I wanted to share this. Some will get it, some won't. Sorry it's so long.

Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States. It is the anniversary of innocence lost for the American people as a nation. It is the anniversary of rediscovered patriotism. It is the anniversary of the average citizen rising to the occasion and becoming a hero to a nation. Those aboard Flight 93 and many of those that entered the burning WTC to rescue as many as possible before the towers collapsed, sacrificed their lives to save others. Their sacrifice should have taught us much.

It should have taught us to put aside our differences and see a world of people. It should have taught us to just do what needs to be done, to act in the face of adversity. Their sacrifice should have taught us that one person can make a difference, but many acting as one can save a world.

Many rose to the occasion after the attacks and donated time, money, blood to the survivors and the families of those lost. Many others offered their services in whatever way needed to the survivors and others affected by the attacks. But it should not stop there, and it should not stop with only those affected by the attacks. The attacks have opened a door to the people in this nation, and around the world. It has opened a door of reaching out to those in need, during crisis and during everyday life.

We have changed as a nation. We have lost our innocence and we have lost the feeling of being seperate from the rest of the world. We have learned a new fear, a fear that many throughout the world have lived with for many years and live with every day, a fear of not being safe in our own homes, in our own little world. And yet there was a greater lesson to be learned. We are NOT seperate from the rest of the world. What we do effects others, just as they effect us. But that effect does not stop at our door, our neighborhood, or the boundaries of a country.

As a nation, we have become more aware of those beyond our borders. We have become more aware of what occurs outside our own nation. We have become more aware of a world. It is that awareness that can lead us in directions that we never dreamed of.

In honor of those throughout history that have given their lives to make a positive change in the way we think, the way we live, and the way we love, tomorrow on the anniversary of heros made, give back that which was given to you, a love so great that a man would die to save your life.

One person can affect a change, one voice can make a difference, but many voices raised as one can create a miracle.

Ways in which you can affect change around you and throughout the world:

~Volunteer at a soup kitchen

~Volunteer at a homeless shelter

~Volunteer at a nursing home and spend time with a forgotten grandparent

~Make sandwiches and give them out to the homeless that you see and look for those you don't see

~Visit a child in a group home or a detention center (one caring person can change the whole direction of the rest of their life)

~Reach out to someone who has no one

~Give blood

~Volunteer at the humane society (stray dogs, cats, and other animals need love too)

~Take a homeless person out to lunch

~Donate items you no longer use or need to shelters or various organizations and agencies

~Donate food to a food pantry

~Give a hug to a stranger (There are no strangers only unmet friends)

I'm sure you get the idea. Make an effort to do the same once a week, or if you can't afford once a week, make the effort to do so on the 11th of each month. One day a month is not too much to ask when others have given a lifetime.

Throughout history one person has made a difference: Jesus, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Theresa, and the list goes on. These individuals acted. They saw a need and they reached out to that need. They didn't find excuses. They didn't create excuses. They acted and did what had to be done. If they, acting alone, can affect the kind of change that they have throughout the world, imagine what a world of people acting together can do.

Forward this to those you know. Sign it simply,

One Voice For Peace

One voice can make a difference in the world. Many voices raised as one, can work miracles.

http://www.1voice4peace.com

Sign the P2K petition at the above url. Peace throughout 2000 and beyond.

Wonderful idea, and thank you!

Hi!! I am passing this on in e-mail...


p.s. the form for the petition isn't working... add my name please.



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[This message was edited Tue Sep 10 15:17:17 PDT 2002 by AzureStar]

Hi Sag and Azure. And thank you both! Oh Azure, in the email I sent, please correct my typos before sending it out. I was holding a rambunctious one year old while typing. lol Thanks dearheart.

PS I'll have your name added and will see what I can do about the form.
[This message was edited Tue Sep 10 15:22:43 PDT 2002 by LittleRedCorvette]

so, on Thursday, can we all grow up?

LittleRedCorvette said:

I certainly will! I'm also going to print some out, there's a place over here where I can leave a stack of flyers. I hope that's okay.

I sent to 12 of my friends! And typos are ok...

ditto on the petition.

I think that I will go to work tomorrow and then I will come home... I will then hang around and play with my son... then I will go to sleep... that is my agenda.

IceNine said:

good idea!
[This message was edited Tue Sep 10 15:27:18 PDT 2002 by sag10]

As my career is in the field of social services, I have just one thing to add to the above:

If you volunteer someplace, please be aware that it's days other than holidays that they need help. People tend to feel as if they should do something around the time of holidays, or perhaps they're alone so they want to volunteer someplace, so on Thanksgiving/Christmas places are packed with volunteers. It would be so cool if people would try to do it a few times year round!

IceNine said:

No greater gift can you give Ice than to give your son love. Have fun! And give him hugs from us.

AnotherLoverHolenYoHead said:

I so totally agree with you! Thus my statement to try to continue once a week or at least once a month. To help another in need is to plant the seeds for a brighter tomorrow imo. Also if asked what you want in return, a good response is to pay it forward, to do for another what you have done for one.

....
[This message was edited Thu Oct 10 8:51:59 PDT 2002 by katt]

"Giving", is my personal religion.

LittleRedCorvette said:

That's what I do! I just gave him a hug from all of you, by the way...



...
[This message was edited Tue Sep 10 15:40:30 PDT 2002 by IceNine]

IceNine said:

Thanks Ice that would be great since I have no lil uns! Please do the same Az and LittleRed..

sag10 said:

Done! I love hugging them... gave me an excuse to do it again!

would it be okay to grope as well as hug strangers?

I didn't want this to go to the way side!

Just a thanks to all of the wonderful people I have met here at the Org, present and past. You are the greatest..

to all of you!