READERS RESPOND -- Newport-Mesans discuss the aftermath of the

recent terrorist events

Laying blames on all Muslims because of the heinous acts by a few is

like indicting all Americans because a few happen to be mass murderers.

It is at times like this that we need even more input from the civilized

Muslim community so that we may learn enough about their religion and

culture to hopefully prevent similar terrorist acts in the future.

It is time also that we reexamine our international stance to ensure

that our foreign policy is not unreasonably biased. There is certainly no

logical explanation aside from fanaticism to account for these

terrorists’ total disregard of human lives, but even if we are able to

capture or eliminate the masterminds such as Osama bin Laden, the threat

of terrorism will not likely recede.

It is to our best interest as a nation to try to find out why these

people could hate us so much that they would even consider blowing

themselves up just to hurt us. Perhaps there is never going to be a

solution to this problem, but not another American should die due to lack

of trying.

JOHN T. CHIU

Newport Beach

Tuesday, Sept. 11, will be etched in history as the day the world

changed. This will be known as the day of a new reality, the day that we

have to reckon with the international terrorism directed at the arrogance

of the new administration’s policies that not only anger our foes, but

alienate our allies as well.

However, this reality is not new, but started with the initial bombing

of the World Trade Center years ago. New York City got off relatively

easy, as the U.S. government has anticipated an attack with biological

weapons of mass destruction that would, and could, kill millions in New

York.

Then there is that question of the nuclear weapons that were lost

(sold to shadowy groups?) during the break up of the Soviet Union. Of

course, as the United States is the only superpower on this planet, we

will be a target.

But the solution to these new challenges we face is not more tanks,

killer satellites, or Star War systems, but a realization that the

challenges we face are not in the traditional sense, but what has been

developing for years: religious suicidal fanaticism. What has happened

regionally in Ireland, the Balkans, Central Africa and the Middle East is

now happening globally. This is the new reality.

PAUL JAMES BALDWIN

Newport Beach

The other day, as I drove through the area on errands, I looked for

the American flag in front of local businesses.

I was saddened as I drove 17th Street, past the grocery store that I

have supported for years. There was no flag. There was not even a flag

pole. Growing up (not too long ago), I remember the local grocery store

putting the flag up each day and ceremoniously taking it down each night.

The store also closed on Sundays. I found it a sad statement of society

that these displays seem to have gone by the wayside and was sadder still

that I never noticed that before.

Our society once assumed every American followed a spiritual path so

strong that stores were not opened on Sunday. Now, the desire to be

politically correct and separation of church and state has put faith in

the closet . . . something to be held privately for fear of offending.

Well, out of sight, out of mind. Children’s sports, for example, now

schedule events on weekends, leaving those who practice religion to be in

the uncomfortable position of taking a stand against those scheduling the

events.

The terrorists, as misguided as they may be, live their religion every

waking moment. Their actions are focused on what they believe to be the

ultimate reward of their beliefs. It is this passion that allowed them to

complete their heinous acts against humanity.

The coming war will be one not only of our nations’ military strength

and resolve, but one of humanity and the reign of good over evil. If we

are to survive this war on an emotional level, we need not just weapons

of destruction but of faith as well. We all need to embrace our faith,

whatever it may be, and live it every day. The good people and religions

of the world outnumber the misguided few. It is time to display that we

are not just a nation with strength of arms, but also of faith. We can

create a world where we all “do unto others as we would have them do unto

us.”

MEG TWEEDY

Costa Mesa

This was sent to me from my son’s school. I hope this important

campaign continues throughout our country. It is “The Power to Come

Together as One” campaign:

In an effort to help America cope from its tragic events, please show

the world the greatness that we all share as Americans.

Please show your support by placing one red, one white and one blue

ribbon on one tree in front of your home indefinitely.

The red ribbon signifies our hearts. We will all come together as a

nation and again stand tall from the aftermath of this tragedy.

The white ribbon signifies our thoughtfulness. We will help those in

need and honor those that have lost their lives on this day.

The blue ribbon signifies our strength. As Americans, we will not give

up our dreams for peace and freedom.

Please show your support of this campaign by placing these ribbons on

your tree.

DENAMARIE ARELLANES

Corona

Formerly of Costa Mesa

I am writing to you about the destruction that happened on Tuesday. My

feelings cannot be described in words, our country was attacked,

thousands of people were killed, I have repeatedly heard this called the

second Pearl Harbor. My pain is not so much for the people that died,

although it is very tragic to say the least, their suffering is over. My

pain is for the friends and family of those people, for our country as a

whole. I have asked myself a thousand times what I can do to help, and

there’s not much, being one small voice in a nation where everyone is

shouting. I am devastated because of what has happened here, because

millions of people are in mourning for their family and friends that

died. I am writing to ask for your help.

On the night of Tuesday, Sept. 11, I spent a few hours cutting up navy

blue ribbon and putting them on safety pins, I spent a few more hours

handing them out at my college and other places the next day, and I am

continuing to do this for as long I need to. I am asking people to pin

these blue ribbons to their shirt, bag, purse, jacket, wherever, to show

our sadness for the people who died and to show our support for the

people still living.

I would like to ask people if they can spare a few bucks and some time

to sit down and make some ribbons. To wear one on their shirts for the

next few days or weeks, to show that we are united in this tragedy, to

show our compassion for America. I chose navy blue for a few reasons, it

is the darkest blue, a feeling many of us are struck with after the

deaths of so many Americans, but also because it is the color on the flag

that supports the 50 stars. As President Bush said, freedom was attacked,

these blue ribbons also support our freedom.

We can all unite by wearing a blue ribbon, so many people have been

affected by this. What a good feeling it may be for someone whose son or

daughter, mother or father was in those buildings to see so many people

support them.

Like I said before, I am only a small voice in a nation where millions

are shouting about this. I am asking to use your voice, to ask people to

do this, to tell them this is happening in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.

It could happen over the entire nation. Already from handing these

ribbons out for two days, I have had many people volunteer to go out and

make them, and give them to their friends, family, neighbors and

co-workers.

I am torn between emotions over what happened in New York, all of

those emotions are too strong to be described with words, and I think

that making and wearing these ribbons would help bring us together. Help

keep us strong and support each other. This is a time when personal

issues should be set aside. Forget race, age, sex, religion and unite as

Americans.

I’ve never really thought much about being an American, but I’ve been

thinking a lot about it the past few days. I don’t know anyone that was

killed over there, yet I am still deeply affected by these events, and I

realized that it is because I am connected to each and everyone of those

people that died. I’m connected to them because we live in the same

country, a country that has been attacked, a country that terrorists are

trying to separate.

When people commit hate crimes against Americans because they have the

same skin color as Osama bin Laden, the terrorists are getting what they

want. When we are separating because of race and religion, we are weak.

We need to stay together through this, we need to be strong. I’m not

saying wearing a ribbon will solve our problems. All I’m saying is that

if you’re wearing a ribbon and you see someone else wearing a ribbon, you

feel like you’re closer to that person. You know that person feels like

you do, that person was affected too and wants to support our nation and

the people in it. And the closer we are as the people of the United

States, the harder it will be to destroy us and our freedom.

LAURA KASZYNSKI

Costa Mesa