Next step: war or peace?

The next months will determine whether the events of Sept. 11 will break us as a nation or make us stronger. Now the debate begins. Some call for war; others call for peace. Some call for a questioning of our foreign policy; others reaffirm our foreign policy. Some will ask for increased safety; others will demand protection for our liberties. \nIt is important for us to remember that democracy is based on undeniable rights. We have the right to religious conscience, whether we are Christian, Jew, Muslim, Humanist, Buddhist or Hindu. We have the right to speak out, whether our voice supports or criticizes our government. We have the right to live and work in our communities free from violence and harassment.\nWill we as a Democratic people respect the rights of our neighbors to worship a different religion, to argue for unpopular political beliefs? Or will we exercise a sectarian intolerance, make the claim those religions and political beliefs are "UnAmerican?" Will we demand loyalty and religious tests?