Terrorists won this one without lifting a finger
The weak-kneed response by officials of the Berkeley, Calif.,
Fire Department to the perceived threat that dissenters "might try
to grab" flags on fire truck has played directly into the hands of
terrorists.
It is hard to consider them brethren to the men and women long
known as "New York's bravest."
By ordering their rank and file to remove large American flags
from their firefighting equipment, these officials have demonstrated
the lack of resolve and conviction that is required of leadership in
the face of terrorism.
Let us hope that any other officials of the same ilk will reveal
themselves as readily. We will then be aware of and able to remedy
these weaknesses.
KARL ADERER
Bay St. Louis
Grateful Americans
don't need a hyphen
The terrible tragedy has united Americans as never before. There
are no African-Americans or Asian-Americans or other hyphenated
citizens. We are all Americans.
I was born and raised in England, but in 1955, along with many
others, I took the examination to become a naturalized American
citizen and since then I am an American citizen, not an
English-American citizen! We who live in this wonderful country,
with all of the freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution, should be
grateful, drop the practice of hyphenation and rally together.
It is uplifting to see so many people raising money to help the
victims and their families. My 12-year-old granddaughter, wanting to
help in some way, bought materials and made "God Bless America" pins
to sell, with the proceeds going to help the victims. Churches have
been full and prayer services, attended by people of all faiths,
have offered prayers for peace. I hope this spirit of love and
charity will continue indefinitely.
We can read many examples in the Bible of people coming together
to help others. In Ezra 1:4, King Cyrus of Persia, speaking to his
people said, "Let everyone who has survived, in whatever place he
may have dwelt, be assisted by the people of that place with silver,
gold, goods, and cattle together with free-will offerings for the
house of God." I think God is pleased with Americans' outpourings of
generosity, both in money, goods, and labor to help the afflicted,
and I hope God will always shine his favor on us.
BETTY CUEVAS
Saucier
Good writers put
our thoughts into words
I have disagreed with columnist Leonard Pitts on many occasions,
but his column on Sept. 13, "Beast, you don't know my people," could
not be more right. No one could have said it better.
Doug Denehie's letter on Sept. 18, "Stand aside if you have
second thoughts," says it all. Let all Americans do what they can,
even if it is only to pray for our young people as they go in harm's
way, for they will do the job that others should have done.
WALLACE AKINS
Bay St. Louis
For too long, we've been
hitting the snooze button
Many feel ill when hearing the liberal types yell, "This is a
wake-up call!"
Sadly, it's a wake-up call that's been sounded ad nauseam by
veterans groups, intelligence/defense committees, et al for eight
years. We slept right through all the alarms. More sad is that it
took the enemy to turn the alarm up on Sept. 11 to a point that we
were awakened.
Many also feel that the decimation of our defense department
during this period gave terrorists free rein in planning their
strategy that included the attack of Sept. 11, this attack being
"mild" compared to that which is within their capability given time.
Hopefully, the Sept. 11 tragedy will be a wake-up call
to those who've been hard of hearing.
ARMOND 'SI' SIMMONS
Pell City, Ala.
Barriers between faiths
were made by men
In these trying times, our commitment to the things that have
made America great are being tested. Our country was founded on the
belief that all men had the right to choose their own religion. They
had the right to worship these religions within our boundaries. This
is what has made us such a great nation.
To quote Mahatma Gandhi: "Even as a tree has a single trunk, but
many branches and leaves, so there is one true and perfect Religion,
but it becomes many religions as it passes through the human medium.
The one Religion is beyond all speech; imperfect men put it in such
language as they can command and their words are interpreted by
other men equally imperfect. Hence the necessity of tolerance, which
does not mean indifference to one's faith, but a more intelligent
and purer love for it. True knowledge of Religion breaks down the
barriers between faith and faith."
We are all of the same God. We need to remember that in these
times.
CHERYL KERN
Gulfport
You and I are in
the terrorists' bulls-eye
With all that I have read and tried to digest, it occurs to me
that American citizens - you and I - are the center of the bull's
eye the enemy has his sights on. It will be the focal point upon
which victory or defeat will turn. The enemy believes us to have no
patience, to be soft and totally preoccupied with our hedonistic way
of life. He is sooo wrong!
As was learned by the Japanese after the attack on Pearl Harbor,
this attack has merely awakened a sleeping giant. This time we are
not only awake but fully united, as I think we were in World War II.
We will never forget that every American citizen was the
red dot on the bull's eye of the Sept. 11 attack. It is the will
of the American people that will decide this war, that we are
going to win.
BILL ROUCHELL
River Ridge, La.
A nation undivided
by terror's bitter hand
A nation undivided,
By terror's bitter hand;
Resolved to not fall victim,
Together, we shall stand.
For freedom gives us courage,
To face each day anew;
And liberty still rings for us,
When we see red, white and blue.
Tho' tears may fall in sorrow,
And hearts break near and far;
The love we have for our fellow man,
Defines just who we are.
For we are a people of justice,
And justice will ring true;
For those who died, we remember them,
When we see red, white and blue.
And we are a people of honor;
Who won't fall to terror's hand;
A nation undivided,
Together, we shall stand.
ALLISON CHAMBERS COXSEY
Biloxi
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