Fellow Rangerphiles,

It’s been a week that none of us will forget. I deliberated whether to review the week’s events like I normally do, but I took on the duty for better or worse so I will chronicle the events from the Rangerphile perspective. I don’t have a real artifact to share quite yet, but I think we’ve all created one large artifact during this week in history. It’s one that we’ll recount to our children and our grandchildren for generations to come, just as our ancestors told us about Pearl Harbor and the feelings surrounding that and World War II. Because of that, I’m going to add some words of history at the end. God bless and preserve you all at this time.

The week at the Café began with my return from a week’s exile for study in preparation for my qualifying exams. As you know, I’ve passed those now and will move on to my dissertation. Looking back now, I am so relieved they were on Monday and not later. I’m not sure I’d have done as well if they were.

Rowan also rejoined us on Monday – welcome back! Always good to see a Rangerphile return to the fold.

The rest of the week was dominated by the postings at the Off-Topic Board, beginning with the J.A.M.’s posting that the World Trade Center was on fire. I think this initial thread is the longest we’ve ever had on any of the boards, and rightfully so. I assume that we’ll be archiving these threads as well for posterity. We expressed our own feelings of shock, revulsion, anger, fear and uncertainty on that day, and even now they are still with us. There was widespread concern about Andy aka Monty, but fortunately he was spared since he went to work late. An outpouring of thanksgiving over that showed how strong our Rangerphile ties truly are.

MChet wondered if any of our families were in the armed forces, knowing that the next step would be retaliation. Kevin Sharbaugh and Matt Plotecher both answered in the affirmative, and may those they know be protected if and when they go to fight.

Well-wishers from the international Rangerphile community posted their sympathy and condolences. We Americans thank you all for standing with us at this trying time, and for showing us that we are not alone in this struggle against terrorism. CzechDave’s thread also included the first news that ancillary buildings around the towers were falling. Doubtlessly, several more will have to be demolished because of lack of structural integrity.

Rowan mentioned the possibility of a draft, and there were opinions both ways on that. At this point, there doesn’t look like there will be a draft for this war—for a war we may fairly call it—but I could see where it could be reinstated in the future to keep America’s fighting forces strong enough to deal with whatever enemy rears its ugly head. I would hope not, because this is a nation of peace. Still, peace is often costly as we have now been reminded.

Amidst all this, the J.A.M. gave us a reminder that life is still going on with the announcement of the J.A.D.I.’s birthday. Our children are our most precious resource, and it is good to remember and cherish things so important to them like birthdays.

Kevin Sharbaugh tried to bring things into perspective with the Garth Brooks song, “The Change”. Indeed, it is a change for us all. In one day, the life of this country was altered forever. Some of the changes will be restrictive on our taken-for-granted freedoms. Others are much more positive, though. The American spirit is at an all-time high right now. Patriotism is flowing in the streets, and American flags are everywhere. There is also a new infusion of morality in this country. I think that we, having seen the face of evil, want ourselves and our world around us to know that we stand for good. If we respond with evil for evil, then we are no better than our attackers. I am pleased to say that we are not doing that. We are a freedom-loving people, and I look upon the task ahead as bringing freedom to the oppressed peoples of the terrorist nations.

On Wednesday, the news began pouring in fast and furious. Another building collapsed. The hijackers were beginning to be identified. Messages of support and solidarity began flowing in from around the free world. This continued into Thursday, and nations began rallying behind us. How would ever have thought 200,000 Germans would have staged a rally at the Brandenburg Gate in support of the US? Times have changed. Perhaps the most poignant thing was the Coldstream Guard playing “The Star Spangled Banner” at the changing of the guard. The Americans and the British there cried together. Old and New World joined together, and as the French paper Le Monde said, “We are all Americans”.

Then on Friday I got my own good news, and decided everyone needed some so I shared it. Thank you all for your kind responses, as I move on in my academic life. I just got a phone call from my grandfather, a WWII Marine. I thought about what this time must mean for him. He was as shocked as any of us, but I’m sure he’s as proud as anyone with the strong American spirit we’ve shown over the past few days.

Natasha “Gadget” Ortiz contacted us on Friday as well, letting us know that her family in New York was safe. It has to be a hard thing seeing your hometown in such chaos, and not knowing if your loved ones are safe. Gadget, our good wishes and prayers are with you and yours at this time. It’s amazing how the people of New York have stood up in this time of tragedy and have refused to let it beat them. I’ve read lots of reports from local reporters who went up there and spoke of the hordes of ordinary people who were out on the streets, making sure the rescue workers had everything they needed. I think the best weapon we could hurl at terrorism was the one we’ve seen this week in New York—thousands of people giving their all, and then going beyond that in their efforts to save at least one more person. Our fight for life is the testament that defeats the enemy’s desire for death.

Also on Friday, Dale (Chris Birkett) mentioned a story where a man got out of the Towers, only to find his family had been on board one of the planes that crashed into the Towers. That brought about a discussion on airline security, and what changes it would bring. Now, I don’t think they’ll go as far as strip searches. Rather, they’ll use those special cameras that can penetrate clothing and see if you’ve got a weapon on you. Yes, it’s an invasion of privacy. Yet, I’d rather they did that than allow people on another plane with weapons. The line must be drawn here.

Then some good news. Dale again posted, telling us that his house is finally a home again. I can remember when Dale and his mum began this quest to get their house renovated, and truly they’ve undergone a trial of their own. I’m very glad you have your home back, Dale, and that your days of fighting with contractors are over.

Now, let’s catch up with the Café. Back on Tuesday, Ray Jones released and updated his September calendar. A great effort on all sides, and a very nice touch with blacking out the 11th. It’s a date none of us will forget.

Don Don the Panda mentioned the idea of creating some original animation with the Rangers, and mentioned he needs help with figuring out the relation of Gadget’s bedroom to her workshop. Any bright observers here? Also, he mentioned auditioning voice talent. I can do an okay Monterey Jack, but I’m not sure it would pass muster. Any Rangerphiles out there who can mimic one of the Rangers?

Yesterday, TOZ brought us a wonderful image of Foxy and Dale. Outstanding job with that, and it was good to see a symbol of beauty and good after all the awful images we’ve had to endure this week.

Now, I’d like to say a few things for my own part. This country has been through tragedy and war before. It’s nothing new to us. In fact, this country was born out of war, and resisting tyranny. Now, we must resist that same tyranny again to preserve our freedoms and win freedom for others. I am reminded of the words of our first president named George. In the year 1788, Washington wrote these words to the Secretary of War—“I earnestly pray that the Omnipotent Being who has not deserted the cause of America in the hour of its extremest hazard, will never yield so fair a heritage of freedom a prey to Anarchy or Despotism.”

The words that address such feelings are timeless, and speak to our generation as well. Also, the words of Abraham Lincoln—“Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it.” And of Winston Churchill—“One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never!” And of Douglas MacArthur—“There is no substitute for victory”.

A Week In Remembrance

In one awful moment
Our lives were changed
The home of freedom
Was attacked by the deranged

Cry for the dead
Weep for the slain
Resolve that evil
Shall not touch us this way again

Remember the heroes
Who fight for every life
Man, woman, son, daughter
Husband or wife

Remember the heroes
Who fought back to keep
One plane from succeeding
In one desperate leap

Let men like Jeremy Glick
And those who joined his cause
Be remembered as heroes of the nation
Who gave their lives without pause

And we will not forget.
The heartbeat of freedom is strong
The light of patriotism burns bright
And right will triumph over wrong

Now walk united, wise and sure
Let the past inspire us to endure
Fight for freedom in every street
By greeting each person you meet

Now prepare to fight the foe
To those who kill we tell them, “Woe!
Woe to you who take men’s lives
And cheer, and laugh, and attack our skies

Your cheers and laughter will turn to tears
Your derision burns and languishes in our ears
Your fate is sealed, your lives are gone
Your efforts are useless, for we are one

And as one we stand, and as one we fight
As one will we conquer, in righteous might
Yet not with malice, but steadfast and true
We will wipe out injustice, as we’ve been given to do."

Be angry, and sin not
Be strong, and hate not
Send the message of love and peace
To those who hate, and let it cease

Pray for the victims, pray for the warriors
Never lose faith in your resolve
Now we go on to fight the good fight
And we will fight, at home and up above

Everyone’s a soldier, we all are drafted
To freedom’s fight and we will heed the call
This is the beginning, but we will see the finish
And freedom will triumph over all.