A quote in one of the last posts on the old thread was too good to miss, so in case someone did miss it--from lcj:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>"Among the Reasons God May Temporarily Be Unavailable to Bless America:
1) because God has had it up to here with the assumption that prayers for national exemption from pain and tragedy deserve an answer.
2) because God is too busy processing Americans prayers for their high school football teams.
3) because God takes for granted that the bombs falling on Kabul are Americans real prayers.
4) because such a tasteless and lurid efflorescence of red, white, and blue (including flags wrapped around church steeples) gives God a massive headache."
--Rev. Peter Laarman, Judson Church, NYC<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>One might add,
5) Because God is too busy trying to get someone to take care of cold and starving Afghanis and other people around the world who need food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention (and animals who need help, too).

Todd, you can call me whatever you like, including knee-jerk. This is the one place I know of where (most of the time) I can say what I'm feeling, and work through it to what I think, which may or may not be what I started with, because there isn't automatic name-calling and labeling. There can be knee-jerking on all aspects of any issue, btw. Also, I was one of those who viewed your opening post at first but didn't comment, for two reasons: (1) your opening post is good enough to need some thought before making a quick, reactionary, or knee-jerk, post and (2) My dad's dying and I've been kind of busy this week. Sorry.

ceashel,,,you view me as you see your world, not as i am. i was just yelling HEY!..no more, no less. if you focus on me you'll miss all the heavenly glory.

for what it's worth..i'll be thinking of your father all day and on. peace.

Hope your dad gets better & things go well for your family Peace & god Blesss... <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/peace.gif" width=16 height=16>

Thanks, Todd, for the kind words, and I'm sorry I snapped at you. My nerves are a little on edge right now. And thank you, too Cheryl. With Alzheimer's at this point, he's bound to "get better," really soon, and it will be a blessing for him. If you wish anything, wish for that, please.

Cea, I'm so sorry to hear the news about your father. I know what you're saying about what's a blessing for him, having nursed my mother through the last stages of cancer, and having died twice myself (coming back is the absolute pits, believe me). Nevertheless. Watching someone you love die is ... Well, that's what you're doing, so you sure don't need me to tell you what it's like.

So, how about you? How are you holding up? You've got my e-mail address. If there is any way at all I can help you through this time, <u>please</u> feel free to go right ahead and use me. I mean that. This place and these people are largely responsible for making the time of my mother's death bearable for me, so I owe big time anyway.

todd...i'm another of the guilty ones that viewed and didn't respond. been busy lately, and the head has been even fuzzier than normal thanks to a cold. but, it's worth it to view and not respond just to have you tell us all to fuck off. it makes me smile to know you're feeling good when you do. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

cea.. what is there to say? i'm sorry you're going through all this. my thoughts and prayers are with you, dad and the assorted other family members.

Like Deb, I apologize to you guys that I'm too damn busy for my own good. I'd love to hang out here more than I do (though I know there's a few who are grateful that I don't!).

Todd, its great to see you back around with some piss and vinegar. It warmed my heart hearing you say "fuck off". Life is good.

Cea, I'm so sorry about your dad. Losing someone you love is one of life's most painful things. Perhaps 'thee' most. My thoughts are with you.

Pat, you called me a knee-jerk last week. I agree about the jerk part, but the knee part, naaahhhh. I luv ya anyway.

"don't ease, don't ease
don't ease me in......"

Wow, sorry to hear about the Alzheimers. Right now in my family my Aunt & Uncle both have it & it's rough esp for my cousin whos taking care of them both. He does an admirable job of handling a bad situation. It hard not only for the patients but their families too... Good luck with your dad! Peace! <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/peace.gif" width=16 height=16>

Thank you all. This will be the third death in my close family in the past year and it is hard, but you make it much better for me by being here. This is not "on topic" at all, so I'll post more about it tomorrow on Moose Friends because I do need you right now. Thanks again to everyone, and GOOD MORNING, AFGHANISTAN!!! While they wake up over there, I'm going TO BED!!! Yea, Valerian!

Lcj, did I call you knee jerk last week? Can't remember for sure, but I think I was referring to someone else. I'm sorry, lcj, you just can't hog all the insults. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

Anyway, I'll add my apology to the heap. Been very busy, too and it doesn't look like letting up for a couple of weeks. Also, some days you feel like sharing your hot air, and other days are better for just reading what's going on. At least for me. I don't know why.

Ceashel, I'm very sorry about your Dad and the year you've had. There's been rather a lot of death and illness around here recently, too. It sucks, bigtime. Sometimes this mortality thing really bites.

Well, bed for me, too. Hope to be around more after the next couple of weeks or so.

Hah, amazingly enough, I wasn't one of the 11 that viewed this thread - I wasn't even in town that day, heck, I wasn't even near a computer for that matter...so there...
then again, some of your posts are so rational and plausible that they do require some contemplation before response, as someone else noted...
anywho, I guess I'll break down and buy HST's latest book from his website in your honor - I'll bring to the Church in the fall if you haven't read it by then...

Sorry to hear about your Dad, Ceashel - let me know if there's anything I can do or if you want to compare notes or anything...

i am humbled..thanks stew et al!!

Hey Doc!! i sold another book. you owe me a drink!

Hey bro, I just wanna let you know that I am watching , listening and learning. I am not oblivious, just quiet!
Damn hippies. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

Todd, me too. Read your post right after you restarted the thread--liked what you said and had nothing to add. Got too busy, sick, etc. to catch up 'till now. Congrats on the 60 days, btw!

Hey all!

A few things, having mentally consumed some of what the posts were about.
1st off: Todd why did you feel possessed to post the lyrics to a No Doubt song on a thread about the war? just curious...

I agree about wanting to <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/puke.gif" width=45 height=15> at Bush's unraveling of well, pretty much everything, but yeah education and scholarships too.

Um, the use of the word 'towelhead'...i really don't want to tread on anyone's first amendment here but don't you think that using racist terms like this is something we might want to like, NOT do!??? C'mon man, listen to Bumper! "ooone love...one heart..." y'know, Marley-style! From one Irishperson to another <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/lookout.gif" width=15 height=15>

Oh k, i have to go now, leaving work, but I'll have more to say later on...