Dear John
I regret to tell you that I found your posting rather offensive
and ill-thought out. Unfortunately this will inevitably come
across as a 'flame' in which case I must ask your forgiveness -
not yoiur understanding because I am not sure that you will.
I am British, during the 70's I lived in Birmingham (UK) during
the IRA bombings that occurred there, and was present in the
vicinity of one of them. I worked at that time as a nurse in a
hospital that took in the injured. Were you?
I am an 'academic', I also donate blood, which America refuses
to accept because of the BSE crisis. I am allied to the ARC for
disaster mental health (Yes that's right! A Brit who does work
for another countries citizens. (How strange?) Might this be
considered as 'compassion', or 'leaving my safe haven', after
all I certainly don't get paid for it other than travel
expenses.)
During our recent crises regarding foot and mouth the suicide
rate amoingst farmers rose. At that time I offerred my services
to farmers and families for free and made myself available 24
hours a day. For these reasons I found your 'accusations' to be
less than helpful and somewhat sanctimonious.
Of course President Bush is 'doing something to meet the current
crisis'. But so are all those therapists that are seeing the
victims, relatives, and friends of the people that have been
hurt and killed. Regardless of what country they live in.
> Perhaps we all could be a lot less verbose (sorry for the long
> post) and a little more helpful? Here in NY our behavioral
> units are full with lots of very needy people.
At least I agree with you on these points, yes *WE* (Including
*YOU*) could be a little bit less verbose. But please don't
think that *WE* are not being 'helpful'. This list gives those
of us that choose to use it in the way that we do a method of
contacting with other like minded people - that is people who
have compassion for others of whatever race, creed, religion, or
whatever and to explore ideas and concepts. I find that to be
far more mentally healthy than sitting somewhere 'griping' at
what others are doing or not doing.
Paul Carney
____________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk
or your free @yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie
|