I just got an e-mail from Jim Hake at Spirit of America, the fine folks who are helping the Marines bring toys, medical and firefighting supplies -- among many other items -- to the Sunni triangle when they deploy to Iraq in a few days.
Jim estimates that Eject! Eject! Eject! readers contributed about fifteen thousand dollars to this cause.
That is a remarkable sum. It is, without question, a characteristically generous outporing from all of you, and confirms my belief -- not that it needed confirming -- that we are the kind of people that put our money where our mouth is.
I am incredibly proud of all of you; proud to be a small part of the effort, and as always, very proud to be an American.
You can click here to see what two tons of frisbees looks like. And I fully expect to see a spike in rotator cup injuries from a bunch of people patting themselves on the back, because you have earned it.
When you get to the Spirit of America site, try to send an e-mail to Jim Hake. None of this would be possible without his vision and very hard work. He remained completely transparent throughout the entire process, and he deserves our regognition and our immense gratitude for reminding us of who we are and what we are capable of.
Jim, you're a hero. I know you'll argue about it, but my word is final on this page and it's settled. Thank you.
Now it's up to the Marines. And in over 200 years, they have never let us down.
Peace through abundance of plastic flying discs! Semper Fi!
Posted by Proteus at January 26, 2004 11:08 AM
Welcome to the Eject! Eject! Eject! commenter community. Please read and understand the following:
1. This is not a public square. This is a dinner party on personal property. Good conversation is not only tolerated but celebrated here. But the host understands the difference between dissent and disrespect, even if you do not. Louts will be ignored until the bouncers can show them the door.
2. This is a voluntary online community. Your posting of any material, whether in comments or otherwise, grants to William A. Whittle, Aurora Aerospace, Inc. and their affiliates, a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive, worldwide license to use, sublicense, reproduce or incorporate into other material all or any portion of the material posted, for commercial or other use.
3. If a comment does find its way into a main page essay, print, or other media, every effort will be made to credit the individual making the comment. So chose your screen name accordingly, SLNTFRT33@yahoo.com!
Now let's see some distributed intelligence and basic human decency! Don't make me come down there every five minutes!
Comments
You know, it feels good to contribute something when you know it will actually do some good, not siphoned off to support NGO administrators. Way to go everyone!
Posted by: Galen | January 26, 2004 1:32 PM
Can't tell you how good I felt when I saw the TV coverage all the way back here in Chicago. I told my spouse "Quick, come look at this..." as I hadn't mentioned the project or my donation to her yet. After I fessed up and told her, she lambasted me for not giving more!
Can't win for losing!
Posted by: Capsu78 | January 26, 2004 1:54 PM
Hearty well done!
Posted by: Cart Williams | January 26, 2004 4:37 PM
I'm sure the nutcases who keep accusing the US of war crimes will point to all those Frisbees and make up some insanity about how we're trying to get Iraqi children running around through fields filled with unexploded cluster bomblets.
Posted by: George Turner | January 26, 2004 7:23 PM
Not bad!
Posted by: Guy T. | January 27, 2004 7:33 AM
I am *most* annoyed I saw about the volunteer effort from last Wednesday... on Thursday. I would have headed down. Proud to have done my small part in donating, though.
Posted by: hindmost | January 27, 2004 11:28 AM
Hell yeah, Bill. Dammit. I mean, wtf? I've got two things to share with you. The "Chopper" bicycles...they were good, yes...but [dare to dream here] imagine thy young self with a SWING BIKE! Did I have one? Well hell yes! AND it was in THE best color...hugger orange. "Coolest...bicycle...ever." I find myself searching for them on ebay just to haze myself for selling mine for $15 after the magic had worn off. Geez, I was a dolt. It's kind of like your dad telling you about his first car. My old man owned a '55 Merc and a '58 Ford...both long gone before my arrival. I was incredulous! How could you have NOT known how cool those were!?! Well...he did. That's why he bought the mothers in the first place. But I digress. The second...the point of the American dog protecting the fort from Indian attack...I get your point, but you must know that the Indians were entirely justified in attacking the fort and, if the dog had been informed of all the facts, would have sided with the attackERs. That's all I'm sayin'. Oh, and that you're a son of a bitch. Excuse me, I meant "magnificent" son of a bitch. :P Don't let anybody make you feel obligated/inclined/whatfrickinever to take one single thing off of your own blog. As always, F*ck 'em if they can't take a joke.
As ever,
Ron Bowen
Posted by: Ron Bowen | January 27, 2004 7:55 PM
Hooray! Freedom and frisbees for everyone!
Posted by: Frank J. | January 28, 2004 11:25 AM
George: They'll blame the US if someone trips and skins their knee in Iraq.
For some reason I'm getting an image of a headline in my head: "INSURGENTS PUMMELED INTO SUBMISSION BY HAIL OF FRISBEES"
;-)
Posted by: Patrick Chester | January 28, 2004 11:39 AM
Great Idea Bill, Thank you for bringing this effort up. I would never had known about it otherwise. Best money spent this year! Let em fly!
Posted by: Bill Robbins | January 28, 2004 11:52 AM
Something should go in the Ideal American series about "being able to invade a foreign country and, while fighting insurgents, distribute medical supplies, food and toys to the citizens of said country." I don't recall any other country ever doing anything like that before.
Posted by: Davidd | January 28, 2004 12:01 PM
Oh hell, Bill. You just made me have a flashback from my teenage years:
"I'm a Frisbaterian myself. We worship the frisbee and believe that when you die your soul goes up on the roof and you can't get it down." - Alice Cooper
Posted by: Arnold | January 28, 2004 4:07 PM
sierra hotel, guys, sierra hotel.
Posted by: stract | January 29, 2004 9:36 PM
Bill,
Being a broke college student, I can't add anything but my "Attaboy!" for your help of Spirit of America. If I find a spare few bucks around, they will be first on the list, because I do owe you. Keep up the good work pard, and do keep us updated on your speaking tour plans.
Sincerely,
Chris
P.S.--I belive you meant rotator "cuff" injuries, not rotator "cup" injuries...not to nitpick, but misspelling drives me bonkers.
Posted by: Chris Whittaker | January 31, 2004 10:42 PM