Next Issue: "Comfort Each Other"



   This will be long -- it deserves to be. The core of our mission

allows ordinary people to become authors: to speak of ordinary heroism

to people around our globe to "Restoring Faith in Humanity -- One Story

at a Time". Publishing your letters is part of that mission; at a time

like this, a VERY important part.



   Our Denver picnic organizers write: "Just when you need something to

make you feel good about your fellow man, there's a picnic for people

who appreciate the humanity and heroism which lives in all of us. On

Sunday 16 September 2001, we will meet in Denver, Colorado, from 1:00

p.m. until everyone goes home! E-mail: Denver@HeroicStories.com for

place and directions. Let's send a message that we *won't* be scared

into staying home. Join like-minded subscribers to the Internet's most

inspiring free mailing -- HeroicStories!"



   Thank you to all who've written from around the world with your

solace for the American people. Lina from Singapore: "So sorry for such

a tragic thing to happen. United States, please be strong, you have the

world to support you. Americans, you are the strongest people in the

world -- emotionally, spiritually and physically. Please accept my

condolences. I am wondering if I can donate my blood in Red Cross

Singapore to help in this matter?" Gary: "A small note to all Americans.

I was watching CNN as the second plane crashed into the twin towers

yesterday. I was so stunned that I actually didn't realise what I had

just witnessed,and was horrified as the rest of this miserable tragedy

unfolded I just want to say that my prayers are with you all.

Condolences to all that have lost someone special. (In South Africa --

was in Zimbabwe but had to leave because of the violence and uncertainty

there.)"



   Eva from Scotland: "I also want to express my deepest sympathy to

those whose loved ones perished in yesterday's unbelievable disaster."

Lisa in Singapore: "Yesterday was the official opening of our plant but

atmosphere was sombre. We had a moment of silence in place of a planned

celebration. Our hearts go out to you. We really hope to help. Our local

TV channels have been replaced with news of NYC. We have forums about

the probability and motives of the attacks. We hope Americans stand

united and will not fall for speculations of media from unreliable

sources. Do not be biased against those who are Muslims or Arabs. Having

the same religion does not mean that people have the same thoughts."

Dawn wrote: "From South Africa With Love! We support you all and we cry

with you and we feel your pain. My heart goes out to you all, to the

victims, families, friends, all the care-workers, policemen,

firefighters, and emergency medical personnel."



   Americans SO appreciate your comments! Linda wrote: "I am a teacher

in New Jersey and I started to cry when I read the comments you

published from people in other countries. North Jersey has been in

turmoil helping out with the tragic loss in NYC. About 200,000 people

travel from New Jersey into Manhattan to work daily. We are really

suffering as we wait for a list of people who can't be found. They are

our neighbors, friends, children and parents. You don't know what it

means to hear these kind words from people from other countries. Thank

you so much for making us feel better." Katie: "Thank you to all those

from other countries who have written in support of America. I am deeply

moved and comforted by their letters and prayers." John in Illinois: "I

just read the letters from the people from all over the world and would

like to say 'THANKS' for the comforting words to all of us here in the

USA. I work in a midwestern town that has a population of 10,000 people.

It hit me this morning that the entire population of my town had lost

their lives in New York yesterday. Please do not let these people be

forgotten. They were Moms, Dads, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles and

Grandparents. Friday the 14th of September, show your love for the

survivors and wear red, white and blue and if possible."



   Please share the comfort within these issues with co-workers and

friends. Show them how to subscribe to receive more stories of the

*good* in humanity. HeroicStories is a tremendous resource for people

searching for emotional sanity (as we're hearing from so many people

daily!) Please feel free to share the address of our new web page. It

contains the last two special issues, including the many comments from

readers around the world: http://www.HeroicStories.com/11sept2001.html



   Our readers spoke up on steering away from prejudice. Mary in

Oklahoma: "I have to acknowledge that I feel not only for the victims

and their families, but also the Arabs and Muslims in this country who

are innocent, but will be looked on with suspicion." I hope you speak up

so those around you are aware of your convictions. I know it's not easy

in every corner of the country, but it matters. Violeta in Australia:

"Already, Arab Americans are receiving threatening phone calls, and

being the recipients of other such harassment. I must take issue with

the media for helping this along. When they first showed scenes of

jubilation on the Bank, the television journalist was careful to point

out that this was happening in one street corner, but since then, we

have been led to believe that such scenes are common all over the Middle

East. Let us hold on to our sanity in the face of an insane act!" Joanne

in Australia: "We don't know who did this heinous crime against all

people, including their own. The people helping after the devastation

have no 'country' -- all races are blank because of the dust on their

faces. We all need to care and protect the people beside us regardless

of their 'country'."



   Amanda in California: "I received an utterly revolting racist e-mail

today, which asked me to forward it to 'all red-blooded Americans.' To

say the least it disturbed me that the hate could start so early. I

forwarded a copy of the HeroicStories issue you sent yesterday so that

*everyone* who received this would also get something positive." News

flash for the originators of that e-mail: ALL Americans, and EVERYONE IN

THE WORLD has red blood. In making those statements, you show the exact

same mentality as the bombers: "Lump people together and hate them." You

are ringing the wrong number -- we are NOT going there with you. Don in

California: "Even if some Islamic group is behind the attack, this does

*not* mean we should hold Muslims or Middle Eastern immigrants

responsible for this crime. Islam is not the motivation for this

insanity, though it may be used as an excuse. Murder in the name of

Islam is no different from murder in the name of Christ. No major modern

religion teaches savagery and hatred. I was raised a Baptist in southern

Georgia, but I for one will not attach blame to Islamics or Middle

Easterners in general for the actions of the rabid few. This is a

particularly important for Americans -- defenders of freedom, dignity,

and equality -- to remember at a time like this. If we really believe we

can hold a light aloft for the rest of the world, it's time for us to

stop talking and start leading, with a lesson that we are now peculiarly

suited to teach."



   We must remember: people of all nationalities and all religious

faiths died in these events. We must *not* in any fashion stoop to

perpetuating stereotypes of any race or religion at this time. We must

not sink to the level of the people who created this carnage. Booker T.

Washington said: "I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me

hate him." No matter how many times we are bombarded with media

repetitions of one particular group's responsibility -- from *any

source* -- we must not stoop to allowing hateful thoughts to rule our

hearts or minds. If we do, we shall be absolultely equal in stature with

those who committed these acts.



   It is time to build bridges. Bridges to a future where there is more

peace in the world, not less. We must discover ways to "wage peace".

Humanity has boundary-less creativity -- let us begin using it to create

harmony and safety. Let's brainstorm positive ideas, from the smallest

to more universal in impact. What can we do which is positive in the

midst of this tragedy?



-- Speak up for *tolerance* when conversations head elsewhere.

-- At your business display a sign: "Muslims welcome here".

-- If you're a Christian, suggest to your church that they post on

   reader-board: "We stand in Love with our Muslim and Middle Eastern

   brothers under God."

-- Call for three minutes of daily silence in your workplace next week.

-- Call for 10 minutes of silence in your town one day next week.

-- Help do paperwork, call donors, etc. at a blood donation center.

-- Make an appointment to donate blood in October or November.

-- Take baked goodies to airport personnel as they return to work while

   scared witless. (Take your kids along so they get to help.)

-- Organize your child's class to write letters to NYC relief workers.

   (Kids' letters meant the world to relief workers after the OKC

   bombing.)

-- Ask your kids to brainstorm all the ways they think we could create a

   more peaceful world. Pin up their lists.

-- Call the Red Cross to see what they need for their shelters.



   Merchants of hate and terror are even now calling for vengance, more

hatred and violent actions against members of specific groups. If we

create enough *peaceful* actions and signs, perhaps the hate-mongers

will KNOW that they are surrounded by people willing to STAND UP for

principles of decency.



   Add your voice. Do you have a suggestion for "waging peace"? Have you

seen something innovative and inspiring which someone has done? Please

share it with us, to the Comments@HeroicStories.com address.



   Our readers have been sending in great ideas already. Jim in Oklahoma

writes: "I work at the airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Today, I was sitting

in a meeting when a local Girl Scout Group began bringing in hundreds of

sack lunches for stranded travelers. What a magnificent gesture by these

young girls." George in Washington State: "Didn't we once use yellow

ribbons to show our support and sympathy for others' tragic

circumstances? Why not again?" And thank you, Tom from Texas, for

sending us the following written by your wife, about her drive to work

on 12 September, 2001: "As I was driving into work today, I saw a man

running at a fairly quick pace up a main street. He was in his late 20s

or early 30s, tall, athletically built, with short hair and wearing a

muscle t-shirt and olive running shorts. He was carrying a large

American flag (the size you would see used by a color-guard at a

military facility). I found it eerie, but also compelling and even

reassuring. It was if the man was saying, 'We are Americans, and

terrorism will not defeat us.' I flicked my high-beam headlights at him

to acknowledge that I had seen and understood what he was doing. He

nodded slightly and kept running at the same quick pace, with the flag

fluttering in the wind proudly behind him."



Joyce Schowalter, Editor in Chief

Co-Conspirator to Make the World a Better Place



   COMMENTS about stories are always welcome: please include your first

name and location: Comments@HeroicStories.com