More on the WTC Disaster (Updated) [Sep 11, 2001, 9:30 pm ET] – Share – Viewing Comments
Of course this is not game related (we do not expect to be doing any further
game coverage today), but with the legit news sites being almost impossible to
access at times today, we've been getting loads of requests for more information
about what's been going on. Here is the latest as of about 9:00 PM EDT:
- President Bush addressed the nation 8:30 PM EDT. Here's a wire report: WASHINGTON (AP) - A grim-faced President Bush condemned ghastly attacks in Washington and New York on Tuesday and vowed to "find those responsible and bring them to justice." In the second Oval Office address of his presidency, Bush said the United States would retaliate against ``those behind these evil acts,'' and any country that harbors them.
To recap:
- In two separate attacks, hijacked planes struck both main towers of the World Trade Center in Manhattan this morning, and both of the "twin towers" subsequently collapsed.
- A hijacked plane struck the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and part of it has collapsed as well.
- A hijacked plane crashed in western Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. Reports indicate the hijackers planned to crash this plane into Camp David in Maryland.
- 47 Story WTC building seven, one of the five (relatively) smaller buildings in the World Trade Center also later collapsed from ancillary damage.
- The White House, the Pentagon, and the Capitol Building were all evacuated, all domestic flights in the US have been grounded through at least noon tomorrow.
- Other closings include most federal offices, the stock markets, the Disney theme parks, and the cancellation of today's Major League Baseball schedule. The President's speech announced that all federal agencies will be open for business tomorrow.
- Broadcasts out of Afghanistan showed evidence of missile attacks and antiaircraft fire, but what connection this has to today's apparent terrorist attacks in the US is not clear at this point. The US has denied involvement in these attacks.
- In the first hints of any sort at the scope of casualties, the New York City Fire Department has estimated that as many as half of the 400 firefighters dispatched to the scene are missing. CNN has said that 78 Police officers are missing. Also, the death toll from those on the four hijacked planes has been placed at 266. The number of dead and injured at the Pentagon has been widely reported as about 100. No estimates of the number of victims from the World Trade Center have been made.
- People throughout the United States have are being urged to donate blood to help offset significant shortages in New York and Washington. The American Red Cross in Greater New York or the American Red Cross are places to contact about donating blood or money, or both.
- Some news sites seem to be back online. Here are some links that have been more reliable: CNN.com; CNET.com; Yahoo; The New York Times; washingtonpost.com; usnews.com; ABCNEWS.com; FOXNews.com; MSNBC; and BBC News Online.
All of our thoughts go out to the victims of these attacks and their families and friends in what must be an incredibly difficult time.
"We need to walk a very high, tenuous tightrope between bringing a definitive end (i.e., total eradication) to forces of actual -- not conceptual -- evil in this world, and preserving our own fundamental freedoms. This crossing is where we will most need God's help."
"Eradication" and "God" (in the true Christian spirit) are 2 words which oppose each other.
Christianity does not advocate the destruction of evil by violent methods. The fight against evil is intended to be personal. It is best fought by turning away from evil and doing good, but never doing evil. A wrong cannot be used to right a previous wrong.
Things like wars pose a pretty big theological problem. There is obviously a level that can be reached where one can help defend against a truly evil enemy (as was the case in World War 2) in a defensive way. However, even in the most threatening of wars, the virtue of loving one's enemy is applicable.
I think that if people are in danger of being killed, it is okay to step in and stop the enemy from bringing down the blows, but it should be done for the sake of others you love. And if you are a truly good person, you will condemn yourself for your actions, even if you realize there would not have been an alternative without loss of life. It must not be done out of hatred. God judges justly, and I'm sure He will understand if you felt you had no other alternative (we're really talking extreme situations here) AND if you are sorry for doing it.
We must also be careful not to let "pride", "dignity", and "honor" get in the way of our judgement and hurt innocent people around us. "Not going down without a fight" just for the sake of "not going down without a fight" is not a good enough reason.
"Eradication" and "God" (in the true Christian spirit) are 2 words which oppose each other.
Christianity does not advocate the destruction of evil by violent methods. The fight against evil is intended to be personal. It is best fought by turning away from evil and doing good, but never doing evil. A wrong cannot be used to right a previous wrong.
Things like wars pose a pretty big theological problem. There is obviously a level that can be reached where one can help defend against a truly evil enemy (as was the case in World War 2) in a defensive way. However, even in the most threatening of wars, the virtue of loving one's enemy is applicable.
I think that if people are in danger of being killed, it is okay to step in and stop the enemy from bringing down the blows, but it should be done for the sake of others you love. And if you are a truly good person, you will condemn yourself for your actions, even if you realize there would not have been an alternative without loss of life. It must not be done out of hatred. God judges justly, and I'm sure He will understand if you felt you had no other alternative (we're really talking extreme situations here) AND if you are sorry for doing it.
We must also be careful not to let "pride", "dignity", and "honor" get in the way of our judgement and hurt innocent people around us. "Not going down without a fight" just for the sake of "not going down without a fight" is not a good enough reason.
Date
Subject
Author
568.
Sep 15, 2001Sep 15 2001
Re: read the whole thing and understand
anon@134.197
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