9-13-01

Dear Readers,

This is one of those letters I never know how to write, and so forgive me if I am in any way completely incoherent or less than tactful in my words.

After some debate between myself and my support staff, we made the decision to temporarily close Pink Rabbit in memory of those lost on Sept 11. We considered it simply a brief period of mourning ... like closing a store or some such. There was some debate and acknowledgement that people might need some distraction, but also the strong feeling that this is far more important than fanfic. Now, frankly, I hadn't intended to send out any kind of notice, not considering it important enough to warrant bothering people with an email like this. Particularly not at a time like this.

If you look, there is a notice to that effect, links to the Red Cross and Disaster Relief Websites and a few words. Not much else. I'm not one for brilliant editorials with insights into the things that touch the human soul and as I look at the world today, I haven't words. I simply don't....

This is so damned unimportant that I feel like an idiot saying anything, but at the same time, I guess, I want people to understand there were reasons for what we did, especially since we've already received a couple of flames (I suddenly have some sympathy for tv execs when they get hate mail for pre-empting soap operas). If anyone wants to bail out here and now and chalk me up as an annoyance, you have my total support. If you're in the mood to send a flame ... just don't, okay. We really don't need a little more ugliness in the world right now ... or at least, I don't.

The why of the decision is complicated and hard to explain and much it at an almost instinctive level. I love fandom, tv and all those good things, but for a little while, perhaps I think our focus should be elsewhere. Unreality has its appeal, but it cannot and should not be the entire focus of our lives. This is also a gesture of respect ... of acknowledgment ... an expression of our mourning here at Pink Rabbit. None of us lost anyone within our immediate families and friends, but we all know people who came close and there were some scary hours in there.

The next part is going to be harder to explain, but to some extent, I think the decision was tied into the fact that, as gay people, we are often seen as not quite part of society ... we often see ourselves as marginalized and are often seen as marginalized ... and I suppose I felt that it was important to make even the tiniest point that we are here and we too are affected by this; that we are a part of the America that is united in sorrow and outrage at the moment. I'm probably saying this very, very badly ... in fact, I'm not even sure it can be said well, but it was my gut level response.

Oddly enough, the same emotion is tied to the fandom end of things. As fans, we're often seen as out of touch with reality and placing more importance on tv than real life, and that is simply not the case. I know that ... and the majority of fans know that ... and at some level, I felt a need to express that, and the others agreed.

And now, quite frankly, I've probably wasted more of your time than should have been necessary. Pink Rabbit will return in a day or two ... when I'm back to dealing with it and when it's apropos. In the meantime, please hold those you love close and be grateful for your lives.

And now I'll leave you with the following information.

Please give. Cash and Blood Donations are Both Desperately Needed.

The Red Cross -- http//www.redcross.org/

Disaster Relief -- http//www.disasterrelief.org/

-- Barb --

-- and the Pink Rabbit Staff --