Fwd.: Compassion and Revenge.

[Kathryn Finn]

Howard - NOTHING can excuse these  terrorists of their heinous
acts--certainly not the pain, fear or desperation referenced in the previous
messages.  These criminals used the lives of sons, daughters, mothers, and
fathers for their own evil ends. They destroyed the innocent in an effort to
bend others to their will--the ultimate blasphemy. If I gave the impression
that I was absolving these perpetrators of ANYTHING, I regret it.

Likewise I regret it if I gave the impression that I  "assume" our
government will retaliate in such a way that innocent lives will be lost.  I
do fear it though since these terrorists have given our Nation's leaders
plenty of justification, or temptation if you will, to head in that
direction.

It was not my intent to be any kind of an "apologist" for terrorists, but I
do give them some credit. They are good at what they do.  With one strike,
they brutalize their victims twice: first during the initial painful
assault, and again by baiting them to sink to the level of their assailants.


Kathryn




-----Original Message-----
From: Howard Mendes [mailto:HMe347aAOL.COM]
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2001 2:50 PM
To: GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu
Subject: Re: Fwd.: Compassion and Revenge.


Katherine -  You may be correct, but the way the message was first stated it
seemed to absolve the perpetrators of any responsibility and point the
finger of blame at Americans for causing the violence and destruction.
Still, the "pain, fear and desperation" are scant excuses for the infliction
of so much horror against the innocent.  What sickened me was the attitude
of apologists for the behavior of those that oppose our society so
vehemently that they resort to violence on the scale that we have witnessed.
I am not blind to America's shortcomings and errors, but surely nothing we
have done deserves the outrageous conduct of those that committed these
crimes against us. Also, why do you assume that our country may retaliate by
"at the cost of innocent lives"?  If that were the case, Teheran and Kabul
would have been reduced to rubble by now just like the WTC.  Howard Mendes