4:20 PM - I'd like to echo those who expressed the importance of voicing one's dissent with the government, if indeed one's heart feels it to be dangerous or wrong or merely misrepresentative in its actions...it is NOT easy to voice dissent and I wish so deeply that I would never have to again, but unfortunately, it's not a reality right now. One should never grow complacent with the status quo, merely because it is the status quo....freedom is why America is so unique and wonderful, freedom includes questioning anything or anyone we wish to question, including the government...this is why I choose to live in America and appreciate being an American citizen.

I believe discourse and even disagreement can lead to positive changes in not only our society, but in ourselves. No one should be afraid to express themselves, even if their opinion isn't popular, but that doesn't make it easy for anyone. I think it's important that this philosophy apply to our Tanque community as well... we should all feel safe expressing our honest thoughts here, otherwise, what's the point?

4:12 PM - Jim A., thanks for all the links...unfortunately, a lot of people have no idea about our past ties with Bin Laden or anyone else in the "Middle East"....there is a pretty good, simplified timeline of our involvement in the Middle East on www.zmag.org/.....click on the article "Why Hate?", if you're interested...I find this to be a pretty factual new source...or try the actual magazine, Z magazine...during the war against Irag they were one of my life-lines...

1:19 PM - Ben..."Most of me feels that I should shut up and just wait and watch, but that other part of me can't help poking and prodding in a search to define what is happening. I'm very thankful to have this forum to express myself and I'm very thankful that I get to read such thought provoking insights from the Drunkenfish and the Tanque."......I couldn't agree with you more...I feel deeply thankful for everyone's discourse and the openness and honesty contained within; I understand how difficult it is to communicate about something this tragic and unfathomable...hearing all of your thoughts and feelings helps me tremendously, thank you everyone.

I went to the Pioneer Courthouse Square at lunch to share in the moment of silence with the community...I was moved to tears as were many...it was sadly beautiful and deeply moving. I got on my knees to sign the message sheets the City of Portland is sending to New York and I realized how difficult it was to find any words of comfort for those who are suffering so intensely.

1:10 PM - Phil, ...a different example would be the media replaying over and over the images of a small group of Palestinians celebrating the attack...hmmm, I wonder how this affected the general public's image of not only Palestinians, but any Middle Eastern or Muslim person...I've heard people referencing these images to justify violence (including my sister)...do you think this was an accident on the medias part?

9:06 AM - How can I sit here and work while the entire country is listening to or attending a prayer service for the thousands of lives that have been lost? My boss just asked me, "how are you coming along with those reports?" I get that life must go on in ways, but have we lost our ability to mourn as human beings?

9:03 AM - Shari, I have the chills and sickness is running down my spine...I can't even finish the article, but thank you for sharing your awareness...I pray this doesn't continue or escalate, but I'm very afraid.

8:57 AM - Phil, we see what the media machine (aka government propaganda generator) wants us to see...they're not "sparing" us from the gruesome truth by not showing Pentagon footage or any other horrifying footage...they're merely picking and choosing what we see to further the agenda of those who control our country's politics.

1:58 PM - I thought people might find this interesting....I found it on Z Magazine on-line....
The below is the text of a flyer that was distributed in Asheville, NC. USA Today newspaper boxes were appropriated and the flyers were inserted into the individual papers which were placed back in the boxes. This distribution was effective as people around town discussed the flyer and its message.This is very important because the coverage and tone of the local (N.C. GANNET) paper has been awful.
An editorial headlined "Strike back, with force" went on to say "…We must strike back with all available resources…We must hunt them down, with or without the cooperation of their governments and issue a firm ultimatum - turn over the ones responsible or face down the full efficacy of the US military…No matter how long it takes, no matter how much it costs - Get ‘em. All of ‘em." And that’s not even all the choicest of this diatribe.

We feel deep sadness and our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who were killed in the recent bombings. The loss that we feel today is not any different, however, than the loss we feel every day for those killed in systematic violence world wide, often perpetuated by the US government. As North Americans it may seem shocking to us to see this happening within the US, and we tend to mourn more deeply because we feel we have lost "some of our own." But in reality, we as human beings have been losing too many of our own for too many senseless reasons for many years.

By going along with the US Government’s dominant, aggressive, and violent nature we are passively consenting to this injustice and surrendering our rights to a true democracy. Our voices are not being heard. We hope that through this tragedy we can come together and examine the root of the problem. We refuse to watch any government, including the US government, terrorize innocent people.

Rather than accept our government’s attitude of revenge and retaliation we are raising our voices in solidarity with people all over the world. We refuse to live in a climate of distrust of our fellow human beings, and instead we are turning our feelings of distrust and betrayal towards the governments who have failed us for so long.

Innocent people never deserve to die for their country or because of it.

11:29 AM - Muslims are being attacked....what in the hell is wrong with people...ignorance is no excuse for violence...we are going to make everything so much worse, if something doesn't change...."firebombing Islamic buildings, beatings, possible deaths"!!!!!!!!!??????? This is AMERICA , come on people...

11:25 AM - Amy, I have many questions as well...our government is definitely not going to tell us everything or even close to everything they know now or later...all we can do is educate ourselves as best as possible...listen to and read as many news sources (independent and foreign) as possible...skepticism serves to lead toward insight, not despair.

11:18 AM - Oh, my gosh, Sonya & Sean...explain more, please...I respect your courage to change your life...I'd like to hear more about your difficult decision...xo

10:21 AM - They just rescued 5 firefighters from underneath the WTC debris...I pray they find more...

9:01 AM - "It is my belief that the lack of understanding of the true cause of happiness is the principal reason why people inflict suffering on others. Some people think that causing pain to others may lead to their own happiness or that their own happiness is of such importance that the pain of others is of no significance. But this is clearly shortsighted. No one truly benefits from causing harm to another being. Whatever immediate advantage is gained at the expense of someone else is short-lived. In the long run causing others misery and infringing upon their peace and happiness creates anxiety, fear and suspicion for oneself."--The Dalai Lama

4:46 PM - Sean, they're saying it's less than 800 at the Pentagon now, but the 40,000 deaths at the WTC is a predicted estimate in the higher range (they don't want to underpredict)....I hope they're wrong...

2:02 PM - Sean, from what I've heard most of Nostradamus's predictions have never come to fruition...I don't believe the hype.

11:20 AM - NPR is reporting a possible 40,000 dead at the WTC and 800 at the Pentagon....57,000 Americans died during the entire Vietnam War....devastatingly unbelievable...

11:06 AM - I can't tell you all how happy I am to read your blogs of wisdom and compassion...
David, thank you for your unique and insightful perspective...I know you've seen many things first hand...I'm so thankful you're not in the military anymore...
Phil, you have some excellent points and I agree with many of your sentiments...
Amos, always a beacon of insight and intellect....I can always count on you to help inform me, thank you.

10:54 AM - God, Bill, I was just reading your post when military jets flew over my building...gave me the chills...tremendously eery...I agree with your sentiments Billy, well put....more military jets overhead now....
Let us be able to live up to our humanity.

9:41 AM - Jim A., thank you for putting it so eloquently...I agree with your sentiments whole heartedly...the situation is always more complex than it may seem.

Amos, how is your family??

My family is stuck in Portland until Friday (they were supposed to leave yesterday a.m.)...as much as I'm thankful they're alive and well, loving them with every fiber in my being, it should be an interesting extended (!) visit....

10:33 AM - I respect and realize that everyone deals with tragedy differently, but I'm stunned and amazed by the lack of concern so many people are showing regarding such an unimaginable tragedy...I can barely function, let alone give a shit about "property management" or MONEY right now...I'm sick with sadness and fear.

9:55 AM - Thank you, Ned.

9:20 AM - Ned, I'm right here with you, still at work...my family was supposed to fly out of Portland this morning, but, of course, are grounded...I'm in shock...how can any human being work right now????????

Has anyone heard from Todd & Shanti?? I tried calling early this a.m., but can't get through...

3:03 PM - For some reason, blogger keeps cutting off the end of my last post....so here it is: HA! (take that Blogger!@#)

2:39 PM - Well, I sufficiently exhausted myself this weekend...I have plenty of cuts and bruises to prove it....suffice it to say my experience on stage at GBV was a little more daunting than Pat's rockin' behind the drum set....after being literally pulled up on stage (with shin wounds to prove it), I then proceeded to completely fall backwards onto my arse (elbows first unfortunately)....of course, at the time I didn't feel any pain, but Sunday a.m. I awoke to scabby elbows, knees, and bruises galore...strange what we consider fun, but I have to say I had a blast...!!
Spent Sunday night drinking margheritas and karoaking bad 80's music at my friend's party, which I originally planned on leaving after a couple of hours b/c of exhaustion...a few margheritas later, it was already 2am and my friends and I were the last to leave the party...let's just say I'm very please there were no video cameras on the premises....although Liz and I did a mean rendition of The Carpenters Superstar.....!

2:38 PM - eek...my computer's messing with me, sorry..why has BLOGGER turned everything on my page to bold font........yikes!!!????????

4:33 PM - " I really didn't want such cheap laughs to be erupting out of my usual Blockbuster face"--John, you are cracking me up!

3:00 PM - Amy, Amy, Amy, you are my hero!

9:21 AM - Sean, what do you think of your new digital camera?? I love the mini-movie of Sonya...

I'm so happy its Friday...three day weekends make me even happier!! I will be able to see so many of my beautiful friends, GBV, American Analog Set, parties....is is possible to have so much fun in three days (ha!)??? I feel like it should be someone's birthday or something....