We've gotten messages out to the people of Afghanistan. Members are talking about what they've done to help and where to go for others who want to help. We are crying and furious, yet behaving with incredible patience, dignity, poise and honor, even when people come here to blame America for this.

This message board is intended for the discussion of news of importance to the animation industry. It is not a forum for discussing any old thing that crosses your mind. However I have allowed and even now encourage people to talk about things that they feel are worth discussing, even if it goes outside the focus of the board. Each of us is an individual with a life outside of the industry and it would be a disservice to you all if I were to be overly strict about keeping everything on topic. The more we learn about each other the more we respect each other for our differences and our similarities. We become a community of friends rather than a simple group of acquantences who share a common career. As the animation industry continues it's course of sending more and more work overseas without regard for the individual artists it's more important than ever before that we have that sense of community, of fellowship. This message board's focus remains on the industry, but I like to think that one of the best things that has developed as a result of Animation Nation is a focus on the people who call this board home.

The events of the past week go beyond words and idle interest. In many ways the ramifications of what happened on Tuesday will affect each of us personally and in ways impossible to ignore. This is particularly true of the people who lived through the attacks or who had loved ones who were affected by them. I'm not going to insist that we limit ourselves to animation related topics when so many of us are feeling the impact of what's happened outside our doors. Part of the healing and growing process is sharing, and as a community of friends we should be able to help and heal the hurt we all feel right here on this message board.

Unfortunately we each have our own opinion about the terrorist attacks and the reasons behind it, and with such a charged and terrible feeling it's all too easy to lose control of our emotions and see a differing point of view as wrong and hateful. Certainly I don't expect people to calmly discuss their feelings in the aftermath of the attacks as though they were having tea and crumpets and talking about the weather, but I would like people to remember that everyone is on edge and facing a world with more immediate danger and anger than they had not more than a week ago. People DO have differing points of view, as well as moods and tolerance. To get emotionally upset when someone else has a difference of opinion is to be perpetually in a state of anxiety, and I don't want that, nor do I want people to feel afraid about expressing their opinions here.

I've been musing about mood and tolerance ever since the attacks brought this to the fore last week. I've seen alot of people here in LA flying the American flag and I've often wondered whether these people have thought about all the things that the flag represents. Perhaps they're just expressing their grief and anger in a public manner as a personal response to the terrorists. What I hope is that everyone understands and appreciates what the idea of America allows, -that people are free to speak their mind, free to behave as rightously or hedonisticly as possible, and that individuality is encouraged and prized. Certainly there are other places in the world that you can experience these freedoms, but I don't think any other country can boast that their government was built with these freedoms as it's very foundation.

Having said all this, I'd like to ask those of you on the board who knowingly hold a contradictory or otherwise sour (read: wet blanket) opinion to be considerate of this and not speak as though you were trying to encourage a confrontation or to then fan the flames if someone does disagree forcefully to your statements.

Tooned, your opinion and time is welcome and appreciated. I trust that you and everyone else who reads this board understands that this is a difficult time we face.

I realize that I am not one of you, but merely an outsider looking in, a fan of the
art form that is animation.
My opinion means very little insofar as those
of you who actually are involved in the
industry are concerned.
Nevertheless, I offer this for your consideration.
Why not set up a relief fund for the families
of those affected by the events of Sept.11
yourselves? A fund inwhich the members of
the animation industry, regardless of the
country they are from, contribute to the easing of the suffering of those who were
involved in this horrific incident.

Perhaps a charity auction featuring art work
from some of you guys,..the fans would eat it
up, heck, I know I would! The proceeds
to be donated to the diaster relief fund of
your choice.
choice.
These are my thoughts, for what they're worth.