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The subject of the email was:

A Comment on this day, the most horrific Day in United States history

THIS IS WHAT I WROTE.

I typed the subject but I don't know what to say. All day at work I knew that I had to write you but words fail me. My hope is that the tragedy that happened in New York and Washington hasn't affected you personally, but this has affected us all emotionally.

To those members that live here in the United States I hope that we can stand strong and together to face this useless waste of innocent lives. To those members that live in other lands, I would like you to know we Americans will stand behind the President and we will stand behind him as he answers this cowardly act.

You might be members of Stamporama to many people but I think of you as my friends. That is why I tried to say what I feel in my heart, but to express the unexpressable is the hardest thing I have ever done.

Thanks for listening,

Jerry

My condolences and understanding. We have terrorism in Spain since 1975, this is by all means terrible and I'm sure my country will support United States one hundred per cent.

Let's pray for the best,

Jose, in Houston TX (3 months in Spain)

My heart goes out to you and all Americans Jerry -- the most horrific Day indeed. I'm lost for words too.

May God Bless you all.

David Greg (Canada)

I sent a joke of all things BEFORE I knew of this horrific tragedy. As you know, I am trying to recover from radiation treatments and am most in bed all day.

This has shaken me to my soul, and my heart is torn for all those people who died and their relatives. WE MUST OVERCOME! And we will! I was immediately thrown back to Pearl Harbor and the horrible shock--this seems worse--I never, ever, thought it could happen here. I am devastated as we all are and pray that this can be overcome. Blessings on you and yours.

A day of infamy for America--lets all pray and pray we can bring to a successful close.

Mary Jane Campbell (North Carolina)

Jerry rest assured that the thoughts of many around the world, including Australia, are strongly with you.

Andrew McEachern (Australia)

You've said all that can be said, Jerry. Thank you.

I'm an expatriate American, as you know; the physical and psychological trauma that I endured in Viet Nam caused me to choose Canada as my place of residence, for the rest of my life in all likelihood. But nothing any American ever did deserves today's events, which utterly appall me. I am sorry to have lived to see this horrible depravity.

Bob Ingraham (Canada)

Hi Jerry!

Canadians are in shock over the terrorist devastation in your beautiful country. We stand by, as good neighbours ready to offer any assistance you may need. Tonight our thoughts and prayers are with all Americans.

Regards,

Ingo Nessel (Canada)

Dear Jerry,

We, in all the world, was with the heart broken. Innocent people was hurt and died. We saw it, live by CNN, and words don’t came to say how is the felling.

Believe me, your felling is our felling. It’s all.

God bless our world.

Carlos Murilo Carli (Brazil)

Jerry,

I am OK as I was home when this all happened.

David J. Snyder (Staten Island, New York)

Jerry,

Thanks for your mail. My heart goes out to everyone in the US ... there cannot be a single person who hasn't been affected in some way by this devastating tragedy. You expressed your feelings well - I tried to contact some people yesterday afternoon our time when it happened and just couldn't find the words.

For the first few hours, I was expecting CNN to announce that it was some kind of bizarre joke, it’s still so unreal to me. To see some Palestinians and Libyans celebrating was the worst kind of thing we could see.

President Bush needs everyone's prayers at the moment as he tries to rally everyone together. I thank God that the President is a self-confessed Christian as he so desperately need's the help of the Lord during this time. I am just so grateful that I'm also a Christian, because I KNOW that God is in control and will "work this together for good". Jerry, I don't know your outlook on religion, so I hope that I have not offended you with this comment, but I really needed to make it.

Thank you for your email - I needed to read it and I needed to have something to respond to.

Jenni Hackenbruch (South Africa)

Dear Jerry,

My condolences on this horrific day!!

I strongly condemn this cowardly act of terrorism and I am sure that all the people of India feel the same.

I can understand the feelings that must be going through your mind as, like you and the American people, even we have experienced something like this albeit on a larger scale -- the Bombay bomb blasts - A black Friday in our history when 6 bombs went over in a synchronized manner all over Bombay especially in crowded business localities and the resulting inter - caste conflicts that followed...

Please convey my heartfelt emotions to al our lovely members especially those who reside in the US.

Regards,

Sajid Daya (India)

Hi Jerry

We here in South Africa are praying for your country and for all the people who lost loved ones in this horrendous act of terrorism. Hopefully the perpetrators will be brought to justice.

Best wishes

Dr Meyer de Kock (South Africa)

Let me express our condolences for this deep trudge that hit the United States yesterday. It wasn't until we all came home after work and watched the news that the full extention of what happened really began to sink in. People here are shocked and it has been the talk of the day.

Our thoughts are with the people who are directly affected by this.

Harry Julsing (Netherlands)

Hello Jerry,

Please accept my deepest sympathy as well as to the other US members.

Although I am in another country, I don't think that this issue has only to do with US citizens, but also it is of importance to all people in the world that have a feeling of 'mankind'. I think there is no justification what ever for killing and attacking innocent people whose only 'sin' might have been to try live and work honestly...

I am also quite shock...

Sincerely,

Miguel Neumann (Brazil)

Thank God you're safe!

I have to say that I ma astonished by those Palestinians cheering in the streets... It reminded me of the similar reactions in Serbia when our town Vukovar had surrendered. Inhumanity and extremism always fit together very well. Anyway, I am sure that the wise leaders of your country will make proper decisions and stop the spiral of hatred, destruction and violence.

We will pray for you

Romano Tripalo (Croatia)

Thanks, Jerry. I thought I'd send you a message about a little experience that I had last night. I decided to do a search on my US Stamps software, to see if the World Trade Center had ever been pictured on a US stamp. You already know that answer is no, but I thought it was a bit ironic that the only stamp that mentions the words "World Trade" is, as you also know, "World Peace Through World Trade." Hmph.

Melanie Mead (Iowa)

Jerry,

Thanks for your thoughtful response to this dastardly act. It was beautifully written and I'm sure reflects the feelings of all of us.

Vera Felts (Illinois)

Jerry'

I think that I must echo the thoughts of most members in the face of this dreadful happening. I had a great morning on Tuesday, a little shopping spree with my wife in the nearest town, Ipswich Suffolk; then came home; switched on TV and was consumed in horror and disbelief at what I was seeing.

I felt and still do that my guts have been wrenched out and a heavy stone is in their place. All I can hope and pray for is that this form of madness is rooted out and eliminated once and for all; nothing. NOTHING, NOTHING and any ideals, beliefs or grievances can justify this action. The trouble is, that how can you possibly punish ONE individual in a manner fitting for murdering many thousands? There just isn't a punishment severe enough; one can only die one time, and suffer as such as one other! Perhaps this is the ratio the culprit(s) have in mind... if you can call it a mind.

Gerald King (England)

Jerry,

At this time I want to send you my sincere condolence for this tragedy.

Sam Bendelac (Venezuela)

Hi Jerry -

As one old enough to remember the German Blitz on our city in the last war - I have some idea of what the citizens of NY must be feeling.

Our heart felt Sympathy goes out to you and all our friends in the US. I am happy to hear that our Prime Minister has said that Great Britain is right with the President in his determination to root out whoever is responsible.

Regards

Brain Ridout (England)

Hello Jerry

I’m really sorry about all of this what happened in USA. I saw this horror on television. I hope that you didn’t lose someone in this tragedy. Thanks for sending this mail and sharing your feelings with your friends.

Wish you all the best

Emanuel Krivacic (Croatia)

Dear Jerry:

It's Claudia (Guillermos's wife who are writing you). Yesterday morning when I see the news in the television, I couldn't believe what I was hearring. As you know my English is not good, so I want to say to you a lot of things like what I'm feeling about this king of cowardice act but I don´t find the words, because there is not words for this.

Unfortunately there are some people that don´t know the value of life and they will never do it. But in the other side you have a lot of people trying to build a better future for all the world.

The last time we met you and your beautiful family I thought I found friends, now my friends have terrible problems, so dear Jerry don´t forget that we are near you when you need us.

Kiss for you and your family

Your friends

Claudia, Mariana, the little Camila and Guillermo Rodriguez (Argentina)

Dear Jerry

Having watched the events of the last 24 hours unfold on CNN, I just want to say how sorry I am for all the people whose lives have been touched by this horrific, cowardly act.

John Foster (United Kingdom)

Hi Jer,

Me too. This is so weird. I feel just like I felt when the Gulf War was declared. I never want to feel this way again. Hope you are OK.

Love ya my friend.

Stephanie Odom (Birmingham, AL)

What has happened in America could have happened in England (or indeed many other parts of the world). We looked on in shocked horror as the day's events unfolded on our television sets during the course of the evening. It was incomprehensible that any human being could use other human beings to further their insane acts but they did. My thoughts (as surely are the thoughts of many other living in England) are today with all those who suffered either physically or through the loss or injury of a friend, relative, or loved one. We do not know what to expect in the coming days but this tragedy must surely make us all aware that man's inhumanity to man knows no bounds and life to some is worth less than a grain of sand.

From an English mother and grandmother,

Anita Batchelor

Dear Jerry,

You know I am living in The Hague, The Netherlands, far away from the U.S.

I also couldn't believe what I saw. I heard it by cell phone first, as I was out. The moment I came home I saw on CNN a plane going through a building. This is, unfortunately, no nightmare, there is no awakening, and there is only reality. A reality I still cannot face after more than 24 hours.

As an ex-fire fighter I cannot believe so many rescue workers are killed. I am not talking about the other people that are killed or are suffering this is beyond my imagination, really beyond, and I know I have to face the facts, but I can't. I know this is some kind of egoism, some kind of worthless self-protection. But I just can't understand what happened. TV-pictures from CNN are clear enough; I watch almost the whole night and day, still not able to understand it all.

O well, of course, I know what happened, I have been reading a lot of Ludlum and Clancy, just before I went asleep, and they described this in their books. But this was just a story, something imaginary, which became the truth yesterday.

I share your feelings, there are no words for what happened and in all honesty, my life will never be the same again. It changed on the 11th of September 2001.

With warm regards,

Rob Vlaardingerbroek (The Netherlands)

Your Canadian friends and neighbors to the North share your grief.

Ed Devine (Canada)

Jerry,

I echo your concern. Of my immediate family, all are alive. My wife's cousin's husband was in the building after the first plane crash but was able to escape from the 40th floor. He usually works on the 90th floor but for some reason he was visiting a client downstairs. I have no idea of my former colleagues’ situation-- up until November of last year I was employed at a company located in the towers. I am very hesitant to inquire of their fate since I fear the worst possible news. I pray that they made it out alive. My office was on the 97th floor.

It is times like these that make me realize how important is to appreciate what we have today since we do not know what will happen tomorrow. My family has been feeling the pain and suffering that any American and any good decent human being would feel. I know that we all will make it through this. But it will take time. My wife and I walked around the city today-- strangely quiet and very sad feelings abound. Even know we can smell the smoke from the fires downtown (about 4 miles from my apartment in Manhattan).

Thank you for your concern. Your email makes me feel better that we all look for justice.

Martin McDonald (New York City, New York)

Hello,

BTW it was when I haven't heard about the tragedy in the US yet. We in Europe are deeply shocked and see it as an act against us too. That is also why we in Austria will have an official act of mourning at 10 o'clock today. Since I am a teacher of English, the class I am teaching at that moment and I will join and think of the victims and their relatives.

I really do not want to compare ourselves with the people in the US, but I believe we are all victims since the world has changed.

Regards.

Norbert Sparer (Austria)

Jerry,

Nice comments. I am stuck in Thailand now because our military airplane was diverted to help with the situation. I just hope us in the military are pointed in a direction and given free reign to extract our vengeance. By the way, we did find the remains of 1 US serviceman lost during the Vietnam War. I will write again when I return to Japan in a couple of weeks.

Brian Eagmin (Marine Sergeant stationed in Japan)

GOD BLESS AMERICA! GOD IS WITH US NOW AND FOREVER

Thank you for your kind message.

Sincerely,

Maria Spounias (Michigan)

Thank you Jerry for your letter. Yes I agree it is really horrific and even though I am a Canadian, I feel that you are our friendly neighbours and what happens to you also affects us. We will have to join forces and try to bring our countries back to normalcy. This is really a sad act and one that I hope is not repeated. My heart goes out to all the families affected, which are thousands. We are still glued to our televisions trying to understand these terrible acts.

God bless you and the rest of Americans.

Margaret Papke (Canada)

Jerry,

I still have trouble comprehending the events of Tuesday, but my heart goes out to you and all the American people during this time. I think a piece of all of us died that day. I am sorry.

Karen McGeean (Canada)

Dear Jerry,

I sincerely hope that all your family and friends are fine after the Tuesday tragedy. I would like to give you my condolences and sympathy after these horrible attacks. We here are completely shocked and are very difficult to understand why someone would cause so much suffering to all these families. Please receive all my support in these difficult moments.

All the best for you and your family,

Ana Gonzales (Great Britain)

Hi Jerry,

I could not send this e-mail without reference to the catastrophic loss which America and its people have so sadly suffered. I would like to assure you and all your compatriots that I am one of many millions of English people who mourn the sad loss, which your nation has experienced. My prayers and best thoughts are with you and all citizens of the USA.

Best regards,

Joe Donohue (Great Britain)

Dear Jerry,

I have spent the week finding quiet work at my computer because I am just stunned by events. Until two years ago, I was a bond trader. The WTC and the buildings around it were the hub of bond trading activity in North America. I used to have three monitors on my desk showing broker prices from a firm called Cantor Fitzgerald. I used to talk to them every day. Nobody outside the bond market had ever heard of the firm, until Tuesday. On Tuesday, it appears that nobody who went to work for Cantor Fitzgerald came home again. I have not yet seen the list of old friends and acquaintances I, and their families, have lost.

As a Canadian, I can say that we are proud to be your "little friends" to the north. Your grief is our grief, possibly closer than you can know.

Roy Lingen (Canada)

Sir, (Jerry)

I thank you for your letter, but did not respond immediately. I was at a State Emergency Management three day conference when we got word of the tragedy. The conference was canceled and I am glad that it was. The Emergency Management community has lost several valuable members and they should never be forgotten.

God Bless America, and you and your family,

HELLO!

Thanks for your message.
I'm still in shock over the attack. I "know" it happened, but it hasn't sunk in as yet. I can't begin to comprehend what happened; the events of Tuesday and since are just inconceivable!! I seem to be vaguely in touch with the thought -- life goes on, but it will not be the same.

Very best regards,

Bill Crafts (Florida)

Jerry,

Needless to say that the happenings did upset me. I know we could expect this kind of trouble at the end of times, yet it is disturbing and I mourn for the victims and the relatives.

It has taken me some time to get back to normal semblance of life, but I am there. Was scheduled to leave Tuesday for Europe but am postponing it for a week. We at least should know how the world will react and what the government plans to do about this. My prayers are that no innocent lives will be snuffed out or innocent people will be hurt.

Erna Kleiboer (Illinois)

This is a letter that Kathy Sanders wrote to Sajid Daya and I feel that it belongs here.

Dear Sajid,

Please excuse my delay in responding to your expression of sympathy and concern for the United States and her citizens. I've attempted to reply on several occasions. I sit here in front of the computer my mind is numb and blank. I cannot find the words to express my feelings.

I wonder why people hate each other so much that they would do this to my country, yours (India) or any other country in the world. Do we not have enough to worry about on a daily basis?

Now we must declare war on terrorism to protect ourselves and others from this happening again here and in other countries. These terrorists bombing must stop! And yes we will have to pay the price to stop them. I've watched through the years the media reports as bombings happened in other countries bewildered at the loss, destruction, the hate. Why? Just because we/you do not choose to believe/live their lifestyle. Isn't this world large enough for everyone to live as they choose safely? I guess not. Basically, my life has not changed much. Yes, I have been affected. I AM MAD! REALLY MAD! My anger shows in my writing. My country will never be the same again and neither will I.

My heart and my love goes out to all that has been effected by this terrible thing and will continue to be effected during the future events of the world.

The other day I was talking to a woman an elderly lady. She does not want us to go to war. She feels it would be best if we "appeared to be wimps," My reply to her was. "We have been declared war on. We must stand up and protect ourselves. Or this will continue to happen here and abroad." Thank God when our forefathers came to this wonderful country many years ago they did not feel this way. They fought for their freedom. I'll be damn if I want all their hard work to go astray.

There are times when I do not like what my government does. But the United States is still the best place on earth to live in my opinion. I'll be damn if I want to live under communism or terrorists rule. God bless America and her allies. May He give us all the grace, strength, guidance to lead us through this terrible time. May God also bless and keep us all safe.

Kathy Sanders (Missouri)

Dear Jerry,

I want you to know that the people of Holland are with all those who are involved/effected by this horrible act and that we have our mourns and thoughts and prayers with you all. We are standing with the USA.

As guarded and guided by The Lord a cousin of mine escaped the disaster while working downstairs 200 meters away from the WTC towers.

Bless you all,

Hans Boers (The Netherlands)

Hi all,

I imagine that not all of you even believe in any sort of eternal spirit, and that's okay too, but with all the patriotic and revengeful letters being passed around, I wanted to share some of my feelings about the disaster that has befallen us all. This is from the WISDOM website.

Love,

Sheri McKnight (Washington)

Dear Beloved Spirit,

I easily cast my eyes and ears upon Your glory and miracles. The timeless face of the aging. The softness of the newborn. An early morning sunrise. A magnificent Harvest Moon. And the almost silent drifting prayers of a small child. Thank You, Beloved Spirit, thank You indeed for these gifts and so many more that befall me every day. But know, that in these sad, difficult, and painful times, that my heart is not filled with awe at Your splendor, but rather with bewilderment as to how a good and gracious God could allow for such suffering at the hands of evil. I am reminded that one of Your greatest gifts to humankind is that of free will, will that can be spent to do good or to cause suffering. It is in these moments of tragedy that I shall turn to You, my Creator, for comfort, courage and understanding. I ask to remember now that the very act of terrorism is the symptom of a much greater illness, the illness of hatred. May I know that this hate was and is not any child's birthright, but rather has been nurtured by our forgetfulness and sometimes disbelief in Your good. Remind me that hate at one time was nothing more than a suggestion to a child that, left unattended by love and goodness, flourished. May I not be afraid, but choose now to align my thoughts with your thoughts. And when fear arises, may I not cry out for retribution of those who have caused harm, but see greater hope and promise for a better world. May I see Your face now and forever. You have placed the answers within my heart. May all be comforted by the Grace and everlasting presence of the eternal spirit. Bless us Father, Mother, God, Gracious Spirit. Heal our hearts, our souls, our country and our world.

Amen.

Dear Jerry,

The moment I saw that tragic moment that happened in your country, I just looked above and pray that justice should be given to those innocent ones and that peace may reign in our world. There are also Filipinos who have died out there. And me too, it affects me emotionally. I will always pray for those victims and for all of you to be stronger than ever.

Moleth Mendoza (Philippines)