h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Oh, yeah - does anyone know if you can give blood if you're on Atenolol (a blood thinner) because you had a stupid teeny-tiny heart attack over two years ago?

In response to jwf...

I have a problem with the concept that this action was justified. Yes, it was obviously a message. There are lots of BETTER ways to get the message across than by killing off a hundred thousand people. If we all tried to communicate with each other by destroying the symbols of what we didn't like, then before too long everything would be nice, level, and radioactive.

I bet somebody could tell you.

The debate about US policies may well be a valid one, but I for one, don't intend to partake of it now. My heart aches for those people who lost their lives in this tragedy, who were injured, who know someone who has died, or worse, if they don't know. I only hope that things will turn out to be as good as they possibly could given the circumstances, and that those who are left to deal with this have love and support to get them through this.

This is a terrible terrible act. I just pray that things don't get any worse.

...but they probably won't get any better, at least not soon.

Here is some sick irony....

about 1 minute after the second plane crashed into the WTC, I got an email alert from [URL removed by moderator] with a cheap flight to New York.

jwf, when exactly was it demonstrated that willingness to die for a cause is proof of the cause's validity?

Mindless peacemongering is just as dangerous as mindless warmongering.

I just want to mention, by the way, that I kind of resent the equation of anti-globalization protests with this. Being a person who attends these protests, and will continue to do so, I will personally vouch that ninety nine percent of my fellow protesters are just as disgusted as you and I, if not more. It's the last percent that's dangerous, as among the rest of society.

More awful irony or synchronicity

I was watching in horror on CNN after the second plane collided. They cut to a commercial after a few moments, and it was advertising by Boeing about its jets bringing the world together. The cheeriness of the ad contrasted with the earlier horror was just gruesome.

I am sitting here stunned and weeping.

Weeping for all involved and for the world.

Regardless of motives - the fact is that thousands of people have died and that the world will never be the same again. The thought of what may follow is frightening. Revenge only breeds revenge.

I am sustaining myself with the belief that the majority of people in the world want peace - we must keep hoping and working towards understanding. It is saddest to think that in incidents like this it is people who are mothers and fathers and daughters and sons who die, and mothers and fathers and daughters and sons who are mourning.

I pray for compassion and peace, and I pray for humanity.

What's done is done and can't be undone - but we must now work towards a better future, starting now and starting with each one of us.

Weeping ....

Feisor

>> jwf, when exactly was it demonstrated that willingness to die for a cause is proof of the cause's validity? <<

I believe it was that great peace-monger Jesus Christ (or at least his followers) who made self-sacrifice a noble cause. At this point perhaps we can blame Him and maybe nuke the Vatican. Well it makes as much sense as anything else I've heard.

And I've yet to hear anyone say, "Gee, I guess somebody hates us, what are we doing wrong?"

No, they never consider the brilliantly articulate message that was delivered, first-class, through all media, today. Instead they go on looking for a single symbol of evil, a Hitler, a Napoleon, a Saddam a face they can blame and channel hatred and violence toward.

White, wealthy citizens of the world are still incapable of imagining how many billion anonymous human beings (who have no access to McDonald's or freely choose to avoid Big Macs) are tonight secretly praying that America's foreign affairs interpreters will recognise the universal language that cries out in the symbolism of what has happened and cause them to reconsider their greed and arrogance.

screw it
jwf

Christ.

Well, JWF, your attitude indicates that the persecution of the Jews by the Germans was justified, and that the Jewish people deserved gassing, torture, and starvation. They must have done *something* wrong, right?

Paugh. I have nothing more to say to you.

Or at least cause the the USs leaders to stop unilaterly undermining resolutions reached by a vast majority of the world's nations after these nations democratically-elected representatives have spent days/weeks/months in thoughtful democratic debate at various UN sponsored forums.

Just an FYI for US Citizens...
The unselfishness of everybody giving blood is one of the most refreshing and enheartening sentiments I've seen all day. There is, however, a bit of a problem. Blood is only good for 42 days... after that, it is not usable. The race to donate has definitely helped in today's situation, and the supply is doing well... but blood banks are worried about the supply in 43 days. You can only donate every 6 months. Please consider this before rushing to donate ....

A concerned, yet very proud American

jwf, you are an arrogant snob. You think you are the only one who knows that people hate the US? You think that we don't know that this happened because someone hates us? You think we are sitting around thinking "Wow, one of our loving friends just blew up the World Trade Center and killed thousands of people."

We know we are not perfect. We know that sometimes we do the wrong thing, we make mistakes. But I would rather live here in the US than anywhere else in the world. There is no greater country in the world, even with all our faults. I can think of no greater proof of this than the fact that we *are* the target of so much hatred and abuse. Small-minded, petty, jealous people will always attack the good in others if for no other reason than because they do not measure up to it.

And you calling what happened today a "brilliantly articulate message" makes you as sick as the madmen who did it. This was not a "message" it was a CRIME! Committed by little men of no moral character.

And by the way, as you pointed out, Jesus Christ was into "SELF-sacrifice", not murdering thousands of innocents.

Your comments disgust me.

Lentilla, atrocities happen in war. If religion is involved then, for some unknown reason, the atrocities take on a deeper meaning. Sadly, humans repeat their mistakes, as can be seen today in the occupied territories.

pardon me for being 'dumb' but why must everything in the end turn out to be full of anger...we (and i mean we as in everyone of us no matter where on this little blue ball we happen to live) just lost thousands of friends, relatives or total strangers who in one way or another were just like us...doing the best we can to live each day and make it to the next, getting up every morning just like we do and live never thinking that today is the last day they have. that today is the last time they will ever see their families or that this is the last day their families will ever see them. what happened today could be for any number of reasons but let us not forget that those people who died here today were humans just like us and had families just like us.
yes, we all need to stand back and take a long look in the mirror but last time i checked stones did not work well when they were thrown at glass houses (none of us are perfect and all of our leaders have their faults). just for now, let's remember what happened today, mourn the terrible loss and help our fellow humans to cope with their loss and go on with their lives. hopefully some good can come from something this terrible...hopefully at least a few of us will learn to love a little more and throw stones a little less.
Monsy

I don't think the US is perfect, I spend my time fighting for the rights of the people the US screws over around the world, and I see how in some history class in twenty years the attack will make historical contact - but at the same time does that justify it? does that make it ok, or silly of the world's leaders to make statements of sorrow? No.

Just that, no. No. No. It's not okay. It's never ok to kill civilians - and yes I know the US does that - but that doesn't make killing more an acceptable answer... no.

Today is not for politics, today is for mourning the dead. Tomorrow you can accuse. for now why don't we respect the many who have lost their lives or their family? please?

Correction Apollo...

You can donate blood every eight weeks, as I have done for the past fifteen years.

I would also like to note that even if you can not give blood but still want to help, the American Red Cross is also accepting monetary donations to help out with relief. You can do it via phone or their website.