Staying strong and united

I never imagined I would live through a time like this, nor witness such a catastrophe. The events of Sept. 11, 2001, are like a throbbing ache throughout my body. It is incomprehensible that human beings could harbor such hate as to commit this atrocity. \nBut I do have hope, because the good outweighs the bad in my view of humanity. We must hold on to that advantage.\nIt is dismissive to call the acts a tragedy. Car crashes and fires are tragedies; this was an abomination. How dare those terrorists have such disregard for human life? And now we are faced with a dilemma. How do we respond? What does one do in a situation like this? I am not sure what needs to be done, for the issue is so complex. \nBut President George W. Bush and his administration have my utmost respect because they will have to make one of the most significant decisions in U.S. history. We cannot just treat this like a "tragedy," nor simply bring the responsible to "justice." Then those who hate us will have won. Our message must be firm and penetrating and I hope our government makes the right decision, whatever that might be.\nStrolling down a typical sidewalk in the United States, one can see America has been redefined. We are a new America full of flags, ribbons, camaraderie and patriotism, that bleeds red, white and blue. The newfound pride must not be short lived -- it must become a part of our American identity. We have gained so much as a people; our different colors and creeds have come together like never before. \nIt is important, though, that we realize something about our enemy. This act was committed by a select group of people and we must not look upon all Palestinians, all Muslims and all Arabs as being culpable. On our own land, several people that fall into these groups have been assaulted verbally and physically. Events like these diminish the new American identity we've so strongly built over the past several days and add to the suffering we already face.\nTo those responsible for the atrocity, I wish you the most suffering any human could possibly bear, for it would never equal the suffering you forced upon thousands of innocent people and their families. Those buildings may have fallen, but we will stand tall in the face of your evildoings.\nTo my fellow Americans, I am proud. How comforting it is to see the great display of our red, white and blue. President Bush spoke to the volunteers and workers in New York on Friday with a bullhorn in hand. A few people shouted to Bush, "I can't hear you" to which the president responded, "I can hear you, the rest of the world hears you, and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon." The roaring cheers from the crowd proved that the American spirit is alive and well. It is our duty to the thousands who lost their lives that our republic stays strong and most importantly, united.