It's very tempting to want to lash out at everyone who appears to be remotely Arabic right now, but it's not the right thing to do. Here's a quote from the same friend who wrote the story I linked to below - "Not all immigrants are bad. My parents came to the USA about 30 years ago and yes, my father and one brother were born in Eygpt. I am, literally, first generation American; the first in my family to be born in the US. I make no distinction between me and the rest of my family. We are all US citizens and living in a country that we consider ours. It is scary to think that these terrorists were and still are living among us. It makes me mad to think that they can cause such horror
in a place we call "Home". These people are different, they are here laying the ground work for destruction of our ideals. Being able to accept and understand a world of different nationalities is part of what makes America so great. This does NOT mean that we should tolerate terrorism. But, there are plenty of people living in this country who have not been US citizens for very long and show no less love for their country. I say seek out the people who don't belong here. Punish the ones who have hurt us. Most importantly, stand together as a nation of "Proud Americans"."
another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/15/2001 10:49:49 AM

Most of us probably spent some time yesterday remembering, and crying........you can read about one person's day here. Be sure and get your feelings out to newsgroups, chat rooms, wherever......I'll be happy to put up something here for you if you want me to, or link to other places.
another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/15/2001 09:58:46 AM

I really, really wish they were playing football today....I could use something to look at besides destruction and despair. And no place feels more like America to me than a crowded college football game, with the bands playing and the student section generating an excitement that fills the whole stadium. A bright fall sun takes the edge off the cool breeze coming in from the north, as happy fans in bright school colors make their way to their seats. Pro football is OK, but it's canned music and Barbie doll cheerleaders cannot match the raw energy that is generated on college campuses all across the country every fall. If you don't believe me, you should join me some Saturday in Auburn, or College Station, or Chapel Hill, or Tallahassee, or Madison, or any other college town across this great nation. There's nothing else like it anywhere.
another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/15/2001 08:40:50 AM

It finally hit me tonight.....I started crying and cried for a long time. Nothing in particular set me off, it's just been such a fucked up week in so many ways. Tonight was the first time that I wasn't busy with something else, I guess that things just caught up with me. If you haven't cried yet, I strongly recommend it as a way to help you get through the rest of what is guaranteed to be a traumatic year.
another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/14/2001 07:41:49 PM

Due to high traffic Geocities is intermittently blocking Mookie's site. He's temporarily relocating to 3bruces, click here for Mookie.
another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/14/2001 02:04:56 PM

Busty asked me to remind everyone that you should go outside and light a candle tonight at 7 PM to honor the victims and show that we stand united as Americans. Fly the flag, thank a cop, say a prayer, do whatever you can to show the world what we're made of.
another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/14/2001 12:35:22 PM

another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/14/2001 09:29:19 AM

Two months ago I gave out some advice that seems even more relevant this week - "give someone a hug, tell them that you love them, or just ask someone how they're doing and really mean it. It will come back to you, I promise"
another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/13/2001 01:25:18 PM

Well I'm stuck in class today and tomorrow so you'll have to depend on Mookie for news, etc......he was bustin on W, but I guess I can forgive him since he was bustin on hippies earlier - he's being an equal opportunity offender. I suggest you look at who the President was smart enough to surround himself with in his cabinet, and tell me Al Gore and a liberal tree huggin cabinet would be doing any better. Also, I have to say that from what I've seen, Rudy Giuliani has been doing a hell of a job in NYC, I can't imagine anyone to better lead them through this mess. Hang in there New York, the nation stands with you and you will carry on.
another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/13/2001 12:59:43 PM

Someone is putting little American flags along the roads in south Charlotte. I got choked up today every time I saw a flag.
another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/12/2001 07:04:03 PM

A lot of people are quoting Nostradamus in relation to yesterday's events....I found a newsgroup posting that had some Nostradamus quotes from what appears to be a reliable source (I have no idea; I don't speak French and am in no way a Nostradamus expert).
another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/12/2001 05:24:39 PM

A fellow blogger who was 2 blocks from the Trade Center with a digital camera wrote this excellent account of the events as they transpired around him. The little numbers are links to pictures that he took during the morning.
another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/12/2001 05:20:41 PM

Mookie has posted some pics of Manhattan he took from the roof of his building yesterday.
another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/12/2001 12:24:49 PM

RAYS OF HOPE

As America wakens to the aftermath of the worst disaster in it's history, anger and fear have been replaced with hope and a desire to help. Some of the highlights so far:

- Survivors are being found in the rubble in New York. Rescue and medical help from all over the US is pouring into the city.
- On a normal day, the Red Cross in Charlotte collects 40 pints of blood. Yesterday almost 1000 were donated and sent north. People waited in lines for hours, and I understand that this scene played out all across America.
- Donations of money, supplies, and time are piling up across the country. If you want to help, money can be donated here and here.
- With the obvious exception of Manhattan, life is returning to a semblance of normalcy in most of the country. I hope that the weekend's sports events aren't cancelled - we need to remember the tragedy, but we also need to get on with life. I don't know about you, but from now on hearing the Star Spangled Banner and seeing the flag at sports events will mean a little more to me from now on.
- If any good can come from this horrible day, it has reminded us that underneath all our differences, we are Americans and this country will stand together against any foe. Hopefully we also received a wake-up call that we are very vulnerable, and the complacency that has settled in over the past few years was premature.
- As the days go on, I'm sure there will be hundreds of stories about the heroism that took place yesterday. I hope to be able to link to some of them here, we need to remember how good people can be, and not focus on the evil that is out there.

We have survived what will probably be remembered as the most horrible day in the history of America. My condolences go out to everyone who was touched by this, there are so many of you out there. Just remember that no bastards, however evil and maniacal and bloodthirsty they may be, will ever defeat the United States of America.

another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/12/2001 09:04:55 AM

Well there's not much I can say here that you don't already know......the USA has just sustained an attack on a par with Pearl Harbor, and I hope - no, I EXPECT our response to be on a level with the smackdown we put on our enemies back in WW II. Mookie has posted a report from near ground zero.....he's fine, by the way. Don't be surprised if the times turns into a testosterone-charged, saber-rattling right wing rant page, it's all I can do to keep from going off right now......I'm trying to wait and see who they think is reponsible before I demand that they be nuked into oblivion as a lesson to cowards everywhere.
another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/11/2001 01:58:24 PM

Tune in to the amazing adventures of Waffle Woman and Pancake Boy! Two people that I definitely wanna party with!
another witty nugget from Hardskillz posted on 9/10/2001 09:11:38 AM

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