Many thanks for all the expressions of sorrow at these tragic events. We must not give in to these or other terrorists!
America was the target this week, but others have been targets in the past. What this week's actions have demonstrated is a new level of terrorism. I hope that such attacks are not repeated anywhere else in the world. It is obvious that America was not the only target. The choice of the World Trade Center was not only dramatic and yielding great tragedy, it has caused a great blow to finance in America and the world. At least 50 international financial groups were located there. We will recover. But it needs the resolve of everyone not to panic. We must not give the terrorists what they want - the collapse of the western world. Former Israeli Prime Minister Netanyaho was just on a news broadcast stating that these terrorists groups want to "reverse history". It was his opinion that Ben Ladin exceeds Y. Arafat's goals in that he wants to see the fall of western civilisation! These attacks could have been better timed to cause America more harm. A noted fiction author wrote about just such an attack by an airliner some years ago. However, his story had the attack hit our nation's capitol at the annual State of the Union address when all the leaders were gathered in one place! So, I say the attacks, aimed at a world financial center, were also against the western world. So where is the sunshine? In each of your hearts. As the world's economy is already stumbling, America may be on the brink of a recession. Can these terrible acts bring it about? Don't let it! Talk to people you know. Reassure them that this not a time to sell their stocks. We all must take reasonable precautions in the days ahead. I hope no more attacks like these will be successful anywhere else in the world. These are the times to show the sunshine. I hope that my countrymen will show less prejudice than many did after Pearl Harbor 60 years ago. There is some indication of that from our President. It can be done with the sunshine of knowledge and openess of communication rather than the darkness of panic or despair. Claude Hartman still in California, unable to reach the NASS conference in Montreal
