Call to the Old Ones in this time of need
A Call to the Old Ones
Woden, warder of wisdom
temper us with patience.
Let us not jump to fanaticism
and extremism in our desire
for revenge.
Thor, protector of the midgarth
give us the strength to overcome our grief
and our enemies.
Tyr, appointer of justice
make swift and severe
justice to our enemy.
Freyja, queen of love, death and magic
raise your shield to this land.
Shield our dead with your love.
Bring your sword down on those who would do us harm.
Freyr, bring peace to those who are hurting.
Heal them with earth and water
Bragi, crafter of words
give us the magic of inspiration
to record and remember this,
that it may not be forgotten.
That our posterity may remember
our sacrifices and our heroes.
O Pagan Gods of Old
these thing we ask
as our nation, our tribe
grieves over this tragedy.
As we mourn.
As we prepare for war.
Let us seek out, hunt down,
and destroy our enemies
with swiftness and tempered severity.
To the Valkryurija, we charge
you to dispatch our dead in this war to their
resting halls quickly.
To the warriors of our tribe
past, present, and future,
we honor you as heroes.
This is a diverse land
with a diverse people,
yet we are one tribe,
one nation, united.
Gods Bless America
In Frith
Jeremy
Courage and honor endure forever. Their echoes remain long after the mountains have crumbled to dust!
Afghanistan and Retaliation
I've been hearing a lot of talk about "bombing Afghanistan back to the Stone Age." Ronn Owens, on KGO Talk Radio today, allowed that this would mean killing innocent people, people who had nothing to do with this atrocity, but "we're at war, we have to accept collateral damage. What else can we do?" Minutes later I heard some TV pundit discussing whether we "have the belly to do what must be done."
And I thought about the issues being raised especially hard because I am from Afghanistan, and even though I've lived here for 35 years I've never lost track of what's going on there. So I want to tell anyone who will listen how it all looks from where I'm standing.
I speak as one who hates the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden. There is no doubt in my mind that these people were responsible for the atrocity in New York. I agree that something must be done about those monsters.
But the Taliban and bin Laden are not Afghanistan. They're not even the government of Afghanistan. The Taliban are a cult of ignorant psychotics who took over Afghanistan in 1997. Bin Laden is a political criminal with a plan. When you think Taliban, think Nazis. When you think Bin Laden, think Hitler. And when you think "the people of Afghanistan" think "the Jews in the concentration camps." It's not only that the Afghan people had nothing to do with this atrocity. They were the first victims of the perpetrators. They would exult if someone would come in there, take out the Taliban and clear out the rats nest of international thugs holed up in their country.
Some say, why don't the Afghans rise up and overthrow the Taliban? The answer is, they're starved, exhausted, hurt, incapacitated, suffering. A few years ago, the United Nations estimated that there are 500,000 disabled orphans in Afghanistan--a country with no economy, no food. There are millions of widows. And the Taliban has been burying these widows alive in mass graves. The soil is littered with land mines, the farms were all destroyed by the Soviets. These are a few of the reasons why the Afghan people have not overthrown the Taliban.
We come now to the question of bombing Afghanistan back to the Stone Age. Trouble is, that's been done. The Soviets took care of it already. Make the Afghans suffer? They're already suffering. Level their houses? Done. Turn their schools into piles of rubble? Done. Eradicate their hospitals? Done. Destroy their infrastructure? Cut them off from medicine and health care? Too late. Someone already did all that.
New bombs would only stir the rubble of earlier bombs. Would they at least get the Taliban? Not likely. In today's Afghanistan, only the Taliban eat, only they have the means to move around. They'd slip away and hide. Maybe the bombs would get some of those disabled orphans, they don't move too fast, they don't even have wheelchairs. But flying over Kabul and dropping bombs wouldn't really be a strike against the criminals who did this horrific thing. Actually it would only be making common cause with the Taliban--by raping once again the people they've been raping all this time
So what else is there? What can be done, then? Let me now speak with true fear and trembling. The only way to get Bin Laden is to go in there with ground troops. When people speak of "having the belly to do what needs to be done" they're thinking in terms of having the belly to kill as many as needed. Having the belly to overcome any moral qualms about killing innocent people. Let's pull our heads out of the sand. What's actually on the table is Americans dying. And not just because some Americans would die fighting their way through Afghanistan to Bin Laden's hideout. It's much bigger than that folks.
Because to get any troops to Afghanistan, we'd have to go through Pakistan. Would they let us? Not likely. The conquest of Pakistan would have to be first. Will other Muslim nations just stand by? You see where I'm going. We're flirting with a world war between Islam and the West. And guess what: that's Bin Laden's program. That's exactly what he wants. That's why he did this. Read his speeches and statements. It's all right there. He really believes Islam would beat the west. It might seem ridiculous, but he figures if he can polarize the world into Islam and the West, he's got a billion soldiers. If the West wreaks a holocaust in those lands, that's a billion people with nothing left to lose, that's even better from Bin Laden's point of view. He's probably wrong, in the end the West would win, whatever that would mean, but the war would last for years and millions would die, not just theirs but ours. Who has the belly for that? Bin Laden does. Anyone else?
~~Tamim Ansary
Is this coincidence??
The date of the attack: 9/11 - 9 + 1 + 1 = 11
September 11th is the 254th day of the year: 2 + 5 + 4 = 11
After September 11th there are 111 days left to the end of the year.
119 is the area code to Iraq/Iran. 1 + 1 + 9 = 11
Twin Towers - standing side by side, looks like the number 11
The first plane to hit the towers was Flight 11
There's More.......
State of New York - The 11th State added to the Union
New York City - 11 Letters
Afghanistan - 11 Letters
The Pentagon - 11 Letters
Ramzi Yousef - 11 Letters (convicted of orchestrating the attack on the WTC in 1993)
Flight 11 - 92 on board - 9 + 2 = 11
Flight 77 - 65 on board - 6 + 5 = 11
Fighting back: Ten things you can do right now
THE TERRORISTS WANT us to be afraid; they want us to stay home, hoarding fuel and food. They want to crush our free and open society by paralyzing us with fear. We can stop them. Our collective actions have a tremendous effect and will repel this terrorist threat and send a clear message to the world.
1. Keep your money in the stock market; leave your investments where they are.
Show your faith in our economy by making a new investment when the market
opens. Don't think for a moment that the terrorists didn't have a keen sense of
the timing of their actions. As consumers and agents of our economy, we hold
its future in our hands.
2. Fill your car's gas tank as you normally would.
Don't run to the gas station to fill up your car. Stay with your normal pattern of
fueling. If you're a gas station owner, don't give in to price-gouging. If you find
yourself and your community victims of price-gouging (at gas stations or grocery
stores), bring it to the public's attention.
Report gas-gouging to the local chapter of the American Automobile Association
(AAA). You can also contact your state's Attorney General or the U.S. Energy
Department Hotline at 1-800-244-3301. These organizations are aware of this
kind of activity. Bring it to the attention of your local newspaper or broadcast
outlet. Provide accurate information and shine a bright light on this lack of civic
virtue.
3. Buy things - anything, no matter how small.
Consider buying a new car, something fuel-efficient to reduce our dependence on
foreign oil. If you've had a project or purchase on your mind, now is the time to
follow through. Don't put off purchases that you have planned because of this
incident and fear for the economy. These delayed purchases can be self-fulfilling
prophecies of a failing economy. Our collective purchases will have a
phenomenal impact and help us fight fear-induced volatility of the price of
everyday goods and services.
4. Fly the American flag.
Fly it from your house. Fly it from your car. Fly it in a position of respect
anywhere you can. Stand tall and be American.
Our country has been politically divided, especially since the last election. But
let us not forget that it is precisely the mechanism of democracy that allows us
to be politically divided in a productive fashion.
5. Withdraw cash from the bank as you usually would.
Don't help cause a run on the banks by withdrawing all your money. Our financial
systems are strong and resilient. Withdraw cash as you normally do. Terrorists
fully intend to scare us into thinking that our systems are vulnerable well beyond
the point of impact.
6. Use transportation systems.
Make business and travel arrangements as you normally would. Book a flight as
quickly as you are able in order to show your confidence in our airlines, the new
airport security guidelines, and our public safety system.
7. Conserve energy.
This will help to stabilize prices and supplies. Take public transportation, walk,
bike, carpool, do whatever you can to avoid driving. Taking public transportation
to work once a week will be a tremendous help. Turn off unused lights and
appliances at home.
8. Write your members of Congress to demand more funding for alternative fuel
research.
Our dependence on foreign oil is a huge vulnerability. If the United States
decides to take military action, our oil supplies may be affected. By reducing our
dependence on foreign oil, we enable our government to do what is deemed
necessary.
9. Help unify this country by engaging your neighbors and community.
We need to have one voice to fight terrorism. Everyone must come together in
order for our collective actions to defeat this evil. Acts of violence against our own
people, regardless of their faith or background, can only be destructive.
10. Get back into your normal pattern of work and living.
Do what you can to continue your normal routines.
Embrace the new security guidelines in airports and other public places and
don't complain. Support the airport security personnel and let them know you're
proud of what they are doing.
IT'S UP TO YOU
There are many great lessons to be learned from these events: among them is
the understanding that we each have the ability to defend our nation. We are
each empowered to make decisions that will collectively allow us not only to
survive this time of crisis, but to emerge ever-stronger in our response to this
unspeakable act of evil. Invoking Winston Churchill, this could, indeed, be our
finest hour.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/628351_asp.htm
EXTRA HUGS
By Diane Howes
Even as the heinous devastation of our city, our people, remains too surreal to comprehend, New Yorkers and our animals are caring for each other.
As reality began to settle in, many people's thoughts turned to the pets and their owners affected by the tragedy. Hundreds of guardians were lucky enough to take their pets when they evacuated, but now are homeless and in shelters.
Thousands of animals are stranded in the frozen zone, scared, possibly hurt, breathing the noxious fumes, with their people frantic to get to them. There are other pets, all over the metropolitan area, waiting for guardians who will never return.
It was only Tuesday afternoon when I started experiencing the first stories of compassion. Survivors struggling uptown with their arms carrying unknown stunned or injured animals. Pet recovery units set up at the Jersey City and Chelsea Piers triage centers. Animal shelters, clinics and individuals offering free care and kenneling for rescue volunteers. And neighbors posting signs saying, "The super let me in and I have "XXXXX" - He's OK but wants You safely home".
As the week has gone on, we've become more organized. The ASPCA emergency unit is established near Ground Zero and veterinarians are being escorted into frozen areas to retrieve pets locked in homes and help those found on the street. Rumor has it that within the first four hours of posting, over 20,000 volunteers were listed. Thousands of tons of dry and canned food, doggie booties and can openers have been contributed for rescue dogs working at Ground Zero. For those people in shelters with their pets, it goes even further.
Thousands of individuals have donated dog biscuits, bones and other treats -- brushes, combs, shampoos, carriers, leashes, beds, lambskins and catnip friends. (Kudos go to Petco and Whiskers, in particular, for their efforts and discounts, but I'm sure others are helping.) We all concur that it would comfort us to comfort our pets should we be in the same situation.
But there are other stories, stories of pets giving to and reassuring their people, plus at least one or a few miracles. I heard of one seeing-eye dog who lost its way in the second plume and deserted its charge, only to return 35 minutes later with help. And one retriever managed to get almost 25 blocks north, arriving (maybe by chance, but we pet people understand otherwise) at the same check point where her "dad" anxiously tried to convince the police to let him search for her.
Equally impressive and important are those pets giving solace to the legions of us fortunate enough not to lose a family member or close friends. The litter box-trained Maltese who, on the third day, repeatedly dropped her leash on her master's chest, finally pulling him away from the horrors on TV to eat and venture outside where he found comfort with others. Or the dogs who pull, as never before, on their leashes to lick the hands or faces of those posting photos of their loved ones, providing comfort to them, and giving us an opening to care or comfort. Or the cat who howled by the door of an elderly owner who had fallen, hit his head and, as it turned out, broken a hip, but didn't want to call and pull an ambulance away from the emergency.
In my case it's Jaspurr, my 18-year-old self-absorbed black cat. Yet immediately after he registered my cries of anguish as I watched the second plane ram the World Trade Center, Jaspurr has focused his attention on me. The past four nights I haven't slept more than an hour or so at a time. But Jaspurr is on my chest, side or back, regardless of whether I'm awake or dozing. During the day he's at the desk or computer, always within reach. He greets me at the door as I come back from trying to do something, anything, to help. And he has yet to complain about the "junk food" I get at supermarkets, since our natural pet stores are all closed.
Quite simply, if I'm home, he's touching me. I believe we're both finding comfort from that. I know I am.
So, fellow animal lovers, know that we New Yorkers are doing our part for pets and their people, and they're doing the same for us.
May you all respect your neighbors, regardless of their heritage or religion, pray for the dead and their families and give your children and your pets extra hugs of love and appreciation.
We are passionate New Yorkers, proud Americans.
-- Diane Howes
Dianehowes@aol.com
Diane is a New Yorker, and has been an animal lover all her life. She's
a freelance marketing consultant and communications specialist. She
enjoys the company of Jaspurr and many other friends. During the past
few days, she has volunteered her time and energy to help her fellow New
Yorkers.
(From PetWarmer website)
Q: Why?
A: As shock becomes anger, grief, and fear, people ask, "Why?" Christians may have it worst. We believe in a loving God. We know the Scripture, "His mercy endures forever." Now we wonder, "Where is God's mercy?" Some even ask, "Where is God?"
Why did evil men hijack aircraft and smash them into buildings filled with people? Why do these people hate America (and much of the rest of the world) with such passion? Ultimately, we are asking, "Why did God allow this to happen?"
We aren't alone in wondering, nor is this the first time the question has been asked. Many horrors lead people to ask God, "Why?" Miscarriage happens after parents begin planning and dreaming for a child's future; we ask why. Small children are killed by accidents, afflicted with cancer, or crippled by disease; we ask why. Young people are run down by drunk drivers or paralyzed by sports accidents; we ask why. Parents, spouses, or friends are taken away from loved ones by disease, disaster, and death; we ask why. We ask more aggressively when we see the families and friends of others still alive. We complain bitterly when open, unrepentant sinners live long and prosper while believers face and trials and difficulties.
Scripture echoes our questions. Losing children, possessions, and health, Job asked, "Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power? (Job 21:7)" The Psalmist wondered, "Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? (Psalm 2:1)" Jacob wondered why Joseph was taken from him, apparently torn apart by wild animals. Joseph must have wondered about his brothers' hatred that led them to sell him into slavery. Moses must have been practically yelling at God, wondering why he'd been burdened with leading such a stiff-necked, sinful people as Israel.
Sometimes we see restoration in this life. Job received back even more than he lost. The widow of Zarephath must have wondered why God sent His prophet to eat the last of her food, yet she saw that God kept replenishing the supply. Even more, she asked how one who housed a man of God could have God take away her son. She cried, "What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son! (1 Kings 17:20)" The Lord chose to raise the child to life through Elijah's prayer.
Often, God doesn't answer why. He basically told Job, "When you're God, then you can demand an answer." He's never spelled out why He created the angels, only to see so many of them fall into sin or mankind, only to watch the rebellion of our race unfold.
At other times, God reveals His purposes for troubles. Joseph was taken away so he could save his family. Moses was called because God knew he was right for the job. Sometimes disaster is a call to us to repent and trust God. He sent invaders to chastize Israel and Judah for their sins. Jesus used the fall of the tower of Siloam (Luke 13:4-5) to warn others that their fate would be the same without repentance. The disciples asked, "Why was this man born blind?" Jesus didn't blame the sins of the parents or God's foreknowledge that the man would also sin. He said, "It was so the works of God would be shown in him," then He restored the man's sight (John 9).
When Lazarus was deathly ill, his sisters sent for help. Jesus intentionally stayed away. When He finally got to Bethany, Lazarus was dead and Martha asked why He was not there sooner to help, saying, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Jesus used this incident both to evoke a confession of faith in the resurrection from Martha and to show His mastery over death as He called the dead man from the tomb and Lazarus heard and was made alive (Luke 11).
This very miracle of life also took Jesus to His own suffering and death. The leaders resented and feared His influence and popularity: "If we let him go on thus, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation. (Luke 11:48)" This led to their plots against His life. However, God planned things to happen in just this way because it was only by the death of Christ that death would finally be defeated. Only by our sins being crucified along with His flesh would we be forgiven. Only if Satan struck Him down could Jesus deal the devil's deathblow. In all of this, God is pleased to reveal much of His will and his "why."
In many other things, however, He hides His purposes. We can speculate, resist, or accept His will, knowing that it is ultimately for the best. The apostle said, "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. . . . For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:28, 38-39)"
President Bush quoted this section of Paul's epistle, urging us to trust that the will of God is always best. Perhaps because he leads a nation with many religions, he neglected to complete the final verse. He stopped with "the love of God." But the love of God without "Christ Jesus our Lord" is impossible for us to receive. Without Christ, we are all children of wrath and enemies of God. In God's eyes, natural mankind is a band of terrorists who bring chaos to His order, lies to His truth, betrayal to His blessings, and death to all that He gives life. God could rightly blame each and every one of us for every evil that has ever happened. However, He doesn't!
Instead, God blamed His innocent Son. To reconcile Himself to sinners, God "made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)" In His agony on the cross, Jesus cried out with and for us sinners, saying, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Quoting Psalm 22, Jesus identified Himself with every person who has ever been devastated by untimely loss. No one was ever more innocent, yet no one ever suffered more severely both the attacks of Satan and the divine justice of God. The greatest miscarriage of justice was also its highest expression, for in the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Christ, we are forgiven and invited to become citizens of the heavenly kingdom.
Simply knowing that God knows best and that all things work out for good doesn't take away our pain. But the pain Jesus felt sanctifies and gives purpose to our suffering. Believing in the resurrection doesn't immediately call the dead to life, but it guarantees that the dead in Christ will rise. The Christian still asks, "Why pain, suffering, and death?" God still answers, "Because I love you and desire to make My strength perfect in your weakness." He weakens our own strength through tragedy that He might strengthen us for life everlasting.
A prayer I use at the cemetery says, "Almighty God, by the death of Your Son Jesus Christ You destroyed death, by His rest in the tomb You sanctified the graves of Your saints, and by His glorious resurrection You brought life and immortality to light so that all who die in Him abide in peace and hope. Receive our thanks for the victory over death and the grave which He won for us. Keep us in everlasting fellowship with all that wait for Him on earth and with all in heaven who are with Him who is the Resurrection and the Life, Jesus Christ, our Lord."
We are not eternally from the departed faithful. We are in communion with them as we worship and receive blessings from the same Savior. We know that they have joined that great "cloud of witnesses" and are an encouragement to us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us." They tell us to look to Jesus, "the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)"
Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teaching for Adults.
This column © 2001 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer, by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. Translations into other languages should similarly note the United States and any appropriate international copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural injunctions concerning the property of others.
Copyright © 1996-2001.
TO: College of Education Students, Staff, Faculty, Alumni, and Friends
FROM: John L. Taylor, Dean
This week has been unbelievable, difficult, and one of the most troubling times for us and our nation. All of us are affected to the roots of our hearts and core of our souls. I know we all send condolences to friends and families of the victims. We will not forget the horrific terrorist acts against us. It will take some time for us individually and collectively to understand the magnitude of September 11 and resume safe and normal living.
Yet, we must deal with our grief and that of others as we simultaneously demonstrate fortitude, courage, and American ingenuity to carry on with our work as students, staff, faculty, administrators, and World citizens. There are many activities on and off campus to help people face what has happened and to address our future. As appropriate, I encourage you and your family to participate in some of these activities. I will do so over the weeks to come, but the most important thing for me is to be with my family and talk with family living out of town.
It is so great to see so many people helping people during this tragic time. People are giving blood, money, and unprecedented time. In a most visible way, people acknowledge the incredible strength of the fabric of our country by strongly encouraging people to respect and honor the cultural and social mosaic of our human diversity and unity.
I recognize that we may need to help each other in the College during these difficult times. Therefore, I invite you to suggest to me ways in which we may help each other in the days, weeks, and months to come. I do not want to intrude on anyone's privacy by making this request, only to be supportive in meeting the needs of folks who may like the College to consider some activities to assist us in moving forward. This is one way we display the strength of our human diversity and power of our unity.
John L. Taylor, Dean
College of Education
University of Arizona
P.O. Box 210069
(520) 621-1081
(520) 621-9271 (fax)
I just heard on the radio that the U.S. has asked that everyone step out on their lawns tonight at 10:30 and light a candle. They will be taking a satellite picture of the U.S. and posting it on the news tomorrow morning.
Since this nation was founded...under God
More than 200 years ago
We have been the bastion of freedom
The light that keeps the free world aglow
We do not covet the possessions of others
We are blessed with the bounty we share
We have rushed to help other nations
...anything...anytime...anywhere
War is just not our nature
We won't start...but we will end the fight
If we are involved we shall be resolved
To protect what we know is right
We have been challenged by a cowardly foe
Who strikes and then hides from our view
With one voice we say, "There is no choice today,
There is only one thing to do"
That we end these senseless moments we are living
As our fathers did before...we shall win this unwanted war
And our children...will enjoy the future...we'll be giving.
Written by Jack Buck
September, 2001
[For those not familar, Jack Buck is the play-by-play announcer for the St. Louis Baseball Cardinals...and a combat infantryman in WWII who was wounded in action.]
A note from the editors at Family. com: At this difficult time for our country, we hope that you will take a moment to reflect on how you value your family and friends, and let them know how much they mean to you.
Last week's tragic attacks have triggered a worldwide desire to help the victims, their families, and the rescue efforts that continue in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. We have received numerous calls and emails from the PayPal community asking for information about making donations to the relief efforts.
In response to this tremendous outpouring of compassion, PayPal has created a special fund to help our members provide assistance to those affected by this tragedy. By clicking on the button below, you can make a donation directly to the National Disaster Relief Fund of the American Red Cross.
All donations are tax deductible. The Red Cross will receive 100% of the proceeds and PayPal will realize no profits from money donated to this fund. Include your address (for a tax receipt) in the "Shipping Address" field when making your donation.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.
Sincerely,
The PayPal Team
https://www.paypal.com
NOW that the President has called us to prayer.....
NOW that Congress has called us to prayer.....
NOW that our Governor has called us to prayer....
NOW that the city Mayor has called us to prayer....
NOW that the "liberal" media and most other branches of our American society have called us to prayer.....
AND NOW that our churches are assembling in special prayer....
"Honorable" Justices of the Supreme Court, I have only one question..
Would it be O.K. to pray in our schools........??
Yesterday a firefighter involved in the rescue effort in NYC made a request on a local radio station in CT, which was later repeated on a station in LA. As a show of support and solidarity for America, it was asked that all Americans turn their lights on while driving. It was asked not only as a remembrance of the victims, and the workers that are tirelessly trying to find victims, but as a reminder that America will find out who did this and bring them to justice. Please pass this on to everyone in your address book so that we can "see the light" throughout America!
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall.
Think of it....ALWAYS."
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~