Posted by shelliR on September 15, 2001, at 22:13:02
In reply to Re: Some Implications (long) » shelliR, posted by sweetmarie on September 15, 2001, at 4:12:39
> in general`. But these people - by association - will suffer. I was talking to my sister last night - she`s in West Virginia - and she told me that a couple of Muslims had been shot in the next town to her since the attacks. It`s awful.
>
> And, as you said, there will inevitably be a lot of patriotism and nationalistic feeling going on. I am NOT saying that this is a bad thing, but it is if it`s taken to the extreme. Like you, I feel distinctly uneasy at flag-waving, and anthem singing. Again, I am NOT saying that this is bad - what I am saying is that it does make some of us feel very uneasy. Over here we still have an amount of `Brittania rules the waves`, which surfaces at times when we are threatened (e.g. the Falklands War). I dunno ... maybe I should be more patriotic than I am, but to me it`s always tinged with racial pride, which I can`t deal with very well. I suppose that it brings certain racist factions to the surface, which is not very savoury at all.
>
> I seem to have written an essay ..Yes, and a very very good one. I don't think people will be offended and besides it was in response to my feelings about the flags. BTW, I always have a few little American flags in my garden--I grew up putting them out on holidays, before they became a symbol of the conservative right. I think America's short history is flawed (slavery, civil rights, Vietnam, etc. ) but the intent of starting a new democracy based on freedom of religion was a noble one. And even when we do lose sight of those goals, we seem always to return in that positive direction, although a bit slowly for me and my more liberal family and friends.
.
> I`m really scared that I have offended loads of people. I`m not a horrible person, and my thoughts are constantly with the people of America. I can`t imagine how it must feel, and can only guess at the kind of despair you all are feeling. It`s hit me very hard (for the reasons I have outlined above), so goodness knows how it feels to be living in a country that has been targeted in such a way.
You're a very sensitive, warm person.
> Once again, my thoughts are with you all. Wish I could do more.
> Shelli - don`t be panicked. It`ll take us all awhile to get over this. You aren`t going mad, or spiralling into another hideous episode - just feeling shitty about what`s happened. You may not even be thinking about stuff, but it`s `there` like a big black cloud, filled with pain and fear. I have to keep reminding myself that it`s not a relapse, and mostly I don`t believe it, but is`s not. Time will ease this pain. And even the most effective meds can`t shield you from tragic events. Meds bring us up to the `level`, and therefore knocks of this kind will depress us, scare us (that we are so depressed again), and worsen the depression. Does this make sense? My meds were *beginning* to have some effect, but now ... however, this doesn`t mean that they weren`t working at all, and it doesn`t mean that they will not continue to work. Recovery is a `fluid` thing - it doesn`t happen all at once (sadly), and there will be many pitfalls. Don`t give up though - you are still climbing, and these events will strengthen you in the end (although it sure doesn`t feel like that right now).
> Join me in `hanging in`,Thanks, today was a bit of a better day for me..
> p.s. Remeron can be an appetite stimulant. It hasn`t made me any hungrier, though, and I`ve even managed to lose a stone and a half whilst I`ve been on it - I put on 4 stone when I was on Nardil. So, I`ve still got 2 and a half stone to go. Side-effects don`t happen to everyone, and the good thing about meds that don`t actually put weight on just by taking them, i.e. appetite stimulants, is that you can control weight gain by will-power (easier said than done, but you know what I mean).
uh, I can't recall how many pounds to a stone! I'll have to look that one up. Search: pound, stone. I love the internet!
By the way, what is your sister doing in West Virginia? It is not very far from me, a couple of hours. It's a very beautiful, but very poor state. I haven't seen much of it, but there's a place "Harper's Ferry" where Maryland (where I live), Virginia, and West Virginia come together, and there's good hiking, rafting and kyaking there.Take care,
Shelli
poster:shelliR
thread:11115
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010915/msgs/11415.html