Dear Pat,

I hope I misread you when you said "As for myself I would like to 
personally hang by the neck until dead on the Federal Court House 
steps" ???!!!

I take it you meant Bin Laden?  Anyway, I think your idea of sending 
tools to enable learning, is a wonderful one.  An idea that can channel 
all that energy in a positive direction.

Much Love
& Happy Christmas to All.

On Saturday, December 22, 2001, at 11:54  pm, Patricia Rauch wrote:

> Amanda
> I don't take offense at your opinion that is what freedom is. As for 
> myself I would like to personally hang by the neck until dead on the 
> Federal Court House steps which is not to far from the WTC.
> But the upside I heard on the news the little girls who are going to 
> school for the first time Afghanistan need paper and pencils I think I 
> will contact the director of student life and see if all us girls can 
> send some pads, pencils and a sharpner to these first time soon to be 
> free ladies.
> Pat
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Amanda Poyner
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2001 5:36 PM
> Subject: Re: A Funny
>
> 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..."
> > >
>