On 21 Dec 2005 15:42:33 -0800, wrote:


Reggie Smithers ( is my first name) wrote:
Chuck,
Why have we lost our sense of community in normal times? It sure would be
nice if NYC could continue this strong sense of community. Heck it is
possible that it could spread from city to city.

Before you knew it would could have a movement....


We have lost our sense of community in normal times because there is an
active industry endlessly dividing us against one another. Voices for
several sides consistently preach that all other sides are totally
without merit. The people who promote this at the very highest level
don't even really care which side we're individually on- the only
important thing to them is that the people are divided (and therefore
less of a threat).

Even those rare calls for "unity" are disingenuous. "Y'all need to
adopt my standards and values, ya hearh, so we can come together and be
united." In fact, we will truly be united when we stick up for one
another *in spite* of differences of opinion- and we will never be
united as long as we perceive people with different values or opinions
as defective in some sense or another.

It's difficult to maintain that perspective in the modern culture of
non-stop propaganda (of one persuasion or another) in almost every
medium.

Borderline...
--
John H

**** May your Christmas be Spectacular!****
*****...and your New Year even Better!*****

"Reggie Smithers" Reggie( is my first name) Smithers wrote in message
. ..
The current situation in NYC with everyone pulling together made me think
about boaters and the Good Samaritan Rule. Everyone from pleasure boaters
on a small lake to tankers in the middle of the ocean will go out of their
way to help others.

Whenever I see someone who appears stalled, I will go over to see if I can
help. I have towed people to the marina and have had to be towed before.
What is it that brings people together on the water or together in an
emergency, such as the transit strike in NYC?




Most of us are good people when it counts.

I gotta tell you though, it's tough to want to come to another boater's
assistance right after watching Dead Calm. That was a great movie and
Nicole Kidman was icing on the cake!

Bryan,
I don't think I would even think about it. When I am walking downtown I
never think about crime and muggings. I know they go on, but I have always
felt the muggers go after someone who looks vulnerable. Being hesitant
makes one look vulnerable.

Now, since I have said this, you will probably read about me being shot. I
can see the headlines now "Smithers is shot dead, but he did have a smug
look on his face".


"Bryan" wrote in message
. com...

"Reggie Smithers" Reggie( is my first name) Smithers wrote in message
. ..
The current situation in NYC with everyone pulling together made me think
about boaters and the Good Samaritan Rule. Everyone from pleasure
boaters on a small lake to tankers in the middle of the ocean will go out
of their way to help others.

Whenever I see someone who appears stalled, I will go over to see if I
can help. I have towed people to the marina and have had to be towed
before. What is it that brings people together on the water or together
in an emergency, such as the transit strike in NYC?




Most of us are good people when it counts.

I gotta tell you though, it's tough to want to come to another boater's
assistance right after watching Dead Calm. That was a great movie and
Nicole Kidman was icing on the cake!

Reggie Smithers wrote:
The current situation in NYC with everyone pulling together made me think
about boaters and the Good Samaritan Rule. Everyone from pleasure boaters
on a small lake to tankers in the middle of the ocean will go out of their
way to help others.

Whenever I see someone who appears stalled, I will go over to see if I can
help. I have towed people to the marina and have had to be towed before.
What is it that brings people together on the water or together in an
emergency, such as the transit strike in NYC?

Wish I could say the same.

I have never left anyone stranded even when they deserved it. ie a guy
told me his started had been showing signs of failing for almost a year
and now it was cah-put and I towed him almost 5 miles on a inland lake.

I had my first failure in 30 plus years of boating last summer. It
happened at night and three boats went by less them 30 yards away,
Signaled with a spotlight (not directly at them as not to blind anyone)
and they had to see me considering the width of the channel but they
just kept going on their way. (shouted too)

I was only about half mile from our lake weekend place. We called the
guy that lives next door on the cell. He happened to be returning home
and gave us a tow a couple of hours later.


Capt Jack R..