Praises & Pans

RECENT LETTERS, REVIEWS AND PRESS

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SUDDENLY SENIOR'S
LETTER OF THE MONTH

OCTOBER 2007

WHY ISN’T THERE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS?

“The government has forsaken the ones who have paid the largest amount of taxes. Only if I have no money at all can I get a decent roof over my head.“

CLICK HERE TO READ IT

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SPECIAL: A 9/11 Look Back

1. Kick the sickos out of their country;
2. Expect total retribution from America (nukes, WMD, economic sanctions, expelling all citizens of that country)

Nick Goodrich

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Sorry to say, I am tired of hearing about 9/11, and more so, how great their mayor was. Yes, it was a tragedy, but its over. There are many tragedies in life, handle them and move on. Linger and you'll suffer and shoot yourself in the foot. Be like an undertaker and take advantage of the situation or some clergy who celebrate death and then expect an honorarium (m-o-n-e-y). It is just what you make it.

I served 22 ears in our Armed Forces and in two conflicts, wars or whatever you want to call them. I was very fortunate because I am here being able to write to you. At one command, I served as the casualty officer and drafted the letters for the CO to send to the next of kin. At times, it was challenging, sometimes it was children under the age of nine whose parents were divorced and the kids were next of kin....try writing and telling them about their daddy who just died. Then there were times when a pissed off spouse would refuse the body and you had to find the next, next of kin. Then back in the U.S. I was in charge of over twenty-five military funerals. Some went very well, others didn't, leaving a few sea stories to tell. The point is that they are sad affairs, but can be very pleasant if handled properly. Won't even get into the wrong bodies, or the ones almost lost enroute.

The terrorists don't have to do anything. They already have done it as you pointed out. They got into the minds of the weak ones, put the nation into a state of turmoil, costs us trillion of dollars, drastically changed our way of life and thinking, and it wouldn't surprise me if they infect the voting system to get certain people elected. As you may realize, there are callus, or are they smart, who have handled the situation to favor themselves and continue to make billions.

Of course, it's a difficult situation to combat since there are not drawn lines of battle. It's a battle of minds. They may do racial profiling, but what are they going to do when the idealistic sleepers get more involved? How do you shoot an enemy who wants to die? I think it might be best if they consult some renowned chess players who are deep thinkers, especially in figuring out the opponents future moves. To me, it's a battle of mind and wits.

How scared should a senior be? Heck, that is a joke, we are just happy when we open our eyes in the morning and happier when we can move to get out of bed. We should worry about a terrorist!! We should concentrate in keeping our minds straight so we don't take Viagra and then a nitro tablet while trying to keep a smile on our face and breathing.... maybe panting... Richard Dornblaser

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I am much more concerned about what George W. Bush has done to our country and to our place in the world. It seems the whole world either dislikes us or hates us now and for good reason. It is going to take a long, long time to get our respect back in the world. We have really blew this one. Patrick Shannon

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I don't understand why people want to keep remembering it so vividly. I want to forget the terrible tragedies that have occurred in my lifetime and concentrate more on what is good. I certainly remember the day my father and then my mother were buried but I don't mark the day. My only sister was buried on 9/11/01 just after the towers came down. We all live through personal tragedies in our lives and this was no more tragic to the survivors than the wife or husband whose spouse and children were killed by a drunk driver. All loss of life is tragic but if we allow ourselves to wallow in tragedies we destroy the reason for living. Vida Ellis, age 67

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Frank, I live in Australia, which is about as far as you can get from Manhattan and 9/11. I am a bit older than you and I got news for you - the poor sleep, the fidgety legs, are part of the aging process, not terror. I have zero terror and I got both! And I get depressed because the old body ain't what it used to be.

If you look back on the history of the US and 'overseas conflicts' - Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq x2, next maybe Iran, Eritrea, or some other benighted Middle Eastern or Asian slum, its not hard to fathom why the buggers want to blow up your buildings and terrorize you - they hate you! Just like the Irish hated the English and for fifty years blew up London buildings. Like Arab and Jew hate each other and do the same.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if nations just left each other alone and did not try to tell them how to run their countries ? Except for oil, what business do any of us have in the Middle East. Except for markets, what business in Asia.

There, that's my rant for today. But I like your column and enjoy reading it, so relax, laugh, live longer. Hooroo, as we say down here. Colin Burt, Queensland. (beautiful one day, perfect the next, as our tourist bureau says.)

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It just plain makes me mad that our country tries to help others in need and some do not appreciate it. How can some countries teach peace but their religion teaches the killing of innocents. It just makes n sense to me. Thomas Goins

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Your 2001 column was excellent! A feeling of dread in times like these is understandable. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, I was a 13 year old living in Tacoma, Washington. The city was blacked out the next night, which heightened the apprehension. Soon, we heard about Japanese submarines attacking the nearby Pacific Coast in California, Oregon, and Washington. There was little damage done but it was absolutely frightening. My homeland was being attacked!

Later we were aware of giant balloons with incendiary bombs attached being launched from Japan and sent to our shores on the then little known jet stream. We saw them and heard about them landing in our forests but the government never acknowledged they existed. They didn't want word to get to Japan that their remarkable weapons were reaching us. More fear of not knowing, not being sure we were safe. We really didn't feel safe until General Doolittle bombed Japan and our Navy won the great battle of Midway.

There is no "Midway" now. There is no feeling of having pushed the enemy back. It's a lousy way to live Frank but I don't know what else we can do. Rudy Marinacci

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I just read your write up about 9/11. It brought back the horror of that September morning where I was glued to the TV. When the first plane hit I remembered the plane that hit the Empire State Building in 1945. At that time I thought, how can a plane hit such a large thing as that?

Then the second plane hit the other building. Then the plane hit the Pentagon. Then the plane hit the ground in Pennsylvania. The thought hit me about Pearl Harbor. It really got to me. That was just as much of an attack on the USA as Pearl Harbor was. We went to war that morning.

People must remember that we did not turn against the president at that time. Everyone went to war with him and no matter what our politics, WE MUST BACK OUR PRESIDENT AND ALL OF OUR MILITARY TILL THIS THING IS OVER.

It isn't the fact that Bush is such a great person. I back him because of the office he holds. Yes, he makes mistakes and yes he makes me mad as thunder sometimes. but I still back him up for the sake of all of our Men and Women doing their best to whip those terrorist and try to keep them from coming over here.

Let us all pray that it never gets over here. And while you are saying those prayers, be sure to remember our President and ALL of our military men and women fighting and dieing so bravely for that little piece of sand. MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA AGAIN! Don B. Pippin

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Immediately after I reed your latest edition and an invitation to comment on 9/11, I opened another newsletter I subscribe to from a professional marketing professional, Perry Marshall. Here's his response, so perfect I decided to pass it on...

Do you remember where you were six years ago today, on 9/11/01? I do. It has a special significance for me, because the company I worked for was gunning to be sold to a larger company. We were in the home stretch of negotiations, suddenly afraid 9/11 would screw the deal.

It didn't. But I still had this other concern. The new company was offering me a job but the deal wasn't all that appealing. The alternative was to go out on my own as a consultant.

Now THAT was scary. Because... at work, the phones had suddenly stopped ringing. It was as if the world was in a state of suspended animation. Nobody was starting new projects; existing projects were put on pause and nobody seemed to be buying anything.

My co-workers thought I was insane to even consider leaving. Even if I was cashing out my stock options, it still seemed crazy.

But this woman named Suzy said to me, whenever there's great uncertainty and fear, there is great opportunity. She said, this is the BEST time to go out on your own because the world is in flux.

I took her advice and...

She turned out to be right. The post-9/11 world was a world where an independent consultant was a lot more appealing than an employee, who's a lot harder to get rid of. Within a month or so I was an outsourced marketing department for a couple of different companies, my office was 20 steps from my bedroom and I was making my mortgage payment.

Man was that ever a good feeling. The caterpillar pushes himself out of the cocoon and the butterfly emerges. After all those years of baloney sandwiches and ramen soup, my wife is vindicated. "Yeah, babe, he really is a winner after all. You picked a good one."

It doesn't really matter where you are in the world, around you things are going forward or backward or sideways, but they're not staying the same. There's always peril somewhere. There's always uncertainty.

Which is exactly where the opportunity is. Lean into the wind. Embrace it. Stare down the demons of fear. Drink in the challenge and the thrill. Even a day like 9/11 can be an anniversary of victory for you.

Dr. Nancy Harkrider, www.exploreasia.net

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You have no idea how many morons there are that haven't got a clue....

September 11th should be revered as Dec. 7, 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor.

I listened to MSNBC early this evening where Chris Matthews interviewed Senator Joe Biden and though I had heard his name bandied about, I never saw ANY politician SO animated; SO MISERABLE with this Iraqi War and this general who came up with the summation that we still have to withdraw slowly from Iraq (if at all). Never so miserable with the president we have, having come to the conclusion that Bush just wants to stay there forever. Big question is, WHY ISN'T HE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT? (It could be on ANY ticket!).

He has been to Iraq seven times and on the way back to the States, there would be several dead bodies being shipped home from Iraq. They are termed as "fallen angels." I thought he would jump clear through my television set - as he loudly declared...FOR WHAT?

I never saw such anger presented on my television set.

Keep on trucking, Frank...we're all getting older than dirt and we're NOT blind...even if we need glasses.....

Best to you and Carolyn, and I always think of her...hope she's getting along all right and the treatment is working. Joan Locker

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I am a female - 76 years old and married for 55 years to the same man. He was a Marine during WWII and still is in the Marine Corp. League. We both feel very strongly that you must confront bullies! Look what happened in Viet Nam when our inestimable Congress pulled us out. 100's of 1,000's of the Vietnamese who were our allies died or lived horrific lives. Yes it was a terrible war - so is all war.

The only answer is ALL OUT resistance! So a peace of sorts can be established to give room for thought. Not necessarily Democratic or Republican thought. But thought that will establish calm to earn a good living- a good living for men and women even children can work to their physical and mental ability. Child labor laws don't work for every country - as they did not for this one in the beginning. We need not force our thoughts and Religion on all Nations. Just be there and show them - don't allow them to be brutal - especially to women and children - show by example- those of us who are criminals should be prosecuted according to our laws. Not beheaded without cause. according to theirs.

I am almost incoherent, one of the reasons for that being the deaths of our people. But dear God in Heaven what else can we do? Allow the fanatics to take over the world to make everyone believe their way or die? Janet Ruth

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First off... I hate AARP! I cancelled my membership as soon as I found out what they were doing to seniors.

Now..."smell this"! With your knowledge of the neocon groups trying to dismantle social security, as well as, AARP "selling" insurance without regards to what AARP was founded for, why don't you start your own type AARP? I would definitely become a member as long as you do not begin to sell insurance of any kind, especially "supplemental" medical cards.

You have the ins and outs to do something such as this. I know it takes money, but I think you have the smarts to come up with money by offering membership at very low fees just to start via emails.

Surely you have the expertise to contact motels, hotels, restaurants, etc., and get a better deal for seniors than AARP offers, plus, you could be a strong voice for seniors to scare hell out of the corrupt politicians now in [our] congress by submitting prepared letters to seniors to sign and email to their misrepresentatives. Prepared letters/faxes get faster results than expecting someone to put into words their thoughts because too many people do not have a good vocabulary and refuse to be "embarrassed" so they just don't say anything. Just wanted you to smell this! Lowell Byrd

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I certainly wish the destruction of the World Trade Center hadn't happened, but I don't worry too much about my or my family's personal safety because none of us live in what I would consider a "target" area for terrorists.

If I lived in Washington, New York or another major U.S. City I would probably feel differently. I know the headquarters of Central Command is in Tampa, but I believe terrorists always want to "make a statement," and damaging one of our major cities is probably more attractive to them than a secondary military objective would be. (I say secondary because the Pentagon is obviously the top objective.)

I don't want to live in fear all the time, so I've rationalized the terrorism threat by equating it to such disasters as hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. Since I cannot control them, I don't worry about them. (A drunk driver could kill me today, or slip in the bathtub and kill myself.) The AA Serenity Prayer says it all.

I do worry about the ineptness of the present administration in the "war on terrorism." Terrorism is an international problem and will require the various countries of the world to cooperate in order to control it. (It probably won't be eradicated in our lifetimes.)

The Bush administration's refusal to even talk to our enemies and their "go it alone," ala John Wayne attitude has isolated us from our allies and infuriated the rest of the world.

Even worse, we have created the future terrorists of the world. Several million of the brightest and best of Iraq's citizens have fled for their lives from Iraq. Most of them with only the clothes on their backs and whatever else they could carry. Many of them are now in what we used to call DP (displaced persons) camps.

These people, and their children, have very good reason to hate us. The left a life of wealth and privilege in Iraq for a terrible life in these camps all because the United States invaded their country. The children of these families are tomorrow's terrorists, and there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of them.

In addition, the transformation of Iraq into a stabilized country has been hurt immeasurably, and perhaps fatally, by the departure of its "brightest and best" citizens. George Burke

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I was working overseas at the time of 9/11 and was returning from a business trip in Japan. I was in the air - traveling from Bangkok to England when America was attacked. Luckily either the pilots had not been informed of the attack or if they knew, chose not to relay it to the passengers on board.

I first heard of the attack when my boss called me about 1/2 hour after my arrival home. Because I was overseas I didn't suffer the full impact of the attack to my homeland for a while, as it was surreal from that distance. I must say the Brits were and still are good allies of America and very supportive to those of us living in their country at the time.

What I find disappointing about all this is that all the good things that I heard that helped bond Americans together, across the country, during that time seem to be now forgotten - gone by the wayside. Before this happened, I found for the most part, Americans were (and still are) quite arrogant in that other than the civil war, we have never had to suffer the results of war on our own land. It can and probably will happen again - American's need to wake up!

There has been an e-mail going around encouraging people to show support for our country and troops by flying the flag today in remembrance of 9/11 - I only saw two other flags flying today in my immediate neighborhood. We live in the best country in the world, free to do or say what we want, worship as we chose, go to school, work for a living or not, - without threat of life or limb and I for the life of me can't understand the complacency of people in my own country.

American's tend to blame the President for everything they think is wrong with the country - a war, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, etc. He is only a representative of the American people and whoever is in office, we need to support him as much as we can and in particular in prayer. I am a firm believer in prayer but it and anything having to do with God has been removed from schools and most all-public places. People who were escaping religious oppression founded this country and now we are doing exactly what they were trying to avoid - removing God from everything and everywhere. Our faith is what through the years, has made our country strong - wake up America.

As someone wrote 'back then' -

We are
One color
One class
One generation
One gender
One faith
One language
One body
One family
One soul
One people

We are The Power of One.
We are united.
We are America

this may not be what you were looking for in comments regarding your piece today on 9/11 - for that I apologize. Thank you for the opportunity to express myself. Barbara M.

***

Am I afraid for myself? The answer is a resounding NO! I have lived a long and fruitful life...a husband of many years who loved me and two daughters who love me.....I am definitely a senior and know my days are numbered. I have never feared death...even when young...it is inevitable.

What angers me is the world I am leaving behind for my children and grandchildren. ANGER .. YES.. My government, my "PRESIDENT"...(I consider him the absolutely WORST "president" this country has ever endured...and he was not even ELECTED!!! 9/11 made his presidency! He took us to war for all of the wrong reasons...too long to delve into this in this email....

Al Qaeda was NOT in Iraq when we invaded! This president spawned and nurtured El Qaeda. Cheney and Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld (the big military man who never served!) The sane course to have taken was to finish the job in Afghanistan. Sadam was an evil man to be sure BUT he was not true threat to our country and GEORGE W. BUSH was aware of this...and there were NO WMD's!!!! And those on high KNEW THIS.

He chose the moment. He chose his moment of fame and we have lost thousands of young lives because of this.....and our reserve troops are so weary, some having been shipped over three times. Am I afraid? NO. Do I fear for the future of my country? YES This is not well written...I am emotional. Perhaps one of "president" Bush's spies will see this letter and come after me! I WOULD WELCOME THIS... Oh Frank...I need to stop. Ruth Holland

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Get over it! We are pampered little fools. I am only 72, a child during WWII, but had family in Europe. So we got hit. We don't know what real suffering is. This was quick and deadly. An easy death for all. Imagine being in London during the blitz. Arlene Torbica

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What is even sadder is the reaction of the leadership of "the world's only remaining superpower" that has detoured from pursuing the mastermind of that 9-11 and is allowing rag-tag tribes to humiliate that image at costs that even our grandchildren's grandchildren will have a hard time repaying our debt to China. The world has survived the rise and fall of many great civilizations (whether civil or not), and will survive ours. All bets are that China will be the next great civilization, but nobody living today will be around when that happens. Bill

***

Living down under at the bottom of the world, we can only imagine how 9/11 has affected the people of the USA.....we sympathize and send our love and good vibes to each one of you. Living under such a terrible threat must be soul destroying for the strongest human beings and it's no good saying, "Don't let it get you down", as I know I would be feeling exactly the same as you Frank, if I lived over there.

Although we in NZ are rather isolated, stuck at the bottom of the globe, we are extremely fortunate in that we are relatively untouched by a lot of the horror that is happening in the world today and I just wish that we could share our good fortune with YOU! Love
Gail & Graeme Ellison, Waitakere NZ

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I have been reading and enjoying your rants and humor for some time now. I have just joined the old farts club, expect my first SS check in a couple of weeks. Not having attained your age or view of the world I thought I would let you know a slightly younger suddenly senior view, my own of course.

The world is a dangerous place and has been getting more dangerous from the time of Alexander. As a kid, I went through the stupid huddle under your desk to kiss your ass good by in preparation for a nuclear attack. Thankfully, that did not happen. The 9/11 thing was unbelievable. We were in Greece when that one went down and remember the numbers of Greek acquaintances and friends who stopped either Nancy, wife, partner, etc. and me to see if we had anyone in the buildings that day. We did not but the feeling and emotion expressed by the Greeks was amazing.

They too have had their run of terrorist activity since WWII. They too live in fear daily. But they do not cower and hide. They live, love and mourn as appropriate. But most important, they live and love and do not hide.

That I think is the response we need. Fear is a very debilitating emotion. If we give into it, we are certainly lost. We live in troubled times not unlike the Irish in Ulster. Yet, we must persevere or run to Idaho and join the survivalists. I prefer to persevere. Jack Dickson

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Though not as old as you, or my in-laws, I have enough history and memory to say a little on this subject. Do I live in "FEAR"? - NO! Do I believe something like this will happen again? - Yes. Do I wake up each morning from "bad dreams"? - No. Do I think we are now a hateful Nation? NO! Do I believe that we fail to recognize that this is and will continue to be a "different" kind of war? Yes.

Do I believe that modern America will fight to the end to ensure the freedoms you and I have enjoyed? NO! Do I believe that this is the same USofA that I grew up with? NO!

Do I have sadness because we have already "lost" because we possess no "will"? - YES! Rick Fries born 1950

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I am a hawk. I am a female. I am 76 years old and married for 55 years to the same man. He was a Marine during WW11 and still is in the Marine Corp League. We both feel very strongly that you must confront bullies! Look what happened in Viet Nam when our inestimable Congress pulled us out. 100's of 1,000's of the Viet Namese who were our allies died or lived horrific lives. Yes, it was a terrible war - so is all war.

The only answer is ALL OUT resistance! So, a peace of sorts can be established to give room for thought. Not necessarily Democratic or Republican thought. But thought that will establish calm to earn a good living- a good living for men and women even children can work to their physical and mental ability. Child labor laws don't work for every country - as they did not for this one in the beginning. We need not force our thoughts and Religion on all Nations. Just be there and show them - don't allow them to be brutal - especially to women and children - show by example- those of us who are criminals should be prosecuted according to our laws. Not beheaded without cause, according to theirs.

I am almost incoherent, one of the reasons for that being the deaths of our people. But dear God in Heaven what else can we do? Allow the fanatics to take over the world to make everyone believe their way or die? Mrs. Arthur Ruth

***

You know, today I was watching a documentary on 9/11 and it was no different for me as it was on that very fateful day!...I sat here and cried my heart out for those who had to leave us so cruelly and with pure terror of knowing there was no way out.

Dear "GOD" I prayed, what‘s next? Yes there will always be doubt in my mind of our safety. Yet, I also realize, I am at peace in my heart of my way of love and beliefs. I find myself listening to the news more often than I should.

I could go on and on with the way life has become. The feeling of terror when I hear something I don't understand and the need to find out facts. I see my beautiful family in my mind at bedtime and pray for their well being and safety. I know we all do that but it is now more special for me to be sincerely honest with myself. Life is different.... Sonja Caldwell

In Remembrance of 9/11: "God In The Stairwell"

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say Good-bye. I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK... I am ready to go. I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to me for help. I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years, I said. Of course I will show you the way home -- only believe in Me now.

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there. Comforting and assuring them that their Faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Kansas, and London. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me? I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name, though they did NOT all know Me. Some met me for the first time on the 100th floor. Some sought me out in their last breath. Some couldn't hear me calling to them throughout the smoke and flames, come to Me... this way... take my hand. Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day--you may not know why, but I DO. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me? September 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now... while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are ready to go, and I will be in the stairwell of your final moment.

By Stacy Randall