I love this dog...he is so sweet:-) Meant to take a picture of him to put on my wall at work with my doggie pictures and forgot...makes me feel good to see him:-)

Soothing sunsets for a trying day...




Looks like Grendel is peeking out...

It is soothing to know that all is normal in paridise. Great sunset tonight.

Thanks for the great sunset pics. It appears that the ebb and flow of nature continues in spite of the ways mankind finds to screw up the universe.
I sat on the back patio this evening, and looked at the stars... funny how they don't move the way they usually do...I live between DFW airport and Love Field..always something moving in the sky...except for the last two nights...kind of eerie-but kind of peaceful.
Where does the kind of hate come from that prompts this kind of aggression? Can any of our non-American friends shed light on this? Why are we hated enough to foster this kind of destruction just to get at us?
Everyone is angry, and wants revenge. Where will this lead and how can we prevent future madness?

Jan,
To understand why America, as a country or as a political power, is so hated, might take some digging into surface explanations. There was a phenomenal piece on our local public radio station this evening: a talk given by a Pakistani man (not sure of his position/title), Ekbal Ahmed, about terrorism. The talk was given in '98 or '99, and I believe Ahmed died in '99. He talked about the different manifestations of terrorism, the meanings of terms such as "Jihad", and the role the U.S. has played internationally in terms of fueling terrorism, when it has benefited our political agenda, and in terms of being on the receiving end of such activity. His observations and points are astute and penetrate far below the surface of what the average American learns through the media. He was an extraordinarily brilliant and charismatic speaker. You can find out more about what he has to say by checking . Still, acts of terrorism are almost always brutal and unjust, in that innocent people are killed (much as in war).

I just hope that we will take the time to look below the surface of our own emotional reactions, and below the surface of national pride and political posturing, to understand the roots of such aggression. I really believe we humans have as much ability to be creative and compassionate and wise as we do to be destructive and insane.

May peace and sanity prevail! Perhaps we could honor those who lost their lives by turning back the stormy tide of destruction, and by fostering true peace.

I know I get long-winded -- sorry. Love to all -- Nance

Apologies -- the URL didn't come out on my last posting. For a look at the tape catalog that includes the talk by Eqbal Ahmad (misspelled the 1st time), go to: {www.alternativeradio.org} . The one I heard tonight was: "Terrorism: Theirs and Ours" from 1998. Ahmad had met Osama Bin Laden, himself, and knew Americans who were involved in the training of Bin Laden and others in Afghanistan.

I apologize. This is not the forum for political or nationalistic debate. There are plenty of sites for that. The peacefulness of these views just started my mind wandering last night. Sorry. Today I will watch for divers and fish, and appreciate life.
Jan

Nance: Thanks for the info.

Yeah, Jan, I agree, about using this site for Bonaire -- yet when such extraordinary events occur, which affect all of us, and we are already something of a community, perhaps to spend a day or two straying into other territory is OK -- as long as we come back to BT for its true purpose, and drop the other stuff within a couple of days.

I don't know. We could e-mail one another instead, and I probably should have done that....

Nance & Jan,

Bonaire is what binds many of us together, and as such BonaireTalk is a very appropriate forum for discussion and sharing of thoughts when such a huge tragedy occurs.

However, perhaps we can keep all future comments over in Everything Else, which is where this stuff should go on BonaireTalk. If people want, I could even create a separate section for on-going discussion (which is important emotionally and for group support - I know I would have had a much more difficult time than I have had (and still am having) without the support and exchange with the rest of the BonaireTalk family).

Jake

Right On, Jake -- thanks for the direction and forum to share in these devastating times.

Jan and Nance and all, this is indeed the forum for talking about this tragedy. Bonaire Talk is a community, however "weird" that might be. We have seen the entire range of emotion on this board, from disbelief, to shock and horror, to grief, to anger, to revenge, and resolve to return to normalcy. I eagerly read the posts when I can to make sure the names I recognize from this group are here. Still haven't heard from Northern Exposure and the rest of the Alaska gang. Hope they are okay.

Jake and Linda, some of us have not met you, but still consider you our friends and hope you are doing all right. It is reassuring to hear from you - wish you could hug and hold each other right now. I hope Linda knows that all of us are waiting to hear about her knee surgery and are sending hugs telepathically.

At any rate, I am thankful for this forum. It certainly makes me feel less isolated.

I agree with Hazel & Jake - I have been away from the site since Tuesday because working for a television station we are being slammed. I finally decided to visit my little piece of Heaven for rest, relaxation and a break from the situation. All day long I've just felt like burying my head in the sand until all the nastyness is gone - it's built up inside me since Tuesday and finally it's taking it's toll. Instead of that attitude I've decided instead to visit the site, enjoy the pictures and read some postings. Thanks Jake for providing this avenue to us.