The Exponent


9/14/01	5 day quick link 9/13 \| 9/12 \| 9/11 \| 9/10 \| 9/7

Nation must pray for peace, calm

My heart was quickly sparked to anger as I saw the mighty World Trade Center buildings crash to the ground, smothering the precious lives of our fellow citizens in its deathly pounding. It was only when I heard of the simultaneous attack on the Pentagon, and still more the alleged attack on Camp David, and the other plane crash in Pennsylvania, that my seething rage turned to sadness.

It is at a time like this that we must not only look to the future of our country, but we also must sympathize with those victims that have already been forgotten. Those poor, wretched refugees, cast out of their war-torn homeland of Somalia, and the seemingly terrorist actions of our great noble country upon their home city, and those whose lives have been wrapped up and saturated with loss and despair in Israel, who fear for their lives at every step; let us remember them, and sympathize with them.

Now is not a time for us to shout, "War! Revenge!" Now is a time for peace, my brothers and sisters. In this sudden time of despair, perhaps it is time for us to awaken from our monotonous slumber of indifference. Perhaps this should serve as a startling alarm, blaring the broadcast that peace on earth can only be achieved through reconciliation and love.

May your hearts be not drawn toward revenge and anger, my friends. May your hearts and minds be filled with peace and calm.

Perhaps now is a time that we must pray first for those injured and affected by this disgusting and perverted act, and secondly for those who committed it.

Matt Beran

Junior, School of Liberal Arts

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