Fancy a cry?

[andrewbaillie]

Subject: A little girl and her Dad.....

Her hair was up in a ponytail
Her favourite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
And she couldn't wait to go.

But her Mummy tried to tell her,
That she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
If she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid;
She knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
Of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried,
For her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
She tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school,
Eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees
A dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in back,
For everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
Anxious in their seats.

One by one the teacher called,
A student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
As seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name,
Every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
For a man who wasn't there.

"Where's her daddy at?"
She heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
Another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,
She heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
Too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her,
As she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher,
Who told her to go on.

And with hands behind her back,
Slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
Came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here,
Because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
Since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,
And how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories
He taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
And taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes,
And ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him,
I'm not standing here alone.

"Cause my daddy's always with me,
Even though we are apart
I know because he told me,
He'll forever be in my heart"

With that, her little hand reached up,
And lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
Beneath her favourite dress.

And from somewhere in the crowd of dads,
Her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
Who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love
Of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
Doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down,
Staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
> But its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much,
> He's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
But heaven's just too far.

You see he was a fireman
And died just this past year
When airplanes hit the towers
And taught Americans to fear.

But sometimes when I close my eyes,
It's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes,
And saw him there that day.

And to her mother's amazement,
She witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children,
All starting to close their eyes.
>
Who knows what they saw before them,
Who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
They saw him at her side.

"I know you're with me Daddy,"
To the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
Of those once filled with doubt.
>
Not one in that room could explain it,
For each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
Was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
By the love of her shining bright star.
And given the gift of believing,
That heaven is never too far

<snip> End of message removed.

[relliott]

again, i sound like the insensitive one, but these e-mails and stories have been bugging the hell outta me. Yes, it IS a terrible tragedy that so many people died, but where are all the e-mails reminding people of israel? of palestine? floods in India? The famine in Malawi? Terrorists attacks closer to home, such as in Ireland?

It's about time America got over itself. We can't all go on forever banging on about september 11. There are plenty more important things to worry about now, half of which Americal itsefl is causing or catalysing. They're gonna be off to pick a new war soon, so God help the world when that happens, coz that same little girl's gonna loose more of her family needlessly in combat and retalliation attacks.

[Boogie Man]

it was a terrible and unthinkable tragedy, but perhaps it was so unthinkable becuase it is usually America that causes much of the damage done to these Eastern countries, and even then the only time the real horror of what is done over there only gets reported whe it backfires on the Americans. So if you light a candle for America, remember we are all human and make mistakes, so light a few more for the other countries that are either attacked by terrorism or are enslaved by it.

[DScollon]

While I have no objection to this type of post, I strongly object to the "Send this to everyone you know and care about" messages that are often tagged on to the end. This is actually a type of email virus coming under the "social engineering" category. There's no need to pass it on to anyone once you've posted it to a public board.

</rant>

[INSANE-IAC]

:cry: :cry: :cry: i just read that poem at the top of the page:cry: :cry: :cry:

[relliott]

personally i think anyone who does forward these kind of messages out to be shot. My friends know better than to try it with me anymore as they get a nice surprise back.... well, i do give one warning first though, or if it doesn't have "send ths to..." at the end as is genuinely funny then they get off with it

Also, if you are gonna forward it, son't be silly enough to leave all the addresses in unless you want to get your account spammed to death by some company.

</rant>

but, back on topic, is anyone lese dreading sept 11th this year? how much sentimental crap will the Americans throw at us then?

They'll have us believe, and i quote, that this was "the greatest humanitarian disaster of the modern age"

sorry, but a few million Jews spring to mind while America sat and watched... mind you when you have the KKK running riot in your southern states as well, we can all understand just how loveing and caring and innocent a nation you all really are

and nobody mention Hiroshima.....

[andrewbaillie]

Sorry about that guys! The one and only reason i posted it was cos i thought it was quite a nice thought, and not because of its subject.

I agree with what your saying both about these kinds of e-mails circulating and the fact that the americans would like everyone to think that september 11th was the only tragedy in history!

[elliottsimpson]

hint I got from our very own technical wizard - if you're sending anything like this round loads of folk, put all the addresses in the Bbc (blind carbon copy) box - then everone gets it as a one-off with no other addresses showing.

Elliott

[Boogie Man]

who wants to place a bet on how many T.V. tributes we get?
I'll give you good odds...

[mikie]

don't send these on, bcc or not (soz elliott)
they all consume bandwidth and are self-replicating
as Dr Scollon so correctly points out they are a form of virus

we all know that bad-stuff happens (paraphrased for the kids)
we don't need continuous reminding of the fact and we certainly don't need it cropping up in our inboxes or anywhere else

whilst we're on the subject of vomitus inducing displays of public grief
i am so glad that i was in the USA when diana, queen of hearts, was offed by MI6. the scenes surrounding the funeral would of incapacitated me had i been in-country.
no antiemetic would of been strong enough
positively sickening
and yes september 11th 2002 will be bad news

hunkered in the bunker

mikie

[elliottsimpson]

I was referring to any mailing of lots of folk - we sent out notices to NextGeners about the formation of this site. Some folk (not just Ruth) were concerned about others having access to their e-mail address and by Bcc-ing it, no-one would have.

I have mixed views about some of this stuff - I very rarely forward any - occasionally to someone who I know appreciates that sort of thing - but I have adapted some into PV&O in the past. Soz if u didn't like it, but I'll probably do it again sometime.

E

[Hayley]

Nah - don't worry Elliott, we don't mind!

I hate forwards too - most of them are just icky nonsense.
I've had a couple of nice ones tho that I did send on but I hate them sooooooo much - and all those addresses at the start - that just totally peeves me.

:mad:

and breathe:D

[elliottsimpson]

and you don't get any other addresses - ooopps repeating myself - soz

[Boogie Man]

ur forgiven:D
Im glad to say I dont really recieve any of these as most of my email addresses are to bo found in the pretty obscure regions of my dark domain.

[INSANE-IAC]

say what?

please anybody can shine a light into ur domane........

especially your DAD!!!!!;) :evil ;)

[Boogie Man]

ur a sick,sick,sad little man.

[INSANE-IAC]

ah yes the truth can hurt..............although i think you value locks on your doors now..........eh???

[Boogie Man]

you any idea what that sounds like to these people?

[mikie]

elliott
i would not consider any message from yourself as being spam as words of wisdom don't come under that heading :)
i'm sure that other nextgeners would agree

mikie

[mikie]

insane-iac

like your references
read any gibson?

[Adam]

people. i am disapointed. i swear i got a chill down my back as i read that. why r u bein so .wdvgqvddj?
why r we talkin bout stoopid fwds and complainin about TV coverage? it was just a nice poem. take it s that.

[DScollon]

That's because you presumably didn't see what was attached at the end of the poem Adam.

[andrewbaillie]

Thats the reason why i posted it. I just thought it was nice. I know all about pointless forwards, and i know people who forward them just for the sake of it, but i also know that some people, including myself, have the sense to delete random rubbish that gets forwarded to them.
With forwards like this i think its up to the individual. I didnt forward this to anyone, i just posted it here cos i thot it was nice. I only forward these kinds of things to people who i think might appreciate it.
Thats all

[relliott]

don't worry, we're not making a personal attack on you :)

some of the stuff I get I quite like, but i find that as soon as i accept one person's nice stuff, i end up getting all there pals rubbish too grrrrr

it is a nice sentiment in the poem, i agree
it's just the new build-up of sympathy to Americans that is beginning to get on my nerves... even the TV is starting up with it again

[phlangepal]

In reply to relliots "America should get over itself" comment I would just like to say that I am absolutely apalled by your attitude. I don't know if you know many Americans, but from someone who does then I think you should rethink your stance. Why was the incident so tragic? The attack come from within the USA, hundreds of people died and not just Americans, buildings that symbolised hope for people had suddenly gone. Also the USA practically controls the world's financial markets etc. It's not that its more imp than ireland etc it is that so many people were killed in one go and that it wasnt even targeted at terrorist buildings, just innocent people.

Yes other tragedies do occur but we do hear about them all the time as well. The September the 11th attack was totally unexpected, well to the general public anyway, and thus it was so shocking.

What got me the most is that if America, the most powerful country in the world, could be so "damaged" then God love Britain.

If you want I can introduce you to a girl whose Aunt's body hasn't been found yet and you can tell her that her country should just "get over itself"

BYE!!!

[relliott]

I actually know a lot of Americans. I go to university with more than one or two and i have talked to several on-line regularly. I have sympathy for those who had family and friends die, and indeed i have noticed that one woman i used to talk to on ICQ who worked on the 22nd floor of the east tower has never been back online since. Please do not try judge me on the basis of "you don't know anyone and i do"

and as for the attack not being aimed at a terrorist building... canary wharf wasn't a terrorist building.. the shopping precinct in Armagh was not a terrorist building.. the schools and hospitals that the Americans bombed were not terrorist buildings... suicide bombers in israel walk into the streets where just anyone can pass by

around about september 20th there was an earthquake in southern Asia that killed almost 3 times as many people as in the twin towers.... it got 2 minutes news coverage

holocaust remembrance day was pratically ignored in the news due to America balnket bombing a country who had no airforce with which to retaliate. They keep saying how important the lives of the victims were... how about several million Jews who only want to have a remembrance day once a year

what's worse is that they knew the attacks were going to happen and did nothing to protect the innocent

Quite frankly, Amercia has over-reacted. As i say, it IS a tragedy, but would like to be able to turn on mt television on the 11th of a month and NOT hear that this is the Xth anniversary of the terrorist attack. I want to know what is going on today, not months ago

What particularly gets on my nerves is the stupid campaigns that are going on.... ban all copies of Microsoft flight simulator, stop the new lord of the rings film being called "the two towers" (even though the book was named 50 years ago), make 911 change their name... the list goes on and on

From talking to a few of the Americans I know they actually agree with me. It's ten times worse over there. The news is still filled with stories from 9-11. Your average American is in fact over the whole thing, but the media wants to keep stirring up our sympathy to justify pummelling a defenseless nation. if they are not careful then they are going to provoke another much worse attack in the name of revenge

[mikie]

i agree
the american organisation NORAID only stopped funding the ira after sept 11th
also the birmingham/manchester pub bombings,omagh etc weren't exactly targeted against military infrastructure either
and, on the other hand if the american/british military were as precise in their surgical strikes in afganistan(?sp) as they were in the gulf "war" then a lot of civilians will have died through no fault of their own
however
this thread isn't about being pro- or anti- american, neither are the postings contained within from relliott
so could everyone just get a grip and throttle back on the misplaced invective

mikie

[VikMcG]

I think media has had alot of influence in people's thoughts on this matter. It was tragic and I will remember what I was doing the day it happened and thinking 'This can not be happening' . I was on holiday at the time and I had to fly back 4 days later - and truthfully I was worried. Alot of people died - My Aunt has a friend over there who happened to pull a sicky the day it happened. And I think was has made it more horrible was that it was an international building - other countries lost people.
However back to my media comment - as a public you are never fully aware of the true story. I admit the people who did this and planned it are nasty pieces of work. But you have to ask your self - why? Consider amercia has been mixing in the middle east for sometime - taking sides and applying weapons. I was watching the history channel a couple of weeks and I was surpised to find out that Amercia killed alot of people in South Korea before the second world war started. Again it is not a for and against arguement for Amercia - I admit that UK has done stuff that has been appalling.
Back to Angela's comment - I argee It is scary to think that someone somewhere could be planning an another attack.
I know that on the 11 september I will be thinking about what happened a year ago
Vicki
P.S The mistake amercians did make was voting George Bush in - That is just my opinion

[MartinC]

l rememebr sum1 saying to me once " we should never be allowed to forget what happened to the jews during the second world war - that way, we can ensure it will never happen again"

Yet, almost 60 years on, genocide and mass killing are still what occupys the centre spot of any media correspondence accessible to us. It is certain, as Vik(ki?) said, that the media are selective in their portrayal of such events, and so as citizens we are limited as to how we can contribute to the dealings of these issues.

Perhaps if we were to consider why such conflicts exists, rather than how many military resources we require to triumph in this power driven crusade, we could begin to dissolve the hatred that exists between nations.

Strategy is a far more effective tool that simply power alone......perhaps a concept many politicians have yet to encounter..........

[krystal]

..."why such conflicts exist".... the answer to that is known to a selection who are exepmt to ignorance and blessed with free-thinking, but what to do to make the 'world' realise rather than a few(?) Again it comes back to accepting, but why accept? To keep the peace? Hardly when the reverse is happening!

Step 1. Realisation
Step 2. Action (with our hands by our sides)

We can't account for the billions of deaths caused by the powerful few, but what we can do is see the other side, see when a power for one is a weakness for another > they may have physical power, but others have mental. The mental power to think and resolve issues without the use of weapons, and to conjure up other solutions, whenever possible is far more powerful than dropping explosives or hitting a trigger. Another key word springs to mind - 'hope'.