General support thread for those affected by war

[BytrSuite]

General support thread for those affected by war.



We've had a request for this thread so we can deal with the current events in the Middle East. We are all affected by this in a way, some of us more directly than others. Some kittens live in the countries under immediate threat, some have family members or friends who are directly involved in this conflict and at least one US army Kitten is stationed in the Middle East. The purpose of this thread is so we can support each other and the people out there. This is not meant to be a political or pro- or anti-war thread.



We realize it will be difficult to not go all ranty and political. How can you talk about how all this makes you feel, that you're stressed about it or sad, depressed, outraged, etc., without something about why slipping in, something beyond just "because of the war"? It may not always be easy, but do try and be careful about what you post. We'll see how it goes and step in if we feel that a post or discussion is causing conflict among ourselves. Posts may be edited without notice.



Edited to add: We have created a War/Politics Thread in which the political aspects and our opinions on them can be discussed.



The Mods.

________
"Oh, good, my dog found the chainsaw."

Edited by: DrG at: 3/20/03 8:35:21 am

[BBOvenGuy]

Stay safe, everybody...

"Sure it's simple, writing for kids. Just as simple as bringing them up." - Ursula K. LeGuin

[DaNzS]

soul of christ, sanctify me

body of christ, save me

water from the side of christ, wash me

passion of christ, give me strength



hear me, jesus

hide me in thy wounds that i may never leave thy side

from all the evil that surrounds me, defend me

and when the call of death arrives bid me come to thee

that i may praise thee with thy saints, forever...

[friskylez]

As a former Sergeant in the United States Army, 4th Platoon, 57th Air Traffic Control Company, i just want to send out my support for the troops in the gulf and for those ready to do what their Commander in Chief requires of them...



For those who have family or friends in the service that are stationed in the Gulf or on stand by elsewhere in the US or other countries, my prayers are with you and yours..



My unit was on alert to go to Grenada to help the students there way back when, thankfully we didnt have to go, another unit was already in the area...It wasnt the same as this war, but i know what its like to be told, stand at the ready, your country may need you...



My prayer is that the war is short and no lives are lost, civilian or otherwise..My hope is everyone understands you dont get to choose which war you fight in, you do as you are told..It took alot of years for the Vietnam vets to be given the recognition they deserved for fighting a war no one wanted us to be in...



Its an all volunteer army now, i joined knowing that something like this could have happened while i was in the service..The same goes for these young men and women, its not their war, they are just doing their job..



Let them know that while you may not agree with the politics of the war, that you do support them as men and women who vounteered to support and defend the United States of America..Hooya and Semper Fi..

"Life is what happens while waiting for your ship to come in"

Edited by: friskylez  at: 3/20/03 5:42:34 am

[Jennifer]

My step-brother is in the army, he got sent overseas, we don't know where. We think he's in Kuwait. I'm so scared. I pray for everyone. Be safe. That's all for right now.

"First she steals my publicity. Then she steals my lawyer, my trial date. And now she steals my goddamn garter!" Velma Kelly

~*~*~*~*~

My Journal

[Gatito Grande]

Part of being affected by war is responding to it, positively or negatively, by way demonstration and direct action.



As someone who was arrested in the course of demonstrating my political/moral commitment in the last Persian Gulf War, I want to express solidarity w/ all demonstrators. I hope and pray that all demonstrations will be peaceful and nonviolent, and that they will be a life-affirming experience for all involved, including the law enforcement personnel doing their jobs.



May Divine Providence grant victory over all hatred, violence and injustice, and bring peace w/ dignity for all peoples. GG Out

Edited by: Gatito Grande at: 3/19/03 10:39:20 pm

[4WiccanLuv]

I have two friends, Marines, stationed somewhere in the Middle East. I pray our men and women come home safely. I would also like to send a prayer for all the innocent Iraqi people who will be affected.

_____________


"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty." - John F. JFK

[xita]

Please know that this thread is made to express your feelings about the war, not to debate the details of the politics behind it. NO matter what it is or what we feel, even if it is what most of us believe.



I am extremely upset about all this, it's what's on my mind and what's on everyone's minds. I have a 19 year old nephew and a 19 year old cousin heading to war and I am not happy. I am not happy over the people that will die both from all sides. This only covers part of my anger and frustration and disillusionment.

-----------------------------------

Only 50 cents

[Zippy]

Two people I care about are over there somewhere, one a friend from uni who is in the TA, the other my cousin's fiancee, he is on a ship somewhere, he has been there since christmas. I am finding it hard to express how I feel about this but I hope to god that not matter from which side, that the loss of live from this is small.

'Your sister's a pissed up muff muncher ' - Phil, At Home with the Braithwaites

[JulesP600]

My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have friends and relatives out there.

The only way to have a friend is to be one

[Minn]

I have a friend in the Air Force who isn't stationed in the middle east yet but I know he is heading there because he recently got assigned a new post. he was hoping to come back and be stationed in the states again in the fall but with the war he doesn't know when he will be home again... I hope he and all the other men and women out there return safely home...

and going to a school in a country like Grenada is very strange right now. They are enforcing a rule that we carry our Id cards everywhere with us on campus with out telling us why but I heard from a member of our student government that the real reason is not so they can stop people from coming on campus so much as they can Id the bodies When we get bombed. Its funny I don't think I am so scared of my school getting bombed as my mother is I guess when you live it day to day with all the stress that is down here already you just can't stress about anything more with out going numb

[friskylez]

I didnt want anyone to misconstrue my previous post, so i deleted it.. i wasnt implying that anyone would forget 9/11..Just saying innocent lives have been lost in the US as well..Sorry for the way it was communicated Dr G..Hooya...

"Life is what happens while waiting for your ship to come in"

Edited by: friskylez  at: 3/20/03 7:57:58 pm

[urnofosiris]

friskylez, I think everyone of us will always, and especially now, remember and think about all the people who died because of those horrible, senseless and cowardly attacks on the US on 9/11. I'd like to say more, but Like Xita said, this thread is for support, but we will be starting another thread soon in which we can discuss the political issues and our opinions on them. We aren't a political forum obviously, but we are part of an online community and this affects everyone of us one way or the other. We need to deal with this, and if talking about this here can help than that is the least we can try and do.



Edit: The first post of this thread has been edited to include the link to the new thread.

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Coffee, Food, Kisses and Gay Love........Get it while you are hot

Edited by: DrG at: 3/20/03 8:40:52 am

[bowieinberlin]

Last night we were having a thunderstorm here. As I looked up into the booming sky, I couldn't help but be glad every boom wasn't a bomb. But then I realized that I took that for granted.



I think the most important thing for those of us still on the homefront to recognize is that we take nearly everything for granted.



Everything.



I'm as guilty of it as the next person, but the fact that bombs are not falling near my house is a blessing. The fact that I am not putting my life on the line is a blessing. The fact that I have no family in immediate danger is a blessing. The only thing that matters is that I woke up today, and I've been given one more day to add to my life.



In light of everything that's going on in the world, it would be nothing less than selfish for me to continue to take things for granted. I hate that people will die. I hate that children will lose their parents or their own lives. But I can't fix that. I can't. But I can change my life to reflect the impact these things have had on me.



I hope no one dies, no one is maimed, but above all else, I hope that I can live every day as if it's the last. And not in that Homer Simpson sort of way. It's like Depeche Mode says, "Everything counts in small amounts."

---

"Tell everybody waitin' for Superman ... that they should try to hold on ... best they can ... He hasn't dropped them, forgot them, or anything ... It's just too heavy for Superman to lift."

[Aradia785]

My cousin James is on the Constalation right now, I think it may have been one of the destroyers that launched the Tomahawk missels last night. The people I trained with when I did my stint in the Marines, most of them are in Kuwait. They're right on the border. So many reservists have been called up from school. All are good men and women. Despite any feelings I may have about the war itself, and I have plenty, I am damn proud of my family and friends. Its funny, because they are all simular people. Very very young, 22 at the oldest, most are married and some have children already, they live below the poverty level, and most joined up because they believed it was the only job they could get that would provide the possibility of a better life for them and their family.



My hopes and thoughts are with them, and with the friends and family of all those here. May this be a quick affair. May this be as bloodless as possible. May wisdom prevail. And may be all see our loved ones again



Ann

If I hear that Gong of Doom I will send stoned squirrels to raid your kitchen
- Lisa of Nine

[hellmouthhottie20]

My cousin is out there i think, but we are not sure as hes special services (SAS or whatever its called)

I just pray hes safe, he was in Bosnia as well with his wife but now they have a son as well.



Caz

International rockstar - Gravy maker extraordinaire - Ozzy

[BBOvenGuy]

The Constellation is an aircraft carrier, CV-64. I believe some of the ships that launched cruise missiles last night were from her battle group, and the Prowler radar-jamming planes that flew with the stealth fighters came from there.



My brain has shifted into analytical mode, I think as a defense mechanism or a way of coping with what's going on. I'm not quite sure how long that's going to last...

"Sure it's simple, writing for kids. Just as simple as bringing them up." - Ursula K. LeGuin

[mscheckmate]

In my family, it's a case of "here we go again." My cousin, then a Navy Lieutenant, served in the Gulf War. He was assigned to an aircraft carrier, the USS Midway, and faced more danger on the flight deck than he did from enemy action. But this time around, a different family member, my uncle, has gone to war in the Middle East. He serves on land, and his military job is chemical and biological weapons defense. So, my family is especially concerned for his safety.

It'll be the train, Walter, just the way you want it. Straight down the line.

Edited by: mscheckmate at: 3/20/03 11:42:37 am

[sparrow]

Godspeed to our servicemen and women. They protect the honor and freedom of these United States and should be supported no matter what.

Semper Fi

And yet, I just can't seem to care
Buffy as you know it is over

Edited by: sparrow  at: 3/20/03 12:43:31 pm

[Avern1]

Okay. I am not from USA but our soldiers are at Gulf too. But they not going cross border (but today they go check bombs - cos our soldiers are anti.chemical troop). I hope that these conflict will be over in some days. I dont like Hussain - really. I pray that mens (or womens) from special units - Delta, SAS, Seals and many other units will be well. They have too hard work in this conflict. They in fire and danger every minute when they on mission !



About civilian casualties - I hope that will no much casualties. We are at age when rockets are inteligent and air strike reminding surgeon cut. I pray that will be in this event.



Tara : ,Horsies !,

Edited by: maudmac at: 3/20/03 1:27:10 pm

[scifiacid]

I also have a cousin in the Air Force and am very glad that my father, retired Marine and my uncle, Navy are too old and such. I worry for my aunt. She must be scared to death that her son may not come back home.

Adrienne

---

When we realized that neither of us was faultless, yet love still held. That's the miracle of love, that someone knows us well enough to know the ways we fail and are weak, and yet loves us still. Lost Daughters by JM Redmann

[lucidusgirl]

My brother is in the Air Force and is now headed to the Middle East or he could be there already! Poor guy he just got married. All of us in the family are getting very worried coz my dad, who's still recovering from his double bypass surgery is not taking it very well.

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it's your smile...your lips...your touch that i miss.....

[Garner]

I also have a few friends serving in the theater and would just like to express my support to them, to all the U.S. military personnel and those in the coalition fighting along side us and all their families and loved ones. I also hope that they are all spared the especially frightful effects of chemical or biological attacks.

I would also like to hope that the Iraqi people are spared as much pain and suffering as possible and that their casualties are kept to a minimum.

God Bless to all involved.



Garner

Edited by: Garner at: 3/21/03 1:09:43 pm

[DianaBouvier99]

To all our troops,



May The Goddess bless them.



My son is serving and I am very worried.

[BBOvenGuy]

One thing that has surprised and impressed me in the TV footage from the front lines is how careful and meticulous the modern army is. The common image of warfare is a bunch of guys charging in a big mass toward an opposing entrenchment, like we did in the Civil War and World War I (and apparently as the Iraqis still do) - but I watched that fight the US & British got into in Umm Qasr and it was amazing to see how slowly and deliberately they were handling it. That made me feel a bit better about the troops' chances of survival.

"The first task of anyone, lest you get canceled, is to entertain people, because they ain't there for message." - Dick Wolf

[Alia16]

This doesn't affect me directly but my dad's best friend got word that his brother was killed. He was a Marine serving duty somewhere in the middle east. So my dad is kind of upset too

my wounds cry for the grave,my soul cries for deliverance

will i be denied Christ, tourniquet, my suicide

[mocha fiend 22]

my brother is in the 3rd infantry and right now there on there way to Baghdad... everyone here is really scared but we are praying for the safety of the troops including my brother and everyone else that is in one way or another affected by this

I love you now and forever and a week

[xita]

This is not the thread to talk about politics or military strategy



We have another thread for that, take it there. This is for people directly affected by the war and who want to share their feelings, worries, hopes. Just a reminder for folks, since some posts had to be deleted.



My nephew leaves this weekend for Kuwait. He should have been in Turkey already, I am kind of glad that didn't work out. I don't pray but I believe in the power of positivity and that's what I am counting on for him and all the young men and women involved in this war and all the innocent civilians.

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Only 50 cents

Edited by: xita  at: 3/27/03 9:08:57 pm

[mscheckmate]

We heard from my uncle. So far, he's all right. Now that I have his APO address, I'm putting together a package to send him. We're not allowed to send alcohol, pork, or pornography. Like I'd send my uncle pornography. That would be just too weird. So I'll be sending a few boxes of shortbread-type cookies, sun block, and maybe an automotive pin-up. (Uncle likes Corvettes. Call it auto-porn.)



My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this war, on both sides.

It'll be the train, Walter, just the way you want it. Straight down the line.

Edited by: mscheckmate at: 3/29/03 12:25:20 am

[friskylez]

As much as i am dismayed at the tragic death of the iraqi women and children yesterday and of course the soldiers on both sides, i am elated at the rescue of Jessica Lynch..My prayers are still with the MIAs, POWs, soldiers still fighting and the civilians in Iraq..



She is one of those many young men and women, similar to the ones i served with, that joined the military to use the GI bill to go to college..And she wants to be a teacher..Thats awesome..I am thrilled for Jessica's family and friends and wish her a speedy recovery and all the best..



im sure she didnt want to be in this war but she ended up there and hopefully be on her way home soon..Hooya Jessica..

"Life is what happens while waiting for your ship to come in"