Dear Pat,
I so sorry, but I just couldn't find this funny. As the poem said, even
Alah was saddened at the use of his name in this way. But what about
the flavour of that poem? Surely even in christian terms, Jesus
himself would perhaps have felt sadness at the glee with which revenge
is sought. Would I like to walk in Bin Ladens shoes? No, not me. He
will meet his maker, never fear, but does it really move us on in our
own conscience and humanity, to feel glad at whatever his fate will
surely be?
I wondered at the wisdom of saying all this, especially knowing how you
have suffered as a result of the bombings on September 11th, but sadness
prompted me to speak. I trust you can hear me as one human being to
another.
I wish you well at christmas and hope that you will always have enough.
Best Wishes
Amanda
On Saturday, December 22, 2001, at 08:33 pm, Patricia Rauch wrote:
> Twas the night before Ramadan
> > > Twas the night before Ramadan, and all through the cave
> > > Not a creature was stirring; it felt like a grave.
> > > The turbans were hung by the fire pit with care,
> > > In hopes that the Air Force would not soon be there.
> > >
> > > The soldiers were restless without any beds,
> > > While visions of air strikes flashed in their heads.
> > > Osama in his burkha and I in my goatskin cap,
> > > Had just settled down for a cold, barren winter's nap,
> > > When out on the ledge there arose such a clatter,
> > > I grabbed my Kalashnikov to see what was the matter.
> > >
> > > Away from the racket I ran like a girl, Tripped over a goat;
> into a
> ball
> > > I did curl.
> > > The moon shone down on the new-fallen snow
> > > And lit up the valley with an ominous glow,
> > > When, what to my one good eye should appear,
> > > But a dozen Apaches, and tanks in the rear,
> > > And their leader, so fearless, his troops he did push,
> > > I knew in an instant it must be George Bush.
> > >
> > > More rapid than eagles his forces they came,
> > > And they whistled, and shouted, and called out our names;
> > > "Now Omar! Osama! Muhammad! Abdul!
> > > We come for you now; we've taken Kabul!
> > >
> > > To the top of the cliffs! To the back of their caves!
> > > When you chose this war, you dug your own graves!"
> > > As the dry leaves that before the assault choppers fly,
> > > When they meet with an obstacle, light up the sky,
> > > So up to the ledge his forces they flew
> > > Withfull magazines, and flamethrowers too.
> > >
> > > And then, in a twinkling, I heard with a thud
> > > The explosions of Tomahawks; not one was a dud.
> > > As I chambered my rifle, and was turning around,
> > > Osama was there, disguised in a gown.
> > >
> > > He was dressed all in drag, from his head to his toes,
> > > And he said he would flee while I held off his foes;
> > > A bundle of money he had stuffed in his pack,
> > > He said "I'm going to Baghdad and I'm not looking back!"
> > >
> > > His eyes were all glassy; he trembled with fear;
> > > The American bombs, they rang in his ears.
> > > He saddled his goat, then turned tail and fled,
> > > But a Marine Corps sniper got him in the head.
> > >
> > > I watched with cold fear as his body did slump;
> > > The goat threw him off; he fell with a thump.
> > > And so, there I stood, my plans all destroyed,
> > > About to suffer a fate I could not avoid;
> > >
> > > I dropped to my knees; asked Allah for help,
> > > His voice boomed in my ears, "You ignorant whelp!
> > > I gave you the Bible, the Torah and Koran,
> > > But you were too arrogant to understand,
> > > I told you to honor your neighbors and wives;
> > > Not to enslave them, or degrade their lives!
> > >
> > > You invoke My name to sanction your deeds,
> > > But you are the last thing that this world needs.
> > > And so, I'll send you and bin Laden to Hell."
> > > The last words I heard, as the bombs fell,
> > > Were from George Bush himself as he mounted the wall,
> > > "One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all!"
> > >
> > >
> > > "IT'S GOD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FORGIVE BIN LADEN...
> > > "IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ARRANGE THE MEETING..!!"
> > > "United States Marines..."
> > >
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