I am mildy...no, very, disgusted

[Bootsy Whoosh]

I have been catching up on the board here and I must say, some of the things I am reading are literally making me a little bit sick to my stomach! Things like "someone said the japs did it" or "if there's a war we are gonna kick bootay!" etc. etc. (and I am paraphrasing here...I don't remember who said what and I don't care, because I am not trying to single anyone out here.)

But I feel I have to say, we should not be celebrating IF (and I emphasize the "if") we go to war. War is no picnic! We can be patriotic, we can support our troops and our government, we can love the USA, but that is far different from jumping up and down and dancing around the room because we are going to war!

My suspicion is that many people posting such things are so young that they have never seen war (just being alive during Desert Storm doesn't count...I am saying some people must be too young to remember it). I remember where I was when Operation Desert Shield was escalated to Desert Storm, and I was only in sixth grade, but it was still a somber moment! I was not jumping up and down saying "go us, we are gonna kick some ass!"

Sheesh! I am just getting madder as I write. I am not wanting to come down hard on people, because I suspect some are too young and too immature to realize the full ramifications of what has happened, and I suppose I should not expect you to. I suppose many people here have never had to worry about their family and friends fighting overseas...But...well, I just don't know what to say anymore. I know I have no right to tell anyone how to think, behave, or feel, and this post is not intended to do that. But I at least have a right to voice how I feel, so I suppose that is all I am doing.

[FOL & DS fan 4ever]

That's Ok Bootsy, I understand. I don't like when ppl use the word "japs" either.

I must add to this that war is indeed no fun. And whether we want to admit it or not, when and if we do go to war to retaliate, it will make Desert Storm look like a picnic. Believe me, we will all suffer in some respect.




[This message has been edited by FOL & DS fan 4ever (edited 09-14-2001).]

[Max Whittaker]

Yes Bootsy, I've read some things by some members that I never expected them to say! But I think things are calming down a bit now.


I noticed you weren't around for a while. Welcome back. How are you holding up?

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Help others before you help yourself.

[Cokies]

I know what you mean, Bootsy.
I just think it's hard for young people to grasp what happened, just like you said. I'm young, barely sixteen, and I'm still having a hard time comprehending it all.
As little as I remember from Desert Storm, I do recall knowing our country was "dealing with some bad guys", as my mother would sum it up for me then. Of course I understand it now, as I do the Oklahoma City Bombing(even more vividly).
But this is absolutely horrendous. It's still hard to think that hundreds, to thousands of people have died. Still hard to think that the Twin Towers aren't there anymore. Still hard to understand that someone could be capable of such a thing. Just to think of the hate they must of had for America.
They're just so blinded by their own misfortunes...

[lesliem14]

Thank you Bootsy for posting this. I'm a World War I history buff and the parallels from what people thought war would be then and what it actually was and a lot of the responses on this board have been one and the same. People celebrated all over Europe when war broke out in 1914, thinking of it as a Romantic conquest, when it became anything but that. Europe hadn't experienced a war in 50 years, much like we haven't experienced a war since Vietnam. As a college student approaching graduation in May, I don't even want to think about my classmates and the crew guys (I'm on women's crew and we do a lot of stuff with the guy's team) being drafted and sent off to war, let alone my coach who is in the Navy Reserve. Too frightening for words and hearing people on this board considering war as a party does not help matters at all.



[This message has been edited by lesliem14 (edited 09-14-2001).]

[FOL & DS fan 4ever]

I have edited my message above (again) and I want to follow up on that by asking the following question: Has anyone at this board actually used the word "Jap" in a derogatory manner, or were they just quoting something that someone else said?

[Ags2000]

Originally posted by FOL & DS fan 4ever:
I have edited my message above (again) and I want to follow up on that by asking the following question: Has anyone at this board actually used the word "Jap" in a derogatory manner, or were they just quoting something that someone else said?

I don't remember who said it, but basically what was posted was that they said somebody told them that they thought the japs had done this. They were quoting what somebody had told them. I don't think they meant for it to be derogatory in any manner, but that is what was posted at that time.

D



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September 11, 2001
A day that will never be forgotten because WE will not let it be forgotten.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the friends and families involved in these horrendous acts against humanity. They will NEVER be forgotten. We will NOT let the terrorists cause terror all across our great nation. We will continue, and we WILL survive.

To those that lost their lives September 11, 2001: Vaya con Dios!

-------------------------
im me anytime at DannieB2OOO

[FOL & DS fan 4ever]

Thanks for clearing that up Ags2000. I hate to jump and use the word "racism" or "racist" when the person (whoever that was, it doesn't matter now...) was merely quoting someone else. I should have known that FOL fans are cooler than that!

[FOL & DS fan 4ever]

Sidenote: In the above message I said that FOL fans are cooler than that, assuming that whoever the poster was must have been a FOL fan. Sorry if I assumed wrong, but it seems like almost everyone who comes to this Chit-Chat board is a fan of FOL.

I'm done for now, and goodnight http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/sleep2.gif

[theshark8777]

Thats what happens on a board full of kids though. They don't know any better.

God Bless The USA

[~*hosebabe87*~]

Originally posted by theshark8777:
Thats what happens on a board full of kids though. They don't know any better.

God Bless The USA

now I am not saying that I am an adult or completely mature or anything, I'm only 13, but I am sick and tired of people thinking that we "young kids"(which i am, don't get me wrong) don't know the intensity or what happened and what will happen. Just because I'm only 13, people think that they need to explain this all very carefully to me, and that they shouldn't tell me everything that is going on because they think I can't handle it. And I'm not only talking about people on this board, but everyone. Me and other people my age can handle it, and we DON'T want war! who does?!?! and we are DEFINITELY NOT cheering it on! When people say that we are going to kick butt if we go to war, they are only saying that they are cheering for the US and hope that we get through this very soon.

I am sorry if I took this all to far, but I am really annoyed. And I don't want anyone here to think that I am mad at them, because I definitely am not, but people need to realize that we kids are people with feelings too, and that we deserve to know the truth......... God Bless America!


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~*MaRtA*~ you people formaly know me as registered member Marta, but I realized how boring that was so I changed it to this! hehe!! peace out!

[Kay Scarpetta]

What the heck is a "Jap"??? And no, I am not that young so don't even go there, you CAN explain it.

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I am Queen Karli Blair Warner, Queen of the Koalas, Bananas, Monkies, CUPCAKES and Insanity and good friends with my fellow Queen, Queen Kaley Jinny Exstead, Co-Queen of the Asparagus Bobs, Pigs, Penguins, Coke, Insanity, and Cows! MUAHAHAHAHA!!!!

IM me at:
Eastlandgal7988

Lisa Whelchel will always be in my heart as the greatest actress who ever lived
And the New York Yankees ROCK! the Boston
Red FLOPS SUCK SO MUCH! The Yanks will take the 2001 World Series!!!

[DarleneIllyria]

Bootsy, you must be a mind reader. I was reading posts last night and it made me sick to see what some people are posting about the attack.

I wanted to post a topic saying how disgusted I was, but I didn't want to have a million negative comments toward me. Thank you Bootsy for posting this topic.

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Hottest Men alive:
Dale Midkiff
Anthony Starke
Tim McGraw
Jonathan Crombie

Lumpy: Did you go out for anything, Dud?

Dudley: Well, I went out for football, but I got my finger stepped on, so my mother made me quit.

Eddie: Well listen-- I went out for basketball and I got my hair pulled, and my mother made ME quit.

Dudley: It's not that I was afraid of getting hurt or anything; it's just that-- well, it's kind o' hard to play the flute with a busted finger.

[Eddie and Lumpy suppress laughter]

[Meg07945]

You know what is worse than the "Jap" comments....now NJ has enough racial profiling, but now they are picking up anyone who look Arab/Middle Eastern. And the US might blacklist a lot of Middle Eastern countries. hmm.. my dad goes on bussiness there a few times a year. Also, an exchange student from last year was looking forward to going to college in the US. If they blacklist Turkey, she won't have the chance. That is just terrible..I can't even begin...my dad says maybe they will give her a student visa, though. I dunno... anyway getting back to the racial profiling, doesn't that just kill you? I cannot stand it. During WW2, the US put Japanese-Americans in camps...isn't this as bad?

[Swimfan85]

Originally posted by Lisa Whelchel Forever:
What the heck is a "Jap"??? And no, I am not that young so don't even go there, you CAN explain it.



it is what some people call jewish american princess, hope that helps a little

and i no i am "young" or w/e im 15 but i can handle what ever is going on but i hate it all, i just wish it would all go away and wished tht this never happened! it is so depressing to think about~ and dont think ya were talking bout me cuz i have not really said much on this topic about the terriorst acts, like i have a few post but when people sterotype people like we are all little kids and dont know what we are talking bout well some of us that is true but other of us do so..but i mean i am not an expert on the topic i mean there is so much information to take in and comprehend but its not like im completely igornent, espically with all i am going thur with knowing lots of people

[Bootsy Whoosh]

Ok, so many things to say:

1.) While a "jap" can mean "Jewish American princess" the way that it was referenced was probably meant to refer to the Japanese. The term "jap" came about primarily after WWII and is a derogatory term for the Japanese. (Jewish American princess is also derogatory in my book.)

2.) While I am glad and knew all along that the person who posted the "jap" comment was merely passing along something someone else told them, I believe that it was irresponsible to pass it on at all. When one hears a racist comment, is it OK to pass it along as long as it wasn't your words? Or is it better to realize that those things might hurt someone's feelings and are not worthy of repeating?

3.) My original post was not meant to be an all around bash young people post. It was not long ago that I was a teenager myself, and I vividly remember what ageism was like at that age. So please, take the tim eto see what I actually said. I said "some" young people, not "all". I also said "I suspect", meaning that these are just guesses and opinions, and I could be entirely wrong. If you do not see yourself in the behavior I described, then rest assured you are not among those I was referring to.

4.) As for the racial profiling....while I agree that for the most part profiling is disgusting and irresponsible, I believe it is a slightly differnt matter in this situation. I think investigating Arabs around NY, D.C., and FL is more of a national security issue than it is racist. I am sure that the investigators realize that not all Arabs are responsible, but the fact of the matter is, they simply have to investigate anybody. That is how a criminal investigation works. If you were mugged by a white male, would you be angry if the police investigated innocent white males while trying to find your attacker? They can't just walk out onto the street and immediately find your attacker without looking into any and all suspects. Personally, I do not think that investing suspects is as bad as the blatant racism of imprisioning Japanese in camps.

That said, I do feel that the hate-crimes, threats, etc. that have been directed at our fellow Americans that happen to be of Arabian or Indian descent is disgusting. The people who engage in such racist behavior are only lowering themselves to the mentalities of the terrorists.

5.) As for the U.S. blacklisting certain Middle Eastern countries....I have not seen a list of what countries you are referring to, but if I had to guess, they would be countries with a history of bad relations with the U.S., such as Iraq, Iran, Syria, and now Afganistan. Not all Middle Eastern countries will be blacklisted. Turkey and Pakistan at the very least are American allies and are pledging to allow us to use their land to station troops. (I do not know if they are historical or official allies, but as of now they are pledging to help us. And I believe Turkey is a member of NATO, and all NATO countries are our allies).

[Max Whittaker]

It seems you have given this issue a lot of thought,Boots.

[Lynn]

Thanks Bootsy for saying so well what I was also thinking. I just wanted to add my thoughts. Although a few young people may need our help in understanding the seriousness of the situation, there are many young people on this board who have shown great maturity at a time that is very difficult and heartbreaking for people of all ages.

I too am sickened to see people, who do not deserve to call themselves Americans, acting in such a despicable manner as to taunt and threaten fellow Americans, who happen to be Muslim or of Arabic decent. I am referring to the ignorant people on the streets who are terrorizing others and who are therefore no better than the terrorists. They certainly do not represent what American stands for and I hope we all condemn their actions.

On this national day of remembrance, my thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims, their families and friends, the rescuers, and to all the people affected by this tragedy.

[Kay Scarpetta]

That was very well said, Bootsy http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/wink.gif

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I am Queen Karli Blair Warner, Queen of the Koalas, Bananas, Monkies, CUPCAKES and Insanity and good friends with my fellow Queen, Queen Kaley Jinny Exstead, Co-Queen of the Asparagus Bobs, Pigs, Penguins, Coke, Insanity, and Cows! MUAHAHAHAHA!!!!

IM me at:
Eastlandgal7988

Lisa Whelchel will always be in my heart as the greatest actress who ever lived
And the New York Yankees ROCK! the Boston
Red FLOPS SUCK SO MUCH! The Yanks will take the 2001 World Series!!!

[nancysbiggestfan]

Originally posted by Bootsy Whoosh:
Things like "someone said the japs did it"

I said that, but I didn't say it. I was saying that someone in my school said that. And it really did disgust me. And i dont like it either when they refer to the Japanese as Japs.

Just thought I would point that out. Not to be rude or saying that you did say that i said it.



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²Tiffany²

LYLAS or LYLAB
Peace Out!

Teddy: Hey, I'm making you an offer you can't refuse.

Jinny: Look, you know who I am, OK? You know who my family is. Why do you even wanna be with me at all?
Teddy: Because, I love you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jinny: Basically, people are who people are. Your born, you die pretty much the same person. All the rest is just window dressing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[a NaNcY FaNaTiC]

Good post, Bootsy. I'm only 17 but I do remember a little about Desert Storm. Not a lot, but enough to know that war is indeed nothing to be happy about. We can be happy that justice will be served and that those responsible will pay, but actual war is devastating.