I received quite a few good e-mails concerning the events of
9-11-01. I've posted a few below, credited as I received
them.
From: "joseph devlin" <devlinjp@hotmail.com>
Date: Saturday, September 15, 2001 5:01 AM
To All;
I am so sorry that this has to be a group E-mail. But you have all
overwhelmed me with your letters of support and kind words. For this I am
very grateful. I just wanted to write and thank each and everyone of you for
taking the time out to think of me. Life at sea and in the Navy in general
is not an easy one. There are many people I miss and long to be with again,
at times I wonder "Why"? "Why am I here, so far away from all that I know
and all that I love". And it was the letters that I received from each of
you that reminded me of why I am here. I am here to stand up, and protect
those very people and things that I love so much. I received letters from
Shipmates pass, cousins, friends I've not heard from since Leaving New
Bedford Ma. for Japan, and friends I've made during my travels here in the
Pacific. For Susan Mounter In Australia, Your letter of support was
especially touching to me and my shipmates. They were glad to know that
someone outside of America appreciated the grief felt by the American people
in this time of tragedy. And for that I sincerely thank you.
I do not know what role I will play in the coming months. And if I did
I would not be able to say what that role might be here. But I want you all
to know that you HAVE reminded me "Why", I am here. And to tell you that
when my ship puts out to sea I will think of you all. I will do my part to
defend my Nation, and all of the Nations of the free world. And that is my
promise to each and every one of you. I leave you now proudly as a sailor in
your United States Navy. Farewell and Gods Speed.
Information Systems Technician Second Class Petty Officer
United States Navy
Joseph P. Devlin
Hit the buildings, Missed America . . . .
Posted By: Charles Brennan, Windrose 18, So. Florida
<ctbren@aol.com>
Date: 9/11/2001 9:07p.m.
An open letter to a terrorist:
Well, you hit the World Trade Center, but you missed America. You hit the
Pentagon, but you missed America. You used
helpless American bodies, to take out other American bodies, but like a poor
marksman, you STILL missed America.
Why? Because of something you guys will never understand. America isn't
about a building or two, not about financial centers, not about military
centers, America isn't about a place, America isn't even about a bunch of
bodies. America is about an IDEA. An idea, that you can go someplace where
you can earn as much as you can figure out how to, live for the most part,
like you envisioned living, and pursue Happiness. (No guarantees that you'll
reach it, but you can sure try!)
Go ahead and whine your terrorist whine, and chant your terrorist litany:
"If you can not see my point, then feel my pain." This concept is alien to
Americans. We live in a country where we don't have to see your point. But
you're free to have one. We don't have to listen to your speech. But you're
free to say one. Don't know where you got the strange idea that everyone has
to agree with you. We don't agree with each other in this country, almost as
a matter of pride. We're a collection of guys that don't agree, called
States. We united our individual states to protect ourselves from tyranny in
the world. Another idea, we made up on the spot. You CAN make it up as you
go, when it's your country.
If you're free enough. Yeah, we're fat, sloppy, easy-going goofs most of
the time. That's an unfortunate image to project to the
world, but it comes of feeling free and easy about the world you live in.
It's unfortunate too, because people start to forget that when you attack
Americans, they tend to fight like a cornered badger. The first we knew of
the War of 1812, was when England burned Washington D.C. to the ground.
Didn't turn out like England thought it was going to, and it's not going to
turn out like you think, either. Sorry, but you're not the first bully on
our shores, just the most recent.
No Marquis of Queensbury rules for Americans, either. We were the FIRST and
so far, only country in the world to use nuclear weapons in anger. Horrific
idea, nowadays? News for you bucko, it was back then too, but we used it
anyway. Only had two of them in the whole world and we used 'em both.
Grandpa Jones worked on the Manhattan Project. Told me once, that right up
until they threw the switch, the physicists were still arguing over whether
the Uranium alone would fission, or whether it would start a fissioning
chain reaction that would eat everything. But they threw the switch anyway,
because we had a War to win. Does that tell you something about American
Resolve?
So who just declared War on us? It would be nice to point to some real
estate, like the good old days. Unfortunately, we're
probably at war with random camps, in far-flung places. Who think they're
safe.
Just like the Barbary Pirates did, IIRC. Better start sleeping with one eye
open.
There's a spirit that tends to take over people who come to this country,
looking for opportunity, looking for liberty, looking for freedom. Even if
they misuse it. The Marielistas that Castro emptied out of his prisons, were
overjoyed to find out how much freedom there was. First thing they did when
they hit our shores, was run out and buy guns. The ones that didn't end up
dead, ended up in prisons. It was a big PITA then (especially in south
Florida), but you're only the newest PITA, not the first.
You guys seem to be incapable of understanding that we don't live in
America, America lives in US! American Spirit is what it's called. And
killing a few thousand of us, or a few million of us, won't change it. Most
of the time, it's a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of Spirit. Until crossed in a
cowardly manner, then it becomes an entirely different kind of Spirit. Wait
until you see what we do with that Spirit, this time.
Sleep tight, if you can. We're coming.
Charles Brennan
Ed Rosenhamer
767 Q&PI
Cab Assy/Crew Floor
Plant 2 Col L10N 2nd Floor
6-4899 3-4AWC K42-67
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