RICHARD'S LATEST
14 September 2001
Hi everyone,
I just wanted to send our love and support to all of
you fans out there who have been as deeply touched as
we, at BattlestarGalactica.com, have by the tragic
events of the last few days. I have never been
prouder to be an American as I watched people risk
their lives to save others. Sometimes the world looks
at Americans as immature, naive and pompous. But the
reason we are a world leader is because of our amazing
courage; our willingness to sacrifice everything for
the common good and our ability to put our differences
aside to serve a higher calling.
The world is watching to see how we are going to
handle this terrible crisis! I know we will rise to
the occasion as we have for over two hundred years! I
was in Big Sur, California, looking out over one of
the most beautiful days I have ever seen, when I heard
the news. I rushed to a local bar with a big
television set and sat stunned as we all watched what
seemed so brutal and surreal that it was almost
impossible to comprehend that it was actually real.
Everyone in the room moved closer together as we
struggled to understand how something like this could
actually happen in America. It's amazing how many
strangers became close friends that day and I realized
that despite our differences and busy schedules we
seemingly egocentric humans do care about each other.
We are connected whether we like it or not and
whatever happens to one of us happens to all of us; we
feel each others pain -- and also our joy.
Like it says on the coin, "One for all and all for
one," it makes sense when you think about it. I also
don't know about you, but I have always naively taken
for granted that somehow our institutions and
governmental agencies will take care of us. We put our
trust in other people to make cars and airplanes that
are safe and in addition we trust that they have taken
care of all the contingencies. I guess what I'm
saying is that we always defer to those we think are
more knowledgeable and skilled than we are and we
usually don't challenge their policies or procedures
even when we think they don't work.
We want to get on with our lives and don't have the
time or inclination to stand up for what we think.
After much discussion in the room considering possible
scenarios and solutions, it became apparent to me that
no matter what the government does to respond to what
happened these past few days we will never be safe
from terrorist activities unless we become empowered
and conscious that we are all in this together. We
all need to look out for each other and pay attention
to what's going on around us. Terrorists and bad guys
take advantage of our lack of awareness and
distracting life styles. There is no weapon or
defense system that can protect us from individuals or
small groups of terrorists with a serious intention to
harm us. I've been in neighborhoods where police
never arrived in time and houses were constantly
broken into until everybody got together and took the
situation into their own hands. When everybody is
watching out for each other and willing to come to
their defense, then the bad guys don't stand a chance.
This is what we all have to agree to do for each
other. Than instead of grieving for each others loss
and pain we can join together and celebrate our
victory over adversity. No amount of money or
soldiers or air strikes against our enemies is going
to solve the problem. Standing together in solidarity
will send a message to all who wish to harm us that
are united, ready to protect each other, and unwilling
to lay down and just take it. They want us to get
angry enough to start a war. They want us to attack
them and kill innocent women and children so they can
build a case for their war against the U.S.A.
campaign.
Let's send a more powerful message. The world already
knows how lethal our military is. Let's show them how
powerful and resolute our people are. They cannot
penetrate our borders or violate us again if we are
all willing to wake up and take responsibility for our
own safety by standing together with our brothers and
sisters in the military and saying no more! We are
watching! We are listening! We are together! We are
empowered, courageous and ready to take what ever
action is necessary to insure our peoples safety!
Keep the faith! Let turn this tragedy into an
opportunity to create a world we can all believe in
and carry us into a new era of peace and prosperity
for all.
Take care and all my love and blessings!
Richard Hatch
