>From: "Morrie K. Kebbeh" <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Fwd: Interesting flying again >Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 07:26:39 -0700 > >The following is from a letter by a co-worker and her return flight to D.C. >early this week. I thought I'd share it with you all. > >__________________________________________________________________ > >"I just wanted to drop you all a note and let you know that I arrived safe >and sound into Dulles Airport tonight [9/15] at about 6:00. It was an >interesting flight. > >The airport in Denver was almost spooky, it was so empty and quiet. >No one was in line for the security check point when I got there so that >went fairly quickly, just x-ray of my bags and then a chemical test to be >sure nothing explosive was on them. > >Then I waited 2 1/2 hours to board the plane. What happened after we >boarded was interesting and thought I would share it with you. > >The pilot/captain came on the loudspeaker after the doors were >closed. His speech went like this: > >First I want to thank you for being brave enough to fly today. The >doors are now closed and we have no help from the outside for any problems >that might occur inside this plane. As you could tell when you checked in, >the government has made some changes to increase security in the airports. > >They have not, however, made any rules about what happens after those >doors close. Until they do that, we have made our own rules and I want to >share hem with you. Once those doors close, we only have each other. > >The security has taken care of a threat like guns with all of the increased >canning, etc. Then we have the supposed bomb. If you have a bomb, there is >no need to tell me about it, or anyone else on this plane; you are already >in control. So, for this flight, there are no bombs that exist on this >plane. > >Now, the threats that are left are things like plastics, wood, knives, and >other weapons that can be made or things like that which can be used as >weapons. > >Here is our plan and our rules. If someone or several people stand up >and say they are hijacking this plane, I want you all to stand up together. >Then take whatever you have available to you and throw it at them. Throw it >at their faces and heads so they will have to raise their hands to protect >themselves. > >The very best protection you have against knives are the pillows and >blankets. Whoever is close to these people should then try to get a >blanket over their head--then they won't be able to see. Once that is done, >get them down and keep them there. Do not let them up. I will then land the >plane at the closest place and we WILL take care of them. > >After all, there are usually only a few of them and we are 200+ >strong! We will not allow them to take over this plane. > >I find it interesting that the US Constitution begins with the words >"We, the people"--that's who we are, THE people and we will not be defeated. > >With that, the passengers on the plane all began to applaud, people >had tears in their eyes, and we began the trip toward the runway. > >The flight attendant then began the safety speech. One of the things >she said is that we are all so busy and live our lives at such a fast pace. >She asked that everyone turn to their neighbors on either side and introduce >themselves, tell each other something about your families and children, show >pictures, whatever. She said "for today, we consider you family. We will >treat you as such and ask that you do the same with us." > >Throughout the flight we learned that for the crew, this was their >first flight since Tuesday's tragedies. It was a day that everyone leaned on >each other and together everyone was stronger than any one person alone. It >was quite an experience. > >You can imagine the feeling when that plane touched down at Dulles >and we heard "welcome to Washington Dulles Airport, where the local time is >5:40". Again, the cabin was filled with applause. > >Last night I saw a program with college students where one of them >said that at their campus there are no more hyphenated titles, i.e., >African-American, etc., everyone is just an American. No one will ever be >able to take that ride away from us. " > > > > > > >_______________________________________________________ >Send a cool gift with your E-Card >http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/ > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L >Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html >You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] >if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. >----------------------------------------------------------------------------