A day of mourning

RT · #1 10-20-2002, 02:20 AM

Today in Australia we had a day of mourning for those Australians who lost their lives in Bali.
the nation flew there flags at half mast and we all were wearing a sprig of wattle. The nation stopped at 12.00 midday for a minute silence as respect.

Casey and I have still not heard about our missing mates in Bali and I have come to the conclusion that they where one of the 120 Australians murdered in Bali by what happened last Saturday night inBali.

I don't know what feels worse, being told my father had had a stroke and was close to death or hearing that two of my close friends are in Bali and are missing.

I don't want sympathy as a person but would appreciate if the World would learn from what happend in Bali that war is not the answer to world peace but respecting ones believes as an individual or as a nation.

RT

luvnaturism · #2 10-20-2002, 11:49 AM

[RT -

Please accept my personal concern and caring in this difficult time, both for your personal loss and the collective loss that has touched your nation so profoundly.

The same modern technology that makes communication and travel so easy for people of good will also makes it easier for people of evil intent to inflict destruction and death.

We were on the island of Rhoades on the morning of September 12, 2001 - just the day after the coordinated attacks on the US. We were walkling through the old city, where shops line narrow streets. A merchant saw us and came out to us.

"You Americans?" he asked. His English wasn't so good, but it was a lot better than my Greek.

We were wary. We thought he wanted to talk us into inspecting his wares, and we weren't in the mood. We were still trying to absorb the news from the US.

"Yes, we're Americans."

He grabbed my hand, looked me in the eye, and said, "Hold your head high. America is a great country. The people who did this to you will pay." Then he went back to his store.

That spontaneous act of a generous heart meant worlds to us, and I still think of it frequently. I share it with you now as a way of saying that the number of people of good will around the world who identify with you and your country in this tragedy to wish you well is beyond knowing, but it is very large.