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Susan
Mangatal - susan@ariousentertainment.us
Greetings
On-Line Family: This week you
will notice I have diverted from my regular format to memorialize,
pay tribute and nationally mourn the thousands who died, as well
as the thousands who were severely injured and is still
suffering from the September 11, 2001 attacks on America.
One of the saddest incidents in American History!!!
Thursday,
September 11th marks the 7th Anniversary
of the devastating terrorist attacks in the United States of
America at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in
Washington DC, and in Pennsylvania (a rural area near
Shanksville in Somerset County.)
To
be quite honest I believe these attacks were the worst in the
nation’s history. On that painful day many lives were
lost (approximately 3,000), but by the grace of God many
survived. Many of
these survivors were badly injured and/or burned severely (40%
of the survivors were burned).
After
7 years, you wonder how are things going for the victim’s
families, and the survivors? Obviously, the survivors
(even though they have suffered and may still be suffering
physically and mentally) are thankful to be alive.
However, there is no doubt the thought of that horrendous
September morning (the 11th) will forever be lodged
in their minds, as well as the victim’s families minds, and
even yours and mine.
How
could anyone ever forget the sight of the hijacked planes as the
hijackers plunged them into the World Trade center
buildings…the 1st in the North Tower and some minutes later
the 2nd in the South Tower?
Moreover, the sight of the 3rd hijacked plane
as it was driven into the Pentagon, and the 4th that
crashed in a field in PA. These
attacks were horrifying for all of us, and the devastation in
New York at the World Trade Center site "Ground Zero"
made all of us sick and terrified.
One of the most heart-wrenching things I observed which
will forever stay in my mind, was seeing the bird like figures
falling from the windows of the World Trade Center and knowing
in my heart that they were people – human beings.
I was in disbelief as I watched those towers in flames
tumbled down, while praying and hoping that many were able to
make it to safety before they collapsed.
That was very difficult to deal with, as well as the panicked
and distressed faces I saw full of sorrow and eyes full of tears
as they ran to safety. The aftermath was just as humbling and completely
overwhelming - the fire fighters, police, military officials,
families, and just about everyone diligently and tirelessly
searching for survivors. Those
images will forever stay in my mind.
As
for compensation monetarily, I understand the Federal Government
has distributed about $7 billion through The 9/11
Compensation fund - $6 billion went to the families of
those killed at the World Trade center, the Pentagon and PA; and
$1 billion has been distributed to the injured. Keep in
mind there were several other funds, but these figures I listed
are what the Federal Government distributed - which was an Act
created and passed by Congress, and which was signed and made
into a law by President Bush a few days after the attacks.
Basically to persuade victims and
their families to abstain from filling lawsuits against
the airlines, the World Trade Center’s owners and other
potential defendants.
I
also understand a planned Museum building for the World Trade
Center’s sites is being worked on and will open in 2011.
2 surviving tridents 90 feet high from the North Tower will be
incorporated in the Atrium of this Museum building.
The presence of these tridents is to bring strength
fortitude, resilience, survival and hope. A pavilion will
be build and will serve as the entrance to the subterranean
exhibition galleries of the National September 11th
Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center, which is set to
be opened a year after the building is completed in 2012.
This pavilion will range in height from 57 to 72 feet
(about a 6 story office building) and it will contain 47,499
square feet of floor area; 34,834 square feet donated to public
programs and Museum functions. Per the New York Times
“...The ground floor will have ticket windows, a large
security area in which visitors will undergo airport-style
screening and a staircase, escalators and elevators down which
they will begin a trip that will lead them nearly 70 feet below
street level, ending near an exposed part of the slurry wall.
The 2nd floor will be a 180 seat auditorium, a
private room in which relatives of 9/11 victims may gather, an
overlook from which visitors can take in a sweeping view of the
memorial and a small café. The 4th Floor will be given
over entirely to equipment and ventilation...”
Thankfully,
the survivors and the families of the victims have been taken
care of, and there is progress with the rebuilding of “Ground
Zero”. Clearly,
some issues surrounding 9/11 attacks have been accomplished.
However,
I am still disturbed about the thousands of our service men and
women whose lives have been lost due to the so-called surge on
Iraq (directly resulting from the 9/11 attacks.)
You may recall the surge was expedited to (1) seize the
weapons of mass destruction and (2) capture the mastermind
behind the 9/11 attacks Osama Ben Ladin.
Neither was accomplished – NO weapons of mass
destruction was found, NEITHER was Osama Ben Ladin.
The
only major successful thing that transpired from the surge was
Iraq having a surplus of $76-$79 Billion dollars due to the
soaring prices of oil, and very little of that has been spent on
reconstructing Iraq. Actually,
America has been paying for the reconstruction, which is intolerable
and inexcusable that US taxpayers continue to "foot the
bill" for projects the Iraqis are fully capable of funding
themselves, while their oil revenues grow and pile up in their
banks.
Meanwhile
everything is falling apart in America: (1) the economy is in
the “pits”; (2) a major ongoing energy crisis, (3) the
American dollar loosing it’s value; (4) the highest
unemployment rate ever; and (5) due to the approximately $11
Billion dollars being diverted to Iraq to finance the war -
America’s infrastructure is crumbling, along with many other
problems in America that have being bypassed and overlooked.
You
know what...I frankly just frustrate myself by elaborating on
these problematic issues, so let me get back on track with
keeping our thoughts on the victims and survivors of 9/11.
So
as
you remember the victims and the survivors of his tragic day –
September 11th, 2001, I ask that you keep the
survivors and the many families and friends of all the victims
in your thoughts and prayers, they will forever mourn the lost
of their loved ones. We must always keep this tragic incident in our minds and in
our hearts, because this was a day most of us in America felt
powerless, and the incident itself was unfathomable and left us
grief stricken.
God Bless America! God Bless all the men and women who
lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and Bless their families
and friends as they struggle to move on after enduring such
pain, and suffering. God
Bless the survivors who will forever be suffering physically and
mentally, their healing will indeed take a lifetime and
their memories will be vivid for years to come!!!
God
Bless our service men and women who were deployed to Iraq to
fight the war on terrorism due to 9/11, and make sure they are
returned home to their families safe and soon. God also
Bless the families who lost their loved ones in
this war on terror.
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Click
the below picture to view photos of the 9/11
Ceremonies on its 7th Anniversary - that took
place on September 14th, 2008. Courtesy of
Reuters. Once on the page, click the
"Next" Button to browse through the pictures.
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These
incredible Hurricanes that have been the cause of a high number
of deaths, major damages, flooding and havoc across the
Caribbean and the United States are very worrisome. Our hearts go out to the residents of
South Carolina as Hurricane Hanna passed through and headed up
north. She dropped tons of rain, caused quite a ruckus
along her way, and certainly left lots of damages behind.
Additionally, the residents of the many cities along the Gulf Coast
of Louisiana are still suffering from the effects of Hurricane
Gustov, with still NO power, NO water, and an estimated $327
million loss in crops; which was destroyed be the approximately
20 inches of rain that was dumped on the area. The crops
that was lost are cotton, sweet potatoes, soybeans and sugar
cane. There were $45 million in damages to fisheries as
well.
Indeed our hope and prayers go out to the many in Haiti who have
been hit the hardest and most severely from storm after
storm. The loss of lives are sky rocketing on a daily
basis, and many are suffering drastically. Haiti is still
under water, so help is absolutely needed.
May
these families suffering obtain help and comfort immediately.
Click on the picture above to read about helping Haiti.
In all my years I have never heard a warning
such as the one that was issued by the National Weather Service
about Hurricane Ike "coastal communities that the storm
tide hits will cause "certain death" for
those in single-family one or two-story homes who do not heed
evacuation orders."
Ike has
grown in size with Tropical storm-force winds which extend 275
miles from the center while hurricane-force winds extend 115
miles from the center. It has been reported that Ike will
make landfall on Texas' Gulf Coast, and is on a path directly to
Houston, Texas. Millions are in danger from winds, rain
and high water (about 2 stories high) with Ike, as well as
a number of oil refineries. Galveston Bay is expected to
have major flooding, so residents have been evacuating
throughout the day on Thursday 9/11/08. Actually, folks
have been evacuating all across the coastline of Texas due to
mandatory evacuation warnings.
It is
reported that Ike could reach Texas with winds between 111 and
155 mph. It could make landfall late Friday night-9/12 or early
Saturday 9/13 with a storm surge as high as 18 feet.
Check
out some news via video on Hurricane Ike as it crosses over the
Caribbean and on to Cuba by clicking the below pictures!
Please
on-line family with these storms approaching,
I beg you to be prepared for each of them.
Please evacuate when instructed, so that you are out of harms
way. You must know how dangerous they can be, so
listen to the authorities, "buckle down” and be extremely safe.
JUST A REMINDER
about the One Love Reggae Festival taking place this Sunday,
September 14th, at the Crossroad Entertainment Complex in Bladensburg
Maryland. This exciting annual
festival is one that many look forward to each year, and as
always this year the show features a host of magnificent Reggae
artists. Headlining the show this year is International
Reggae Superstar Buju Banton (known for his most recent hit song
"Driver A", along with Tarrus Riley, Queen Ifrica , Dean
Fraser, Maxi Priest, Duane Stephenson Culture featuring Kenyatta Hill, DeMarco and Serani. For more details on
this show and on purchasing tickets click on the flyer above, or
scroll down to our "Featured Events" Section to read.
You
can also CLICK HERE to read Todd's message on this show and
learn about the many artists who will be performing, as well as
view their videos.
* Friday,
September 26th, the first Presidential Debate will be
held. It will take place on the Campus of the University
of Mississippi. Also, look out for the Vice Presidential
debate on October 2, 2008
* The
General Elections are exactly 53 days
from Thursday, September 11, so to make sure
your voice is heard and to be a part of the nations most
exciting elections, you must register to vote NOW. Log
on HERE to see the voter registration date deadline for each
state, and proceed
with registering to vote by logging on HERE, and filling out the registration
form at "Rock The Vote.com". (To
access the form, click the "Register To Vote" Button
from the menu at the top of the page)
 Thanks
to the many who have sent me e-mails in
response to my past E-Newsletters and lots of important
information to use for our future E-Newsletters. Most importantly, I thank you for your
encouraging words! So until next week... please enjoy, and
be safe this Weekend and the upcoming week!!
 
     
Also
to all of you, thanks for reading, sharing your thoughts
and comments with us, and for always supporting
us. As you know without you there would be no us, so thanks very much for your support and One Love!
For All Events
Go To
Our "Events"
Page
Check out our
"Featured Events" listed below.
Also, there are
several events taking place this weekend, next weekend and beyond, so to view all the Events please log on
to our "Events" Page above!
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September
12, 2008
Washington
DC
 
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September
14, 2008
Bladensburg,
Maryland
TICKETS
AVAILABLE @:
Brown's
Bakery: 202.882.1626
Crown Bakery: 202.291.3009
Bamboo Grove: 301.429.8780
Caribbean Superior: 301.277.1868
Caribbean Delight: 301.439.1270
Caribbean Carryout
Caribbean Market: 301.439.5288
Montego Bay Restaurant:
410.367.3450
Caribbean Sea: 301.897.3497
Jerk Pit: 301.982.5375
Simba Internatinal Records:
301.445.1670
Lion’s Deli
International Cuts
VENDING
INFO:
VENDING@CROSSROADSCLUB.COM
OR CALL
(301) 927.1056 EXT. 4
EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE
UNTIL
SEPTEMBER 7: $40
/ $50 AFTER
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September
26 & 28, 2008
Washington
DC
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or Click
Here
