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[lab3]

My dear Passporter friends-
I know that all of us have been deeply saddened by recent events. I have cried so much this week it's a wonder I have any tears left--and still they come, welling up at the slightest provocation. I realize that it is hard for many of us to think of moving on past this tragedy. We will never forget what happened on Tuesday. However, if we shut ourselves away in fear we will have given the terrorists exactly what they wanted. We must press on as a living legacy to those who died. This is the greatest nation on earth, filled with amazing people of strength and character. We are blessed with friends from so many other freedom-loving nations. Please, try to have as normal a life as possible. I just found out a conference I was scheduled to attend(nowhere near New York or D.C.) has been cancelled out of fear of more attacks. This kind of alarmism gives terrorists far too much power over our future. We must take our lives back! We can not allow fear to govern us. I truly believe that though an evil enemy may cause buildings to collapse and take the lives of innocent people, they cannot cause the collapse of the American Spirit nor take our will to live our lives in a free and open society.
I post this here because I feel so fortunate to be a part of this remarkable "Passporter family". You are the most compassionate group of people I have ever "met". The way everyone here has reached out to each other this week is wonderful! This is where I've come when the news was too overwhelming. You make me feel blessed!
Hug your kids, tell them we are still the strongest nation on earth and that they are safe. Pray for the victims, their families, the rescue workers, and our nation's leaders. Love your neighbor. And live your life to the fullest.
God Bless You
God Bless America

[AKLRULZ]

What an awesome post! These are my setiments exactly!! I know of two of my clients who have canceled ALL travel through the end of the year!?! And I hear of dear folks on this newsboard considering canceling their Disney trips, and elsewhere people making a run on gas, stockpiling cash, talks of selling off stocks for fear of a stock market crash, etc.... the terrorists are winning if we stay in their grip of fear! [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Thanks for just one of the best posts I've seen since this happened!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[TiggGrrrl]

So very well said. We can't let them win - moving on is the only way. Yesterday when I went out and saw flags literally everywhere I kept thinking how much it must tick them off to see that on news broadcasts, to see us all banding together and showing our support.

As for this Passporter family - I, too, feel so fortunate to be here. I'm so glad to have found you all, you've really helped me get through and for that I thank you. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Peace ºoº

[ellen]

Everywhere I go I see not only American flags but the words God Bless America on signs on banks, fast food restaurants, shopping plazas, gas stations, makeshift signs in yards. You can't go a quarter mile in rural Delaware without seeing the words God Bless America. I would imagine it's all over America. It's so heartening to see that so many people everywhere are recognizing where our true strength is and utilizing the freedom this great nation gives us to express what we believe -- on banners for all to see! Until watching television Friday I had not realized how much people in other nations long for what we have. The ideal that America is a worldwide ideal, a shining light of hope for the world. Something that moved me greatly Friday night: a French woman standing amidst tens of thousands of French citizens, saying to the cameraman, "Today, we are all Americans."

Already the terrorists are defeated. The spirit of America that so many admire and are adopting for themselves grows stronger by the moment. God bless America.

[Sue W]

It is one thing to say "tell your kids they are safe", but it is another thing to do it. I for one feel anything but safe.From my classroom at school I can the bridge crossing into Canada and kept but think that maybe terrorists are trying to blow it up or cross it at any time. 15 minutes away from us is Niagara Falls, a huge source of electric power for the eastern section of the nation and a possible target. I truly admire those of you that have it within yourselves to go on with your lives. It is going to take a while for me to feel as you do. Going to WDW in November for me is going to take more courage than I have right now.

[ellen]

To Sue and all others who fear: Courage doesn't mean not fearing. It means walking into, going through and coming out the other side of fear, teeth gritted if need be, with your spirit, the person you are, intact, unchanged. Courage means staying who you are and doing what you feel is right, fulfilling what is your role in life, no matter what happens, guided not by fear and hatred, but by love, love for family, love for God, love for country and all it stands for, love for a way of life, love for everything the name Walt Disney stands for.

Walt started early in life letting his spirit shine in this world. He did his part in the military. He faced more trials than most imagine. He had a hard time in early years, harder than most today. In adulthood he constantly took leaps of faith, backed by around-the-clock work, even put his own home and all that he owned on the line to support his ideals, the very ideals that are America. Look what we have because Walt Disney faced, walked into and through his own personal fears to fulfill his dreams and make reality of his ideals.

Defeating fear: Whenever I am overcome with fear I get out my gratitude list. A long time ago when someone assigned me the project of being grateful in times of great trials, I really had to stretch my immagination to think of anything to be grateful for. I remember starting with the most simple things, the licks my dog gave me, gravity (!) that caused order and without which we can't function on earth...I was really desperate. Today, my gratitude list is limitless. Fill your heart with gratitude and find something positive you can do to show your gratitude, and you will overcome your fears.

Positive actions we can take: Invest in your country by buying a stock in the Disney Company above and beyond what you might already have. $25 will do it. Fly a flag. Give a hug. Spend the dollars (wisely) you have been holding back on spending and put a shot of confidence in the arm of our economy. Be an active part of rallying this country. Let's show the world that terrorism has no hold on us. Misguided terrorist acts accomplish nothing real, for though they can destroy material objects and kill, they cannot destroy what this country is founded on -- the spirit of its people.

In actuality, we are safer today than we were two weeks ago when this heinous deed was being planned. I'm leaving for Walt Disney World in December by air and I'm going to celebrate. Join me! We will get through this together, hand in hand.

[lab3]

Sue, I understand your trepidation. But do you believe you are safer at home than at Disney World or is it just the thought of flying that frightens you? I know that a lot of people are wary of flying. However,we are still far more likely to be killed in an auto accident than in an act of terror or a plane crash, but do we stop driving? No. We wear our seatbelts, obey traffic laws, and try to drive defensively. The air travel industry is taking a stringent defensive position now. I figure, if my friends who are flight attendants and pilots can resume flying, I can too. I am not braver than others, I just recognize that I still live in the strongest nation in the world. I also hold fast to my faith. We must set an example for our kids--if they see us cowering in fear and cancelling our plans, they will be frightened. You may feel very differently come November--we don't know what the near future holds. Don't erase opportunities for joy because you are so sad today. We will all find healing and strength at a different pace. We can not be sad forever. We must go on.
I, like so many others, have been filled with emotion to witness the flying of so many flags, the pride in the colors of our country, and the deeply touching and supportive gestures made by our allies. I pray that these acts meant for evil can be one day looked upon as a turning point for America (and other freedom-loving nations) when we came together in unity, strength, and love.
This quote by Martin Luther was on the front of our church bulletin today. "And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us."
Press on.

[Sue W]

Yes, being afraid to fly is part of it. But it's also the fact of not being able to face the thought of immersing myself and my family in a week of fun when so many people will be be in mourning. It just doesn't seem right. They may still be pulling bodies out in November while I am doing what? Riding Dumbo? Nothing is making any sense right now. My husband thinks we should postpone our trip until next year. I am considering it.

[lab3]

Sue-
You are obviously an amazingly compassionate person. How kind of you to worry so about other's feelings.
It felt so strange in a way to sit at my dd's soccer game cheering and laughing yesterday when I know so many are hurting. But life goes on for those of us fortunate enough not to have been in those planes or buildings.
Wait and see how you feel in a couple of weeks. You don't have to decide today--it's still too soon for clarity for all of us.
Did you see the show about Walt? It was so nice to watch something other than news coverage--but the ending with the God Bless the USA song brought me to tears.

[Teresa]

Sue-
I understand your fears. I don't think anyone flying fo r a long time will NOT think about the attacks.
Lab3 is right- wait and see. You can cancel 48 hrs. before your trip and still get a full refund.

A story (short)
My very beloved mother-in-law died when I was 9 months pregnant with DH and I's first (we both had others)
She had 5 children and was the center of their world. Even as adults. The youngest was due to graduate Medical school and she had planned a party for that day. It was also Mother's Day Weekend. She died on Thurs.
We buried Mom in the AM, went to Chas's graduation, and then his sisters and I hosted his party. We all had a good time, because to sit and mourn did her no favor and would not bring her back. We still mourn her, but we have no regret about the party. It did not change our grief or the grief of those around us.

That said, I do not beleive ANYONE on these boards will think less of you or not support whatever your decision is.

[WildForWD]

Leigh Ann a truly inspiring post!
Thank You!

Sue I truly understand how you feel but give it a little more time! It's only been 6 days and the images in all our minds are still way to fresh! Give yourself to the first or the middle of Oct before you decide, you will still have plenty of time to change then if you want!
We also are still in great morning as we find out day by day of someone we have known who has not come home! The images that we have only seen on TV are all to real for Joanne (Cruella).
But these are exactly the reasons we are going ahead with our trip in Dec! Now more than ever we need to celebrate life, our country, and our neighbors around the world who care about us!
For those of you who got the newsletter from Jennifer & Dave, the song We Go On, from the Millennium Celebration is very inspiring! Here ae the words....

WE GO ON
In the stillness of the night,
there comes a time to understand.
To reach out and touch tomorrow,
take the future in our hand.
We can see a new horizon,
built on all that we have done,
and our dreams begin another thousand circles round the sun.
We go on, to the joy and through the tears.
We go on, to discover new frontiers.
Looking on with the courage of the years.
We go on, moving forward now as one.
Moving on, with the spirit born to run.
We go on, with the rising sun,
to a new day we go on!

So as all things must we will go on!
And we will celebrate the life of those we have loved and lost! For they will never be forgotten, but live on in our hearts!

God Bless you all,
Tim