My Thoughts on Those Effected in Mumbai

ditto.....my first thought upon seeing the news report on CNN was of our fellow Gather friends in that country,or their relatives.....thanks for providing some of their names

my heart goes out to them and echo your sentiments for peace

cheers,gayle

Prayers to all of you.

It is awful how some people will do everything they can to cause pain upon others.

Ditto!

ditto!!
hugs and prayers to them all

I know there are many who live in India Jennifer, and am connected with most of those listed above, and sure there are many other's that have relatives they are worried and concerned about, so thank you for putting this post up, I am praying for all those poor innocent people, I hope they will let us know they are okay, such a sad thing, always bad, but children have been lost too, just finished watching a news broadcast about it. God Bless them all.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by this tragedy.....

I also hope our Gather friends and their families are all safe.

This was a very sad event for everyone, including residents of the city and those working in the hotels and restaurants effected, not to mention the victims and their families. Gather opens its arms and hearts to all.

He hasn't commented, and so I shall comment for him. I use don't use names without permission, but since he is a reporter, this time I shall use his name, in passing the email he sent me. Jennifer, he is also a Gather member, from and living in India. . .

Friday, November 28, 2008 10:21 PM

Dear Neeta,

It is terror all over places. In malls, hotels, hospitals, railway stations, anywhere and everywhere. In an unprecedented height of terror attacks, seven places in Mumbai have been attacked by terrorists, spreading horror in metros and putting the rulers into shame. Among over a hundreds of people met with a horrid, bloody end, there were some of the country's finest policemen, several innocent and unsuspecting travellers and of course some foreign nationals who came to see incredible India. Mumbai is still smelling of hot blood that splashed across the city.

Everyone asks the same question over and over again. How safe is Indian cities? Australian government has already instructed its people not to visit the terror-torn India and many others are following suit even as the business capital of India is still reverberating with gunshots and its sky being filled with smoke.

As the governments and politicians are busy racking their brains over how to come to power in the elections due for early next year, it is the one billion of the country's population and millions of those from across the oceans who visit India to see and feel its glory and charm are shuddered to come out on the streets, go to public places and even to stay in star hotels and visit hospitals.

This bloody saga of terror has also taken its toll on its centuries-old image as the country that lives with unity in diversity. It has virtually become a country of uncertainties and chaos, of tragedies and terror attacks, of fear and panic. With more than a billion population and strongest defence forces and intelligent networks, India fails to protect its own people, its visitors. What is going wrong?

Answer is simple. Everyone seems to be suffering from schizophrenia of sorts and obsessed with the game of passing the bucks and mud-slinging. Whenever there is a terror attack, starts the blame game. The country's highest office sleeps all the while. Home Minister makes strong statements after each attacks and pledge to crack down on terror networks and modules. Within a month, another blast rocks another city killing another hundred innocent victims. The bloodbath continues. And the Home Minister shamelessly continues to sit in his swanky office and issue statements against the attacks and attackers.

When our own people are scared to come out of houses, how can we expect people offshore to come to our country. According to official reports, the tourism industry, which was a treasure trove, has not yielded much profit in the recent past. And now more and more countries are planning to keep away from the curse called India.

Everyone is terrified. No one can say who will be blasted into pieces of flesh in the next moment. Yes, everything is uncertain.

Pray for Mumbai....
Thanks,
Payam

I think he did an excellent job of reporting this. I haven't been sure what to do with this email. Thank you for giving this report a forum.

I forgot to mention that the title of the email was:

Mumbai is Bleeding.........

Dear Jennifer,
Since last wednesday,we have been in shock.We are speechless after watching those scary news and terrible videos coming from Mumbai.We called India and talked to our relatives.Things are not good there.We are praying for those families who have lost their loved ones in this cruelity.Believe me, I am really not well and now my hubby asked me stop watching news because it scared me emotionally. I wanted to be on Gather but couldn't manage to post anything.

The traumatic events in Mumbai raised many questions on how to fight against terrorism.I don't know what to write and how to express my feelings.I am hurt.

Minnie and all of the others are in my prayers.

Peace to you all.

this is a time, perhaps, when the thoughts of support from online friends from other nations will be a gift to those most immediately affected. thank you for posting this, Jennifer.

Prayers going up from Pittsburgh.

Thank you for posting this, Jennifer. Yes, we do support our Gather members and their families and friends.

prayers

Lady Neeetah, Thanks for posting Payam's first hand account. And thanks to everyone else for your comments.

"May all beings be safe. May all beings be healthy. May all beings be happy. May all beings live with ease."

Bhawana, I have been thinking about you over these last few days, hoping that your family is safe. My brother, who works for the World Bank, has employees and colleagues who were staying at the hotel. He is worried for them and their families.

thanks for sharing...they are in my prayers

Blessings to all of our Gather friends who've been affected. Hang in there and know we are here to listen and help where we can. ((Hugs))

Till just a few months back we were living a few buildings across from the Nariman Bhawan, where the Israeli Rabi and his wife were shot dead. It shook me up so badly. The tv reporting showed the same landmarks, the same lanes...where I and my family used to amble along in the evenings, taking in the evening sea breeze. We have friends who have lost loved ones, been shot at, injured ...and also a young couple who were my next door neighbors there...dead. It fills me and many here with disgust that a nation so big cannot protect itself from these mindless acts. It happens here regularly and we keep mouthing prayers, pleas, brave words.
In a few days time, it happens all over again!
I sincerely wish the government in India and our global friends come forward in helping us combat this daily threat to a civilized life

Thanks for posting this, Jennifer. I echo your sentiments.

Excellent post, Jennifer, and I am with you...

It is always sad when something like this happens. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Thanks for sharing the names of the members in Mumbai Jennifer. I didn't realize we had so many there.

Thank you, Jennifer, for such heartwarmning thoughts, and for the love you've sent our way. I'm sure, in that mystic way the cosmos works its magic in, your love and support have found their way to peoples' hearts. Healing energy never ever goes waste. You're a very loving soul, as I can see in your eyes. ((((((((((((((Jennifer))))))))))))))))))

I'm not in Mumbai - further south - but I lost an old friend of mine to the terror. She wasn't even from Bombay - she'd been to the Trident for some business meeting, deputed there by her firm.

I know what those in Mumbai must be feeling - I hope friends and family of Gather members from Bombay are safe.

Thank you, Neetah, for that revealing, heartfelt article by Payam. Although I didn't need to know the details, the spirit that informs his article, his human sensibility, is such a reassurance in these troubled times for the world. Hugs to you, dear soul, for caring.

Minakshi, my heart goes out to you for your losses. I can't even begin to imagine what you must be going through - that you have actually lived in an area that experienced the terror means you're that much closer to the tragedy emotionally! Oh God, I'm so sorry. I wish I could lessen your hurt in some way, but only time can do that ultimately, isn't it!
(((((((((((((Minakshi)))))))))))) XXOXOXOX

Thanks to all the Gather members who've showed solidarity with us all at this difficult hour for India. You're all wonderful, caring souls whor're helping to keep this world sane and healthy despite the immense troubles simmering beneath the surface everywhere.

Hugs to all of you - Elsie, the two Janets, Christine, Barbary, Janet Louise, Lisa Gensheimer, Aaron, Diana, Connie, Beryl, and all the rest who've sent love and encouragement our way. Mumbai and India will feel your love and be healed by it. Much love to you all.
Hugs to all.

Nice SS Hat! Thanks for helping!