broadcasts, he strode into his office and <BR>"dashed-off" two pages in 20 minutes for LET'S BE PERSONAL at 11:45 am, and then turned to writing <BR>his 11:50 newscast that was to follow. At 12:01 pm, the script for LET'S BE PERSONAL was dropped <BR>on the desk of his secretary who scanned the pages for a suitable heading and then wrote "Americans"" <BR>across the top and filed it away. The phones were already ringing. <BR>Gordon Sinclair could not have written a book that could have had a greater impact in the world than his <BR>two-page script for THE AMERICANS. A book should have been written on the events that followed. But, <BR>no one at CFRB, including Sinclair himself, could have envisioned the reaction of the people of the <BR>United States - from presidents - state governors - Congress - the Senate - all media including TV, <BR>radio, newspapers, magazines - and from the "ordinary" American on the street. Nor, could have the <BR>Canadian government - stunned by the response to what has come to be regarded as one of Canada's <BR>greatest public relations feats in the history of our relations with the United States of America. <BR>But, how did Sinclair's tribute to Americans reach them? It had been swept across the United States at <BR>the speed of a prairie fire by American radio stations - first, a station in Buffalo called and asked to be <BR>fed a tape copy of the broadcast with permission to use - both freely given. Nearby American stations <BR>obtained copies from Buffalo or called direct. By the time it reached the Washington, DC area, a station <BR>had superimposed Sinc's broadcast over an instrumental version of BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED <BR>WATER, and was repeating it at fixed times several times-a-day. <BR>Congressmen and Senators heard it. It was read several times into the Congressional Record. <BR>Assuming that it was on a phono (33 1/3 rpm), Americans started a search for a copy. CFRB was <BR>contacted. To satisfy the demand, CFRB started to make arrangements with AVCO, an American <BR>record company, to manufacture and distribute it as a "single". <BR>As they were finalizing a contract that would see all royalties which would normally be due Gordon <BR>Sinclair be paid (at his request) to the American Red Cross. Word was received that an unauthorized <BR>record, using Sinclair's script but read by another broadcaster, was already flooding the US market. <BR>(Subsequently, on learning that this broadcaster had agreed to turn over his royalties to the Red Cross, <BR>no legal action was taken). <BR>Sinclair's recording of his own work (to which Avco had added a stirring rendition of THE BATTLE <BR>HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC) did finally reach record stores, and sold hundreds of thousands of copies, <BR>but the potential numbers were depressed by the sale of the infringing record. Other record producers <BR>and performers (including Tex Ritter) obtained legal permission to make their own versions. In Ritter's <BR>case, because of the first-person style of the script, Tex preceded his performance with a proper credit <BR>to Sinclair as the author. The American Red Cross received millions of dollars in royalties, and Gordon <BR>Sinclair was present at a special ceremony acknowledging his donation. <BR>Advertisers using print media contacted CFRB for permission to publish the text in a non-commercial <BR>manner; industrial plants asked for the right to print the script in leaflet form to handout to their <BR>employees. <BR>Gordon Sinclair received invitations to attend and be honoured at many functions in the United States <BR>which, by number and due to family health problems at the time, he had to decline. However, CFRB <BR>newscaster Charles Doering, was flown to Washington to give a public reading of THE AMERICANS to <BR>the 28th National Convention of the United States Air Force Association, held September 18, 1974 at <BR>the Sheraton Park Hotel. His presentation was performed with the on-stage backing of the U.S. Air <BR>Force Concert Band, joined by the 100-voice Singing Sergeants in a special arrangement of The Battle <BR>Hymn of the Republic. <BR>8 years after the first broadcast of THE AMERICANS, U.S. President Ronald Reagan made his first <BR>official visit to Canada. At the welcoming ceremonies on Parliament Hill, the new President praised "the <BR>Canadian journalist who wrote that (tribute)" to the United States when it needed a friend. Prime Minister <BR>Pierre Trudeau had Sinclair flown to Ottawa to be his guest at the reception that evening. <BR>Sinc had a long and pleasant conversation with Mr. Reagan. The President told him that he had a copy <BR>of the record of THE AMERICANS at his California ranch home when he was governor of the state, and <BR>played it from time to time when things looked gloomy. <BR>On the evening of May 15th, 1984, following a regular day's broadcasting, Gordon Sinclair suffered a <BR>heart attack. He died on May 17th. As the word of his illness spread throughout the United States, calls <BR>inquiring about his condition had been received from as far away as Texas. The editorial in the Sarasota <BR>Herald-Tribune of May 28th was typical of the reaction of the United States news media - A GOOD <BR>FRIEND PASSES ON. <BR>U.S. President Ronald Reagan: "I know I speak for all Americans in saying the radio editorial Gordon <BR>wrote in 1973 praising the accomplishments of the United States was a wonderful inspiration. It was not <BR>only critics abroad who forgot this nation's many great achievements, but even critics here at home. <BR>Gordon Sinclair reminded us to take pride in our nation's fundamental values." <BR>Former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau: "Gordon Sinclair's death ends one of the longest and most <BR>remarkable careers in Canadian Journalism. His wit, irreverence, bluntness and off-beat views have <BR>been part of the media landscape for so long that many Canadians had come to believe he would <BR>always be there." <BR>Following a private family service, two thousand people from all walks of life filled Nathan Phillips Square <BR>in front of Toronto's City Hall for a public service of remembrance organized by Mayor Art Eggleton. <BR>Dignitaries joining him on the platform were Ontario Lieutenant-Governor, John Black Aird; the Premier <BR>of Ontario, William Davis; and Metro Chairman Paul Godfrey. Tens of thousands more joined them <BR>through CFRB's live broadcast of the service which began symbolically at 11:45 - the regular time of <BR>Sinc's daily broadcast of LET'S BE PERSONAL. <BR>As Ontario Premier William Davis said of him "The name GORDON SINCLAIR could become the <BR>classic definition of a full life."

[Sheri Gordon (Sheri)]

Perhaps you took my post the wrong way, Justin. I didn't mean it the way it sounds in your post. <BR> <BR>I was referring moreso to the fact that terrorism is something that has been going on for HOW long all around the world, yet it took a strike at home before we started to take it more seriously. We, being the citizens. Only now do we realize the full extent of the horrors of it, because we have seen it with our own eyes here at home now....the things that our fellow brethren all around the world have had to endure on a daily basis. Only now do we reach out to each other in sympathy and support. I only hope that this awakening keeps going, worldwide, and we never forget what it is folk around the world face, and do something about it. May we *always* remember those people in our prayers. <BR> <BR>THAT is the wakeup call I was referring to. We have been complacent for so long, as a people, because we believed we were invincible. But we're not. We're just as vulnerable as anyone else. It's not just happening "out there", and those people need us as much as we need it now ourselves.

[Kefla (Kefla)]

While I'm opposed to striking out blindly in retaliation, out of anger and hatred, there's nothing wrong with being strong and shrewdly resisting the evil of terrorism. Speaking of that, I'm getting on a plane to go to San Francisco in a week. Somehow I'd feel lots better if the airline passed out knives and gave us a quick lesson on disabling someone - rather than making us wait for hours and go without anything to spread butter, LOL. What's wrong with having people just defend themselves? Aren't there bound to be more of us than them on any given flight? Or am I still crazy?

[Sheri Gordon (Sheri)]

Canada is now placing plain clothes cops on select flights, who are capable of handling hijackers and taking them out. About time!!! <BR> <BR>I also heard that the plane that went down in PA, the guy who called on the cell phone...apparently he was talking to his wife, who told him of the WTC hits. When he learned of that, he and two others on board decided to take things into their own hands and went after the hijacker. What did they have to lose, after all? I commend those heroes!!!!!

[Will Finch (Shetan)]

And I'll wholeheartedly 2nd that, Sheri!

[Electric Goose (Egg)]

Thomas Burnett. He lived near here. They interviewed his family on Friday. His wife said he'd been having premonitions. He begged her to "make me stay home." She is one strong lady, I tell ya. She is absolutely certain (pardon me if this sounds preach but it's what she said) that God put him on that plane because he knew Tom would have the strength to Do Something. <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2001/09/17/flight193.htm" TARGET="_top">http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2001/09/17/flight193.htm</A>#more <BR> <BR>I've actually spoken to Mark Bingham a few times. He was in Public Relations in the city. <BR> <BR>And, no, Andy Garcia is not a relative. <BR>Lisa

[In the beginning, there was... (F_U_N_G_U_S)]

Was Mark Bingham the son of Tracy Hoglan? I remember a 'Mark' there, and that he had a different last name than his mom...