ADL Expresses Solidarity with British People in Wake of Terrorist Attacks

[Behind the Aegis]

New York, NY, July 7, 2005 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed its solidarity with the British people following the horrific terrorist attacks on commuter trains and buses in London.

"These ugly and cowardly attacks in London remind us that the threat of terrorism remains all too real," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.

"By attacking people on their way to work, children on their way to school, ordinary citizens just going about their daily lives, the terrorists have again shown their contempt for human life. We stand firm with the people of London and the United Kingdom in the struggle against terrorism."

[Iowa]

1. Blah, blah, blah...

Everybody jumping on the bandwagon, holding hands, and singing kumbaya. What a load of crap! It is what it is - people were killed by criminals. It happens all the time - always has and always will. It's a tragedy for those involved, but let's not blow it all out of proportion. Yeah, we're all against crime; there's no need to pound our chests and make big brave statements to that effect. Mr. Foxman, and all the others who feel the need to make courageous statements about "standing firm" against crime, should just STFU and move on. It's nothing but self-serving empty rhetoric that feeds into the criminals' desire for attention. Besides, we've got MUCH more serious problems to deal with.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Very magnanimous of you.

I hope you are not spreading your "joyous" message on other threads similar to this.

[Iowa]

3. My comments weren't directed at you!

Actually, I'm glad you posted this. I'm speaking to the fact that the Bush regime feeds off terrorism. They use it to manipulate the masses into rallying behind them, and to distract attention away from their crimes. Chimpy is just itching to stand on another pile of rubble here at home in hopes it will get his numbers back up. If it happens we'll have a thousand "leaders" (like this guy from the ADL) trampling each other to get to a microphone to express their outrage and to rally their people to stand against terror - which is code for: behind the president.

As long as this incompetent president (and clones of him in Congress) are in power, we need to keep the focus on removing them. They're wreaking incredible havoc upon our country and upon the world. Our way of life is at risk, and they are our primary problem. You're right; it isn't a joyous message. But joy isn't really the emotion called for here.

[Coastie for Truth]

4. Iowa - I am going to ask you to do what any American should do

---since we can't remove Bushies until 1/21/07 --- and we let Karl Rove outsmart us on 11/2/04.

Volunteer - VOLUNTEER for what "MILITIA" actually meant when the Second Amendment was passed - citizen volunteers voluntarily putting themselves in harms way - uncompensated - for their fellow citizens.

Some links--

:patriot:
1. and its
:patriot:
2. and - but get your "Ham License" first - the Technician License is trivial.
:patriot:
3.
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4.
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5.
:patriot:
6.
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:patriot:

Plus lots more :patriot:

Don't sweat the fact that some are faith based. Even the Coast Guard's Life Boat Stations started out as a "faith based" organization -- and the fire fighters started out as the Papal Knights of Saint Florian.

Remember - "Militia" means more then joining the NRA and receiving "American Rifleman" and voting Repub --- it means voluntarily inconveniencing yourself and putting yourself in harms way for your family, friends, neighbors, and community in time of disaster - just like your volunteer fire department.

This is neither backing the President nor backing the Dems. It is the true patriotism of coming together with your neighbors in time of disaster.

BTW - I was Regular Active Duty United States Coast Guard officer. I am an ARES and RACES Ham Radio Emergency Communications volunteer ("Extra" Class License), and a Red Cross Disaster Assistance Team Captain and Mass Casualty Shelter Manager -- and I am no jockstrap -- I am 64 years young - metformin and zocor and zestril dependent -- and have a partially invalid wife.

So, you can join with me. Quitcherbellyakin.

There is no greater reward - when a person displaced by a disaster says "Thank you for help."

[Iowa]

5. Nah...

I'm not trying to be a smart-ass when I say what I'm about to say, Coastie for Truth, and I mean that sincerely. But where I come from we don't make a show of the help we provide to those in need. We try to do it quietly and move on. And we don't do it for the "reward", even if the only reward is the gratitude we receive. We do it because it's the right thing to do. When we approach it with that mind-set we're much more likely to preserve the dignity of those receiving the help - and that's an important element that often gets overlooked.

So I won't react to the list of volunteer organizations and activities you're pushing here by countering with a longer list of my own. And I won't get into a discussion about whether your contributions are bigger, better, or more "patriotic" than mine. I don't know much about you and it would be presumptuous (and just plain weird) for me to provide unsolicited advice about what you should (or shouldn't) be doing with your time. I think most people here are smart enough to choose how they wish to contribute to their communities without any help from you or from me.

Also, it doesn't make much sense to tie the political expression you see here to volunteer work. The many and varied opinions people express here (and share with their families and communities) serve a very good purpose. We're probably more blunt here than we'd be in mixed company, but hey, we're among people who tend to think alike, right? But the point is this: The good that would come from stopping the RW plan for this country will absolutely dwarf the good done by all volunteer work combined. So I don't buy into this thinking that we all should just stop bitching about the Bush regime and those who feed into their terra scare tactics (or "bellyakin" as you call it) and go out and fill sandbags. Both are good and both are necessary.

But getting back to volunteering, I'm sure the contributions you make to your community are very worthwhile because you say they are and I believe you. Good for you! But I've been helping those who are down and out for a very, very long time, and I've learned a few things over all those years. I'll mention a couple that apply to this thread: 1) Usually (though not always) the best way to spot a phony is this: look for the guy scrambling to get the microphone to let everyone know he shares their pain. These are the ones with an agenda, and the ones who almost never get their hands dirty. 2) Often (though not always) the best way to spot a well-intentioned volunteer, but one without much experience, is this: look for the guy who wants to bend your ear about all the good he's doing, or the one who tries to get you to join too; not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just that you'll usually find that the ones with the most experience don't say much.

[truth2power]

6. Well, the bashing will be starting soon, Iowa.

I've read your two posts above, several times, and I can find no disagreement with what you said. I think you have a way of cutting to the meat of the matter.

Yesterday, there was much wringing of hands on the part of some people who said we shouldn't politicize this, and that there would be time enough later to blame Bush and Blair. Well, in my opinion, "later" is now. The blame for this whole mess should be placed directly where it belongs, at the feet of B&B. And no time is too soon to start.

Yes, I see it already, that people are elbowing each other out of the way to grab the microphone for the purpose of self aggrandizement. And you can be sure that Bush will make a meme of what happened in London and beat us over the head with it until our ears bleed. 911 was no longer having the desired effect, And just in time, conveniently, comes another terrorist attack.

I have no way of knowing who was really responsible for yesterday's attack. But if I ask "Who benefits?", there are others besides Al Quaida who certainly meet the criterion.

Whatever, Bush will mine this for all it's worth.

There is wisdom in what you said, and it doesn't in any way minimize the senselessness of the deaths in London yesterday.

I could go on, but I have to leave for an appointment. My apologies if if this post seemed hurried or disconnected.

[Iowa]

7. Thanks truth2power!

I am very glad you posted this. A couple of people were reading things into my comments that I hadn't intended, so it means a great deal to know that somebody got what I was trying to say. Thanks!