================================================ Subject: NCR: Recent Events as seen from Paris From: To: Date: Fri 14 Sep 2001 19:15:22 EDT ================================================ Touching again on the outpouring of love throughout the world...this is the message from my friends in France that I mentioned before. Jen << > >I have just returned from eating a sandwich for > lunch in the Luxembourg > >Gardens, a short walk from the church. Looking for > a quiet, shady corner, > >I was surprised to find one surrounding a small > >replica of the Statue of Liberty. I sat and ate, > contemplating the statue > >and thinking about this week's events in the U.S. > A family came and laid a > >single red rose at the base of the statue. They > withdrew a few yards and > >stood for some minutes, gazing at the statue. I > thought I overheard them > >speak briefly in German. I stopped eating; it was > a special moment. > > > >A few moments later an energetic older woman (69 > years old, she told me > >right off, of Italian origin but in France since a > young child), stopped to > >ask directions - and to chat a bit, I think. And > she spoke of her horror > >at the terrorist attacks. > > > >These two encounters in the space of a few minutes > express perfectly how > >France is reacting and responding. Last evening > Jean and I attended a > >service at the American Church in Paris, not far > from the rue de Lille. We > >couldn't get in, but stood with a large crowd in > front of the church; the > >line was two blocks long half an hour before the > starting time. Very many > >of those in line were not Americans, but French and > other nationalities. > >They were there to show that they care. > > > >One of the points at which tears came to my eyes > this week was when we saw > >President Chirac, Prime Minister Jospin, and > several former presidents and > >prime ministers come down the church steps after > the service. They were > >there. > > > >We have stopped counting the phone calls and > e-mails that French friends > >have sent, some to make sure we didn't have family > members at the scenes of > >the attacks, others simply to express their > sympathy. > > > >May people have laid flowers at the U.S Embassy > and at the American > >Church. > > > >The French news media have provided extensive > coverage of events late into > >the night. > > > >And one French member of the European Parlement > said on Tuesday evening : > >"Tonight we are all Americans." > > > >As the drama was unfolding on Tuesday, the anchor > for France 2, the > >state-run network, said that one hijacked plane was > still unaccounted for, > >and that another tragedy was therefore possible. > He actually said, "Let > >us pray to God that it doesn't." There are fewer > atheists in times of > >crisis. >> To unsubscribe or change your preferences for the Creed-Discuss list, visit: http://www.winduplist.com/ls/discuss/form.asp