Re: gun-shy but willing to wield a torch

[Zipzorb@xxxxxx]

  It's that this statement from Pete about the IWF exchange is not compelling
evidence of anything besides his own contact with a non-governmental, non-law
enforcement entity prior to the events of Jan. 11-13.  It no more clears him
than does "A Different Bomb."  To claim otherwise is irresponsible and is
almost clutching at straws.


I agree with Ken, and you especially sum it up in the last sentence.
Many of us have expressed our obvious support for Pete,including
myself.
And many are confident that he will be exonerated, or some are worried
a bit that he will be charged , but feel positive that the charge will
only be a result of just what Pete had told the police investigators.

But how many of us are mentally prepared for anything worse? 

I know I have suffered from increased insomnia,depression, and so
many other emotions including anger and confusion. I've been in a
fog...sought of a feeling like I entered the twilite zone and can't
get out.
People Magazine noted that the Police confiscated 8 Computers. 5
Imac home pc's and 3 Lap tops. And also several videos from his home.

Of course we pray that these are all clean.

I don't know anyone who is a bigger Pete fan than I and who loves him
and his work more than I do...but remember that there are police
officers,Judges,teachers,community leaders,etc who all have been
arrested.According to reports,a majority of these folks are married
with kids.So,"their" families are going thru what we are..except worse.They
are family! These are respectable, and as far as we know, fairly
normal people.

We can't think Pete is not vulnerable to anything of this sought.
He is as human as these people.I am definitely not saying he is guilty
of more than he has told us, and I am giving Pete the chance to not
let us down.

The only difference is,Pete is a famous celebrity and this can go
either of two ways.As PEOPLE says:"It can be innocent or it can be
ugly".

-If Pete's HD reveals only what Pete has told them,he will most
likley be charged &become the Operations Scapegoat celebrity -
showing proof to the world that the "Operation Ore" is not a waste of
time,effort,and money.And, sadly, the general public will not be made
aware of any further details,such as whether the motive was an act of
naivety on Pete's part or for pleasure. Not until a trial presents ,
will anyone know.By then, any damage control attempts in the meantime
will be futile. This is the INNOCENT. Or he can be exonerated
entirely.I see this as the least likely of all...but anything is
possible. I just can't see it due to the sad state of political
affairs.

-Or the forensic pc experts find and reveal "more" than what Pete
told the investigators."More" as in satisfying the authorities reasons
to bring more charges or more severe charges I should say.Obviously,
this is the UGLY.

As a good friend of mine said on another list,in not so many
words- "whatever happens to Pete, one way or another, I will still
listen to his and The Who's music , as this is the man whom has gotten
me thru my youth and thru life today". Which is true for myself,so why
would I abandon him now? 

I think , truthfully, I am not very mentally prepared for any
"worse case scenario's". I am not ready to accept the fact that my
hero and my favorite band of 21 years, may be ostracized beyond
comprehension - to society. After all,Pete and the Who, thru the music
and their presence, are still suppose to get me thru the tough times
now,today. In tough times, it is Pete or the Who that I turn to. 

Remember the Concert for NYC? How many times in recent history did
we get to turn on the tv and see THE WHO on national tv kicking
everyone else's ass all the while making a statement in their support
for the Firefighters and Police of NYC...and at the same time making
us feel a bit better about the tragedy that had happened just a month
earlier.The Who were helping bring us together in times of trouble.To
heal.To mourn.To rebel.And to rule the stage that night.Damn,23 years
later we blew Mick and Keith of the stage again.

So, how will we feel if we hear something that we DON'T want to
hear in the next day or next coming weeks? I mean, what we've heard
thus far has been bad enough.

Do discussion boards like these help us? Yes and no.Yes,talking
about it among friends is the best debriefing there is. But no, there
is really no cure or alleviation of pain entirely. 

Do I have NO life, that I can let distressing news of a rock n roll artist
destroy my emotional well being? 

I don't know. I've found myself risking my job and health just
trying to get to 19 WHO shows in the past two years.

I think it's time for those among us who think "it's all going to
turn out ok", to take a harder look at your own life and see what's
going on right now.

Marc