Sept. 30, 2001

By Staff
Think about
the children
To the Editor:
Here I am, sitting and reclining in fair comfort at my home, recuperating from aortic aneurysm surgery. Without complications, my ailments shall very soon disappear and I will be back on the golf course and working in my backyard garden.
The recent tragedies in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania weigh heavy on many a heart. Many families were affected by those actions of extremist mad men. My heart is burdened by all of the losses.
But, to me, the most terrible thought of it all is to think about the little children as they continually watch and listen at their front door, looking for their mommas and daddies to come home from work, or from a flight they had made.
Many of the little ones have surely already been told momma or daddy has gone to live with Jesus, but they will not understand this nor accept this in their mind and heart at such a young age. My prayer is that God will quickly ease the loneliness and heartbreak of these little children and that someone has stepped in to each one's life to try to see that they are comforted and taken care of in the best ways possible.
My little surgery problem will soon go away. My wish is that the heartaches of those little children could dissipate just as quickly.
Bobby Rushing
Meridian
Open letter
to terrorists
You have knocked us down, but only temporarily. We have gotten up. You have awakened a new high in our feeling for patriotism. Our flag flies high and in many cases at half-staff in honor of those you killed. We have again placed the yellow ribbons in our yards and the flag on our mailbox.
Yes, you have hurt us. But, yes, we outnumber you. Yes, you will be hunted down and when found, you will be destroyed. Yes, you will not find any place to hide your cowardly head. Yes, we have your number. Yes, we will look for you and, yes, we will turn you in.
And, finally, we will survive while you will perish.
Billy Wayne Ethridge
Collinsville
The Red, White
and Blue
To the Editor:
Last week someone complained about the newscasters wearing red white and blue ribbons. They all took them off. This is so sad when our newscasters let someone tell them what to believe. They should keep them on or go to another country where they are not allowed any freedom at all.
God bless America and keep the colors up.
Jane Yancey
Meridian
A generation
defined
To the Editor:
In every generation, there is a moment of tragedy that defines who you are. We "baby boomers" have lived through a plethora of such moments.
Everyone old enough remembers where they were when President John F. Kennedy was gunned down and the theories of who did it and why. Everyone
remembers the senseless killing of Dr. Martin Luther King and the theories of who did it and why. Every-one remembers the untimely murder of Sen. Robert Kennedy and the theories of who did it and why.
Everyone remembers President Richard Nixon waving goodbye to the American public, a fallen leader leaving office in disgrace. Everyone remembers the attempt of a madwoman to take the life of President Gerald Ford. Everyone remembers the shootings of the Pope and President Ronald Reagan, each sustaining near mortal wounds.
Everyone remembers watching spellbound as missiles rained down upon Iraq during Desert Storm. Everyone remembers the grueling impeachment process of President William J. Clinton and the division it caused in the nation. Everyone remembers the 2000 presidential election and the literal "split down the middle" that it caused in the political sea.
On 11 September, 2001, an event occurred that not only defines who we are but who we have become. The unspeakable acts of terrorism perpetrated against our divided nation have done more to unite us in a few short days than any other event in the history of our country.
No longer are we a nation of Democrats and Republicans divided senselessly over policies. No longer are we a nation of blacks and whites divided senselessly over racial intolerance. No longer are we a nation of men and women divided senselessly over equality. No longer are we a nation of heterosexuals and homosexuals divided senselessly over our differences. No longer are we a nation of senseless division, but a nation of Americans who have learned that life is as fragile as the paper our Constitution is written on.
We have become the nation that our forefathers envisioned, United States, with the common goals of life and liberty and the willingness to do whatever it takes to insure that a nation "of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth."
Dennis Snider
Meridian