Has any one noticed......?

We are fast approaching 4,000 members. It's people like us, friends, confidantes, helpers, advocates, companions, and supporters, who make up the backbone of America. After all has been said and done by the politicians and the military, it will be common folk like us, bringing peace, beauty and stability in our homes, within our families and in our neighborhoods, who will knit this country back together again. That is how we can be pro-active in this terrible time.

America's backbone is it's people! This unity we will continue to bond together.

"eyes"

woodspirit1,

are you aware that quite many of these members are not USAmerican?

I had always thought that DG is an international forum, as it says on the top right "For gardeners... by Gardeners".
As long as there isn't written "For American Gardeners only" it would be nice to consider this aspect.

I understand the wave of patriotism that has developed after the horrible happenings in the recent days.
But I would feel unwanted in a forum that allows exclusion of foreigners.

I'm sure Woodspirit did not been to exclude foreigners. She was merely calling upon those members who are Americans to do their best to promote peace and stability here and in their country. The fact is, these terrorist attacks have not limited themselves to Americans; people of many countries have fallen victim to these same terrorist groups.

Please understand this and do not take offense unnecessarily, okay?

I am hoping one of the developments from this tragedy is an opening of eyes and hearts both in America and world wide, that will make us realise we are not alone as nations. Every action, every reaction has deep international repercussions, and we need to consider those as well as the immediate effects.

For example, did you know Mr Greenslades pronouncements on the US economy are immediately reflected in my weekly mortgage payment - way out here on the edges of the world!

We are really very close.

Yes, yes, yes!! I definitely don't think anybody meant to exclude non-US folks. We love all our members, and our international audience makes us stronger!

I'm thrilled to have representatives from so many different countries present here. I believe it makes for a stronger DG.

Dave

As far a this American is concerned,
I am proud that DG is host to many a gardner- that nationality is not part of being a member. Yet, as an American, I, too, am zealous for my country...my roots are here...and I understand and see how important it is for my feelow countrymen to voice their thoughts, and felleings.... I am also aware that we all need each other, despite what country we live in - we are ALL God's people, and I hope, all united against terrorism!! This is going to be more than just something America will be involved... I think many more countries will also stand up and be counted- this horrible things called terrorism needs to be fought by all us!
-JSS

Susanne, of course, in the heat of the moment, perhaps my remarks sounded exclusionary but as the others have posted, I just meant that we should ALL work hard in our way to promote peace and tolerance, especially religious tolerance. I swear, I think that if we made everyone garden, there would be peace, lol. Gardening is one activity that is a definite equalizer. You can't fake it, blame someone else, lie to yourself about it, or deny good and/or bad results. The realism is excellent for people who think with their egos.
As for me, I was born in NYC although my parents were southern and I spent most of my life in the south. I did, however, spend my grammar school years only about 10 blocks north of the World Trade Center. There is something about New York that causes its natives to think it is like one huge shining schist, impenetrable, mighty and (Just a bit too) proud.
But.... we also have always known we were a target since the days of WWII. When I was kid, a teacher would ring a bell or hold up a red string for a bomb drill. We were to dive under our desks and pull them over us, like this was going to help us in a nuclear holocaust!! What it really did was give us lifelong nightmares.
I was home with a bad cold on Sept. 11. I was watching CNBC when the anchor, Mark Haines, who broadcasts live from New Jersey, whipped his head around, looked out a large picture window and exclaimed, "Is that the World Trade Center"? The first tower was on fire. After that they zoomed in with their cameras and all talk of the stock market ceased. I was talking to a friend on the phone when I saw the 2nd plane in the corner of the screen. I knew what he was going to do because I knew it was a "NO-FLY" zone. So I laid there helpless, knowing what was about to happen and knowing that it was NOT an accident, but terrorism. When the second plane hit, I saw it live. I screamed and nearly broke the eardrum of my friend on the other end of the line. He still thought I was talking about an accident such as the ones the Empire State Building went through a few times. It was as though it had finally happened. New York was now fully vulnerable and we had no idea what other hit could happen.
Another great thing about living in New York to me, was all the different immigrants and cultures. I loved the diversity and still think our immigrant laws made sense. I went to school with blacks, long before the south was finally forced to accept the Supreme Court decision, Puerto Ricans and other Spanish-speaking peoples, Italians, Chinese, Irish, LItuanians, Poles, Jews, Hungarians, and many others.
When my husband visited NYC in the early 60s, he and a friend were over at the United Nations complex. A group of children walked by in every human skin color and with very exotic clothing from all over the world. My husband naturally assumed that they were the children of the UN diplomats. They weren't. They were New York City school children.


This message was edited Sunday, Oct 21st 8:12 PM

It seems there is a little American in almost everyone these days. Our leaders are talking and making deals with nations we only a short time ago scolded and feuded with. To everything there is a season. None of us can be an island and succeed, and decent people everywhere know what's right when they see it. Our shores have welcomed peoples from even the most remote corners of the earth, and it becomes more difficult every day to find a pure, unadulterated Native. In fact, Native Americans didn't invent the bombs, we had to get that from citizens of other nations. We haven't made some of the most significant medical advances of all time with Pure Americans; so much has come from other nations and cultures. We haven't been cutting-edge leaders in quite a few technologies, and have relied on a rainbow of others to help us prove and promote each development. What we have been is what no other nation has achieved: We are America. Land of opportunity, hope for the masses. Friends in need. Champion of the oppressed. In other countries I have visited, citizens are ordered to display the flag of the ruling body, and to pray at appointed times. In our country, we wave the flag as we feel the urge. We attend church or we don't, and no officer arrests us if we don't. We disagree with our leaders and each other, and it's okay. That's why we're here, because our forefathers and foremothers realized the importance of freedom, personal and public. And we are good enough to welcome the entire world to a little (?) website where we can share our interests. One of the hijackers was reported to have said, in the months before the WTC attack, that he could go anywhere in our country he wished and no one would stop him, and then he said we shouldn't allow so much freedom. I say to him and others of his ilk, we should insist on it, for the entire world, and those who don't want it should remain in their caves instead of stealing our planes and murdering our people in response to our hospitality. Old glory, long may she wave, and welcome to all who come peacefully. A seed knows no politics.

As one of the congressman,I think it was Tom Daschle,said about the terrorists "they think our freedom is our weakness,it is our strength".

This message was edited Monday, Oct 22nd 4:28 AM