What will be a fairly short rant...Two topics

1) Many Dominicans seemed to be quite content that the events of last Tuesday were carried out. Jokes were made by commentators about how Bush had to move around the country; speculations were aired about how funny it would be if this were carried out by friends of the people in Oklahoma City bombing.
What they all seemed to miss was the fact that this was the darkest day in the history of the Dominican Republic. their economy took a hit that will take a long time to recover from, and their population in NYC was reduced by hundreds, perhaps thousands. With the possible exception of the San Zenon hurricane in 1930, I cannot think of another event that took so many lives so quickly, and without reason..Can you??

2) Of course there were the Nostradamus idiots out there.
Please visit this site and see the truth on this Urban Legend.
www.snopes.com

God Bless America

HB

HB,
I have been in a very "contained" enviroment in the last days. I haven't been out, and when not at work I've spent a lot of time at home watching CNN. I do not doubt your words, but if so and SOME Dominicans have made fun of this event I am sorry. They will be sorry too soon (although I hope against hope that we won't suffer that much).

The people I've talked to in this week (friends, family and workmates) are as hurt and surprised and scared as I am. But I think that hatred won't do much for us. May God give you all peace.

Why would Dominicans be cheerful about this? I was under the impression that most Dominicans were saddened by the tragic events. The news indicates that Mejia called for a three day mourning, codetel is offerring FREE calls to NY, and various other statements have been made to indicate US support.

I have received nothing but sympathy and concern from many of my Dominican correspondants.

Mr. Billy: Have you heard the story of Desiderio Arias?

Hugs,

Ozzie

Well said Hillbilly!

Unfortunately, gratitude is not a strong point for Dominicans, and a major reason that the Dominican Republic is a 3rd world country (and will remain so for the lifetimes of everyone alive today because the children here already have that same ingratitude).

A dominican said to me the other day that maybe the U.S. deserved what had happened to it. He had spent years making money in the U.S., but was busted for drug dealing a few years ago. After he got out of prison, he was deported. Nuff' said.

I recent your words (although I still have to say that you have the right to your opinions). I do not believe ingratitude is a common trait in Dominicans. You have just described a bagfull of s... and use it as example of Dominicans. I think we can do better.

If by "we" you mean "me", perhaps you are right - I could have been more descriptive, and he may well be an example for Dominicans:

He prays before his meals. (One doesn't have to be religious to appreciate the gesture).

He has 3 incredibly nice children who surely did not get that way by accident.

He is honest in the sense that he doesn't actively steal (although he will "negotiate" for himself part of anything in which he is involved). I trust him completely in the way that I just described.

He works very hard, and even has a college fund started for his children.

Note that I did not call him a drug dealer, either. I believe that he got almost all of his meager earnings from hard work but was trying to supplement his income to support his family when he got caught. I also believe that he refused to rat on anyone else - therefore his harsh treatment. (Whether the U.S. justice system should punish such behavior is a different subject).

Neither was he pleased with the loss of life, but only that "maybe" (reread my post) it was deserved. I'm sure that he meant in some sort of bloodless, abstract way.