So, it's the 5th anniversary of 9/11.

This one goes out for all those people who died on that fateful day and the people they left behind...........

It's a particulalry poignant day for me as my wife's uncle - Ian J Gray - was on the plan from DC that was crashed into the Pentagon..........he lived in DC with his wife, Ana, he was a sweet guy and did a lot of good work with the underpriviledged, I certainly can't see how killing him made the world a better place or helped anybody move closer to their God.................

The pentagon plane has always been a little contentious, as there was no footage of the crash itself..............My wife and I have had people tell us that we must be making it up (!?) or that it's all some sort of conspiracy.......someone even said we were plants by the intelligence agenices............I mean, I live in the UK, in Sheffield, and I'm an old(ish) rockabilly............hardly James Bond material............but I'll let you decide...............maybe that's all part of the conspiracy.....................

I find it ironic that the conspiracy minded among us are suspicious of the Pentagon plane, probably because of the lack of film evidence...................they criticise the media for manipulating our opinions and then cry foul when the media isn't there to capture an image...............such is life I guess............people generally believe in what they want to believe in and not necessarilly what the facts support............

In the UK, as in much of the world these days, it's fashionable to hate the US and US citizens and Bush and everything American......and there will no doibt be people gloating today, that makes me sad, as it de-values life so much...........whilst I can see the anti-Bush issue clearly, I think trying to hate and blame the US for all the world's problems (terror, global warming, corporate culture etc etc) is somewhat naive and shows a distinct lack of understanding in regards to History.............but I suppose it makes people feel justified in their anger and prejudices..............religious fundamentalism wasn't born 5 or even 10 years ago and needs little to fan its flames, it never has and it never will.............by excusing it, we merely encourage it.............so thinks me anyway........

In my opinion, for what it's worth, the world would be a whole lot better place if these people where a lot less certain of their beliefs................any sort of strong religious or political belief worries me, whether it's left wing vegans or right wing religious fundamentalists, once people think they're right, they suddenly see that you're wrong and then they want to start trying to make everything right.....................in other words, they try to make you see the world through their eyes.............................................as the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.............you start off aiming for Utopia and end up in Treblinka...............different beliefs, but often the same methods...........................

But enough philosophising...................all I say is raise a glass in memory of those people, of all race, creeds and colours who died 5 years ago today.........................and for me particulalry, to Ian........................

Gone but not forgotten, you remain in our thoughts and dreams........................I just wish I believed in an after life, so that we may meet up and share a drink again.................