We are all deeply impacted by the horrendous happenings of yesterday in the USA.
Having so many friends in the USA, especially in New York, all of us will know people who lost their lives. There is nothing any of us can say under these circumstances but to say the USA will find how many true friends they really have.
I sat all day unable to do anything and memory flashed back to the other day in my life that had such a great impact, which was the slaughter of the Israeli athletes on Black Tuesday in Munich.
On the Wednesday we had to make the decision whether to cancel the Games or not and each Team Leader was asked to poll their Olympic Team what to do. The only person on our Sailing Team who we decided could give us insight was Jewish. I found him sitting on a bench in the boat park alone. His response was direct: We should be racing today for if they feel they disrupt our lives the terrorists win.
The best way we can support the USA beyond giving our sincere sympathy and support is to continue to move forward positively believing in the democracy and freedoms that they so encompass.
God Bless America.
Paul Henderson