Letters

Ash Tuesday

"The attacks have robbed the U.S. of its complacency--a remarkable feat. And if we become complacent again, we lose all." AMANDA POSTON Austin, Texas

Before the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11 [SPECIAL ISSUE], I was planning to become an expatriate. Disillusioned by an election in which my vote didn't truly count and a political system fraught with hypocrisy, I hoped to teach in Europe or elsewhere--anywhere but here. And then everything changed. Those victims of the terrorist attacks did not die in vain. But the cowards who perpetrated these monstrous deeds did: instead of weakening a country, they strengthened it; instead of destroying the steel beams of our spirit, they fortified them; instead of dividing us, they have united us. COREY CHAPMAN Los Angeles

The symbolic support from around the world makes us Americans feel good. But the world has changed forever, and our feelings of security must also. We cannot take our personal safety for granted. Our people must take an active part in the vigilant protection of our country. Civilians must assume roles in our civil defense as block watchers, neighborhood police, campus observers and providers of information to authorities about those who act suspiciously or voice anti-American opinions. PATRICK GRANT New York City

It's easy enough to say terrorists represent pure evil, but it's also helpful to ask, What is it in U.S. behavior that drove them to such hatred? From their perspective, they see an imperialist America acting as the world's policeman only when it conveniently serves U.S. economic interests. But where was the U.S. when thousands of African civilians were massacred by military regimes? And what are we doing as millions die of AIDS in Africa and children still starve in many countries? I can see why posturing by a rich country is seen as arrogant. TONY ABARQUEZ Austin, Texas

The attack on the U.S. was horrible but at the same time a brilliant plan. Our response needs to be equally sharp. Unfortunately, brilliance is a quality I do not see in President George W. Bush. His "Wanted, Dead or Alive" approach doesn't come near to the level at which we should be thinking. PAUL RUNG Chicago

The Quest for Justice

Like all Americans, I grieve for the victims and their families. At the same time, I am concerned about the spirit of vengeance that threatens to make a horrific situation even worse. Each innocent person who gets caught in the cross fire will have loved ones left behind to mourn as we are mourning now. We must be aware that by perpetuating the cycle of violence, we will certainly be breeding a new generation of hatred among the mourners. It is crucial that we don't act out of anger, that we pursue not vengeance but justice. DICK BAY Novato, Calif.

In March 1945, I was a 20-year-old bombardier on one of the 300-plus aircraft that incinerated Tokyo. Many times since then, I have awakened in the night and wept over the tens of thousands of lives that were lost. But I would fly that mission again. We won that war before we had to risk a million American casualties in the invasion of Japan. Today we have grown into a nation of overpaid, overfed whiners. To those who say, "If we kill innocent people (collateral casualties), we will be no different than the terrorists," I reply, "You are right. But if we fail to retaliate, we will not be like them. They will be alive and we will be dead." SEYMOUR R. APPLEBY Danville, Calif.

We must realize that we cannot win the war on terrorism with guns or missiles. Weapons can never suppress the anger of the people who carry out heinous acts. Weapons will only create more anger, endangering our lives to a greater extent. We should be giving aid to all those around the world who are desperate and in need. This would do more to combat terrorism, and the anger that fuels it, than sustained military conflict. PIERRE BASMAJI Berkeley, Calif.

Hell has no fury like that of Americans bent on avenging the brutality that terrorists have carried out on us. JAMES M. FOX Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.

There is a saying: An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind. This could not be more true. America is facing hatred. There are no uniforms in this war. For every Muslim life we take in such a war, a martyr is created, fueling the fire. A war of hatred can never end. ANDREW LAMAR New York City

I agree that those who are responsible should be punished or other terrorists will think they can get away with carrying out similar acts. But killing innocent people will lower us to the level of those who hijacked the planes. Rage is what blinds us, not tears. Rage will make us act without thinking. Tears will make us think and remember our pain. CHARLOTTE DE VRIES Amherst, Mass.

Americans realize that civilization itself--not just buildings--is under attack. This country must rebuild stronger than ever, both physically and morally. It is time to eradicate man-hating terrorists from the face of the earth. JENNIFER KRAL Mayfield Heights, Ohio

Who doesn't know that violence begets violence? The U.S. should focus on the factors that transform a normal human being into a terrorist. Why not turn this great tragedy into an opportunity to build lasting peace? We should all be steadfast in our conviction to make sure that no normal human being becomes a terrorist in the future. FARRUKH QURESHI Lahore, Pakistan

Racial Profiling

There have been countless reports of violence and bigotry against Arabs and Muslims who are as much Americans as anyone else. The hatred following the World Trade Center attack has manifested itself in the newest form of racial profiling. What is your first thought now when you encounter a "Middle Eastern-looking" person in the coffee shop or on the street? What if that person is next to you on a plane? We cannot condemn a religion or an entire nation because of the actions of a few. CHRIS AUSTIN Marina del Rey, Calif.

The last thing we need right now is hatred. America's greatest strength (and greatest asset) is our freedom and diversity, both of which are easily diminished, if not destroyed, by hatred. MICHAEL TIEMANN Chapel Hill, N.C.

An Early Nomination

The men and women who are civil servants in New York City should be chosen as TIME's People of the Year. There should be no other contenders! JENNIFER L. BEHRINGER Berkeley, Ill.

Painting a True Picture

Thank you so much for publishing such an excellent Special Issue. The articles dispelled many of the rumors that were circulating, and the graphics and the timeline of attacks were easy to understand. True, the photographs were heartbreaking, but they were very powerful. More than once I found myself choking up, but they painted a true picture of events that day in downtown Manhattan. Keep up the great work. CHRISTIN PERRINE Damascus, Md.

Our children may have finally learned from this devastating experience that America's true heroes are not rock stars and athletes. KELLEY SANDERSON Colorado Springs, Colo.

Like Legendary Heroes

When I was at school, we had a picture of Leonidas and his Spartans blocking the pass at Thermopylae against a huge Persian army. The Spartans knew that they would be killed, but stood fast. Now it seems possible that three or more American men, passengers on hijacked Flight 93, who knew that they were going to die, rushed their hijackers before the terrorists reached their objective. These Americans were as brave as any heroes of legend. This cool courage is one crucial ingredient in dealing with terrorists. The time for being cowards and mere survivors is over. J. STEPHEN CRIDLAND Observatory, South Africa

Spirit Raiser

The article on TIME's choice of T.D. Jakes as America's Best Preacher focused too much on Jakes' style rather than his substance, which is what really counts [AMERICA'S BEST, Sept. 17]. You failed in your report to portray Jakes as a great teacher, father figure, brother, coach, economic adviser, marriage counselor, mentor, friend and, most important, a brave champion in the battle of spiritual warfare. Jakes helps turn males into men, women into ladies, prisoners into ministers and cultural Christians into God's servants. JOHN DAVID GARZA Dallas

Jakes may be able to pack a stadium with his preaching, but that seems to be the only similarity he has with Billy Graham. Jakes justifies his lavish lifestyle by saying that Jesus "must have been rich to support his disciples." May Jakes put his emphasis on the plain preaching of the Gospel of Christ rather than on "ornate call-and-response cues and dramatic eruptions." Have we not had enough disappointments from those wealthy televangelist preachers of the 1980s? L. HOYT GRIFFITH Wirtz, Va.

Correction

Our story on how the makers of attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder medications are advertising their products direct to consumers [HEALTH, Sept. 10] bore the headline "New Ritalin Ad Blitz Makes Parents Jumpy." While a number of pharmaceutical companies are running consumer ads, contrary to what the headline states, Novartis, the maker of Ritalin, has never had a direct-to-consumer advertising campaign for its medication. TIME regrets the error.