The Monthly Newsletter and Resource Center for Filmmakers

September 11, 2001 MEMORIAL PAGE

__________ Eleven Nine 2001. I forgot to kiss you goodbye. "I will see you later" you said. "Have a great day" I replied as you closed the door. It was the last time we could of said "Goodbye" To each other. You are in my memory now forever. Your smile I can still see and hear your laughter too. You are with me all the time. Goodbye...To you...Bye. I forget you not, where ever you are now. Anna Zigure __________ LET'S BE PERSONAL" Broadcast June 5, 1973 CFRB, Toronto, Ontario Topic: "The Americans" The United States dollar took another pounding on German, French and British exchanges this morning, hitting the lowest point ever known in West Germany. It has declined there by 41% since 1971 and this Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least-appreciated people in all the earth. As long as sixty years ago, when I first started to read newspapers, I read of floods on the Yellow River and the Yangtse. Who rushed in with men and money to help? The Americans did. They have helped control floods on the Nile, the Amazon, the Ganges and the Niger. Today, the rich bottom land of the Mississippi is under water and no foreign land has sent a dollar to help. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy, were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of those countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States. When the franc was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it. When distant cities are hit by earthquakes, it is the United States that hurries into help... Managua Nicaragua is one of the most recent examples. So far this spring, 59 American communities have been flattened by tornadoes. Nobody has helped. The Marshall Plan .. the Truman Policy .. all pumped billions upon billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now, newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent war-mongering Americans. I'd like to see one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplanes. Come on... let's hear it! Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tristar or the Douglas 107? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all international lines except Russia fly American planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or women on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy and you find men on the moon, not once, but several times ... and safely home again. You talk about scandals and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everyone to look at. Even the draft dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, most of them ... unless they are breaking Canadian laws .. are getting American dollars from Ma and Pa at home to spend here. When the Americans get out of this bind ... as they will... who could blame them if they said 'the hell with the rest of the world'. Let someone else buy the Israel bonds, Let someone else build or repair foreign dams or design foreign buildings that won't shake apart in earthquakes. When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke. I can name to you 5,000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake. Our neighbours have faced it alone and I am one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of these. But there are many smug, self-righteous Canadians. And finally, the American Red Cross was told at its 48th Annual meeting in New Orleans this morning that it was broke. This year's disasters .. with the year less than half-over has taken it all and nobody...but nobody... has helped. ORIGINAL SCRIPT AND AUDIO COURTESY STANDARD BROADCASTING CORPORATION LTD. (c) 1973 BY GORDON SINCLAIR PUBLISHED BY STAR QUALITY MUSIC (SOCAN) A DIVISION OF UNIDISC MUSIC INC. 578 HYMUS BOULEVARD POINTE-CLAIRE, QUEBEC, CANADA, H9R 4T2 __________ I am a senior in high school and the attacks on New York City made me realize the value of my life. I along with many other teens across the nation faced the thought that I am American and proud to be. Life is taken for granted. I would like to thank the firefighters and police of New York City who faced the terrorist attacks and took their lives to save others. You will be remembered for what you have done for this nation. You were brave and courageous men and women and we thank you for being you. Renee Kaletha __________ Dear Peter,    First of all, thank you for opening up this forum for those of us in media to express some thoughts. Our friendship goes back to the early 80's in Calgary when we shared duties at the CBC TV station there. Every day, we would see news material about events with their origin in hate and fanaticism. Nothing across those years compares to Tuesday  This past week at the headquarters of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Toronto was filled with 24-hour coverage in "emergency mode" as we, like our American cousins, tried to deal with the horrendous flow of pictures and information from New York City, Washington and Pennsylvania.   In "normal" times, viewers have often asked, "Why do you only broadcast the bad news?". The sad thing is, we don't have to look hard to find it.    Tuesday's attacks were a prime example of how terrorism can abuse the media. Consider the timing of the planes hitting the WTC. Network cameras were trained on the towers following the first blow. So, the world was guaranteed to see the horrible shots of the second plane's impact.    We share a mixture of confusion, anger, and disbelief. So, what do we do about "bad news"? Activities like those connected to Osama Bin Laden are a global cancer. We have to find ways to cut it out without jeopardizing our global body. The surgery won't be easy.    But I believe each of us can help by concentrating even harder on making our own good news. A British friend once told me of an old naval expression, "Attitude is the art of gunnery". In other words, we can't let these creatures take over our prime tools of defense, our hearts and minds.    We must increase our growth, creativity and celebration of our way of life in response to cowardly terrorism. By doing so, you may not make newspaper headlines or be the lead story on CNN. But, every time you hold a loved one close, you are making good news. Every time you provide some help for a homeless citizen on the streets of your city, you are making good news. Every time you do what may seem a small thing to make the world a better place, you are making good news. It will continue to have have a tremendous, cumulative effect, even if the world doesn't see your individual contribution.    Reactionary bombs may or may not exact physical revenge against terrorists. Perhaps our greater response is to curse terrorists with spiritual impotence. Let them know their actions will not keep us under a cloud. Fear is their greatest weapon. Take it away. Terry Glecoff, Toronto __________ "When the dark seeks to equal the light there is certain to be conflict. If the dark element seeks to achieve a position to which it is not entitled and tries to rule instead of serving, it draws down upon itself the fury of the dragon." Chinese Proverbial Wisdom __________ "The truly great, in my view, are always bound to feel a great sense of sadness during their time on Earth." Fyodor Dostoevsky __________ "DIFFERENCE ... essential for human survival but intolerable for most" Denise Davis __________ Comments? I could write screeds - we all could. I live in Zimbabwe, but being so far away from America doesn't make it any less shocking. (In fact, I believe there are 6 Zimbabweans still missing - 5 from WTC and 1 who worked at the Pentagon.) Right now, our country's problems pale into insignificance compared with what happened on 11th September and, more crucially in global terms, what may happen in the weeks and months to come. Main thought no. 1: The feelings of those whose family members and friends lie buried in the rubble. The pain must be indescribable, excruciating.  I weep for them. Main thought no. 2: Fear of what is to come. Military retaliation can only compound the hatred. These people are prepared to die for their cause, so bombing them will only create martyrs. "An eye for an eye" is hardly a Christian, or even a so-called "civilised" response. America and its allies will mourn for decades. But along with the grieving must come a reassessment and a search for the truth. American citizens must ask themselves and their government the following questions: How did known terrorists manage to board those planes? With Bin Laden such an obvious threat, why was security so lax? What motivates American middle-eastern policy? Is it fair? Is it moral? Is short-term American pride more important than long-term world peace? Is it not xenophobia (bigotry, call it what you will) that is the real evil of the modern world? We must all think very hard about why this happened and take appropriate action, or it will surely happen again. Sam Baker __________ Beat! Beat! Drums! by Walt Whitman (in 1861) Beat! beat! drums!-blow! bugles! blow! Through the windows-through doors-burst like a ruthless force, Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation, Into the school where the scholar is studying; Leave not the bridegroom quiet-no happiness must he have now with his bride, Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, ploughing his field or gathering his grain, So fierce you whirr and pound you drums-so shrill you bugles blow. Beat! beat! drums!-blow! bugles! blow! Over the traffic of cities-over the rumble of wheels in the streets; Are beds prepared for sleepers at night in the houses? no sleepers must sleep in those beds, No bargainers' bargains by day-no brokers or speculators-would they continue? Would the talkers be talking? would the singer attempt to sing? Would the lawyer rise in the court to state his case before the judge? Then rattle quicker, heavier drums-you bugles wilder blow. Beat! beat! drums!-blow! bugles! blow! Make no parley-stop for no expostulation, Mind not the timid-mind not the weeper or prayer, Mind not the old man beseeching the young man, Let not the child's voice be heard, nor the mother's entreaties, Make even the trestles to shake the dead where they lie awaiting the hearses, So strong you thump O terrible drums-so loud you bugles blow. This was written with incredible enthusiasm for the civil war, to call people to action. I find it grossly pertinent today. __________ My deep and sincere sympathies to all those who lost someone they loved on this humanless terrorist attack. Feeling very shocked by all the loses of human lives I pray for them and for those who are still alive under the rubble. May God help to be found soon. Our thoughts are with you. Mary Savvidou

__________ I would like to thank you for letting me express myself to the world my deep sadness and pain that the families who lost their loved ones have to deal with. Since Sept.11, 2001 I have looked at the world in a whole different perspective. As tomorrow is a year since the terrible terrorist attack I feel the same ill feeling as if it was relived all over again. God bless all of you, and for all the heroes who had to loose their precious lives! My heart and soul are praying for all of you... Debbie Patton __________ I am a freshmen in Socorro high school. I remember this day so clearly. I remember I was scared and worried, and till this day my prayers are with them. So many questions to ask.......... I thank all those firefighters for there work and love. Thank you for saving lifes and putting your in danger. You are real heros. you surly are my hero. I will have you and your families in my prayers. I want to thanks all the army. GOD BLESS YOU GUYS, nobody like you all. We are with all of you and we are always remembering you. We are United with you all. Thank you. With love, Brenda Larin __________ Peter, Thank you for opening up your newsletter and letting us express our feelings and thoughts regarding this tragic event in history! What an excellent idea! There is nothing left to be said about what has happened, we all are deeply shocked by the horrifying and evil acts that human beings are capable of. We all are sad and sorry and we all know: This should NEVER EVER happen again.  America, without a doubt, the most creative country in the world, certainly possesses the resources, the energy, the intelligence and creativity that is necessary to come up with the solution that will prevent any of these horrifying acts from ever happen again. How do we do that? How do we react? Retaliate by shedding even more blood and letting violence perpetuate and escalate into what could possibly end up in ......World War #3? Deeply in our hearts we know that hate cannot diffuse hate, anger cannot eliminate anger, violence cannot eliminate violence and weapons can never create peace. If we retaliate in anger, if we retaliate through shedding even more blood, all we do is lower ourselves to the same evil level that our enemies have acted from. We'd be doing EXACTLY the same as what we are actually condemning. Is this the correct thing to do? We all know better than that. Without question, the guilty need to be brought to justice, not violence and barbarism. Now it's time for America to rise above the level of the enemy, above the level of negativity. It's time the eliminate anger, hatred and war. It's time to use a strategy that's much more powerful than any existing weapons or strategy of violence and war. It's time to use a new revolutionary strategy that will merely neutralize any negativity or evil intentions before they arise. Wouldn't it be great to render any enemy powerless like that? Then we'd be real winners! For over twenty years there have been technologies out there, technologies of consciousness, that have been shown to reduce violence and negative tendencies in society. According to research published in leading scientific journals it has been shown that these technologies of consciousness, the Transcendental Meditation Program and the more advanced TM-Sidhi program can reduce crime, conflicts, violence, and war-like aggression in society. Anyone interested in looking into these technologies of consciousness further should go to www.mum.edu/m_effect. As successful Producers and Directors in the Film & Video industry we are always on the look-out for new and better technologies and ways to improve our productions. Peter Marshall, through the Director's Chair has provided us with the great opportunity to share helpful hints and tips on directing amongst each other every month. This is of tremendous value and is greatly appreciated by us all. Today, Peter Marshall has opened the newsletter to us to share with each other our deepest feelings and thoughts about the current events. Today we are wearing a slightly different hat. I see it to be the hat of a Producer /Director that's on the look-out for new ways and technologies to eliminate violence and terrorism, the hat of a Producer/Director that is intending to produce peace in the world. I wanted to take this great opportunity to share with you all, what I know to be the most powerful and effective technology to create peace and harmony and eliminate crime, violence and terrorism. These technologies of consciousness have been presented to every American President since Ronald Reagan. None have listened. I hope I am able to inspire at least some of you to take the time to check out what this new approach is all about and how it is able to create a protective shield around us and our nation right now and for the future to come. Increasingly Americans are coming to the realization that the old approaches simply do not work. Hopefully together we can create a ground swell of support that will convince our President and Congress to seek a truly peaceful solution. Again for more information go to : www.mum.edu/m_effect or www.tm.org Silvia Hawkins Short Form Producer hawthorne direct, inc. 300 N. 16th St. Fairfield, IA 52556 641-472-3800 x160 641-472-8851 (fax) shawkins@hawthornedirect.com http://www.hawthornedirect.com __________ September 1, 1939 I sit in one of the dives On Fifty-second Street Uncertain and afraid As the clever hopes expire Of a low dishonest decade: Waves of anger and fear Circulate over the bright And darkened lands of the earth, Obsessing our private lives; The unmentionable odour of death Offends the September night. Accurate scholarship can Unearth the whole offense From Luther until now That has driven a culture mad, Find what occurred at Linz, What huge imago made A psychopathic god: I and the public know What all schoolchildren learn, Those to whom evil is done Do evil in return. Exiled Thucydides knew All that a speech can say About Democracy, And what dictators do, The elderly rubbish they talk To an apathetic grave; Analysed all in his book, The enlightenment driven away, The habit-forming pain, Mismanagement and grief: We must suffer them all again. Into this neutral air Where blind skyscrapers use Their full height to proclaim The strength of Collective Man, Each language pours its vain Competitive excuse: But who can live for long In an euphoric dream; Out of the mirror they stare, Imperialism's face And the international wrong. Faces along the bar Cling to their average day: The lights must never go out, The music must always play, All the conventions conspire To make this fort assume The furniture of home; Lest we should see where we are, Lost in a haunted wood, Children afraid of the night Who have never been happy or good. The windiest militant trash Important Persons shout Is not so crude as our wish: What mad Nijinsky wrote About Diaghilev Is true of the normal heart; For the error bred in the bone Of each woman and each man Craves what it cannot have, Not universal love But to be loved alone. From the conservative dark Into the ethical life The dense commuters come, Repeating their morning vow; "I will be true to the wife, I'll concentrate more on my work," And helpless governors wake To resume their compulsory game: Who can release them now, Who can reach the deaf, Who can speak for the dumb? All I have is a voice To undo the folded lie, The romantic lie in the brain Of the sensual man-in-the-street And the lie of Authority Whose buildings grope the sky: There is no such thing as the State And no one exists alone; Hunger allows no choice To the citizen or the police; We must love one another or die. Defenceless under the night Our world in stupor lies; Yet, dotted everywhere, Ironic points of light Flash out wherever the Just Exchange their messages: May I, composed like them Of Eros and of dust, Beleaguered by the same Negation and despair, Show an affirming flame. -W.H. Auden. This is a poem by W.H. Auden that has been circulating. Thanks Brian Nelson __________ Yesterday I learned, we are all one We are all one in my home, neighborhood, Indeed, across this nation and the globe We are all one because Yesterday I became an orphaned son in New York pleading in vain for his papa and a tortured,grieving widow in Palestine watching as her son is gunned down in the street then, an Israeli soldier's mother at her son's grave relentlessly weeping and when I looked in the mirror I saw a face wracked in grief for I was a fallen firefigher's friend When I went into Church for comfort, I became an Irish Catholic growing hate because my brother was killed in Belfast and when you called to offer your sympathy I was a frantic, frightened mother searching for my missing children amidst the rubble made when missiles rained down from the sky and when I appeared on television I was an African mother helplessly holding my vanishing, dying child tightly in my arms Though my color, age, features, gender, language, politics, and religion shifted akilter throughout this momentous day My tears remained the same, burning similar streams down my face forming one puddle on the bloodied ground And my dreams for the future were as one when the bomb or the bullet murdered them And our heart was rent asunder and broke in the exact same place And our mind was tortured and wracked with the same repeated question Why and What For? Yesterday, I learned God's greatest lesson, We Are All One. A poem written by a friend of mine. __________ When I first heard the news, my heart began pounding. In my 22 years, never once did I think America would ever be attacked. Today, our world is changed forever. I am still thinking about raising my son in this new world. We are America. We will prove to the world that we are strong and that we will prevail. We have for 225 years. To all who have lost loved ones and to the rescue workers who keep hope alive, our thoughts and prayers are with you. GOD BLESS AMERICA. Jason Prugar