terrorism‘s number one goal is to instill fear. targets are chosen for their symbolic value–the perpetrators of yesterday’s violence chose well. the international financial/trade center and the heart of the world’s most powerful military establishment were not immune to the desperate acts of a small group of fanatics. if the world trade center and the pentagon were unable to defend themselves against these acts then all of us must be vulnerable. fear leaves us paralyzed. fear closed down our airports, wall street, the federal government, and countless state and local governments, businesses, schools, and amusement parks.

if we let fear conquer us, then the terrorists have won.

i will not be paralyzed into inaction. i will overcome my fear.

1. i will give blood. uci is setting up an emergency blood donation center on the 17th of september (my appointment is for 10am). for those of you in the area, the number to call and schedule appointments is 824-9355. it may not seem like much, but i can send a life-giving part of myself to a victim in nyc or dc, or make sure that suffering souls in other parts of the country do not die because the blood supplies are being depleted.

2. i will decrease the environment of fear by reaching out to the local islamic community. already islamic centers in socal are receiving threats and hate-filled calls. muslims are expressing anxiety. i will approach muslim students and write local mosques and offer my love and support and seek greater understanding of a culture about which i know very little. i do know that most muslims want tolive in peace and value human life, as do most christians, buddhists, jews and atheists i know.

3. i will fight against the nation’s thirst for revenge, and replace it with desire for justice. i have heard that some americans want a life for a life. hatred against the groups which may have perpetrated yersterday’s heinous acts only brings us down to their level. we need to shame them with our fairness and nobility. gandhi once said, “an eye for an eye would only leave the whole world blind.” and president hinckley of the lds church said yesterday that “the president of our nation has assured us that there will be detection and punishment. but that will not bring back the many whose lives have been taken or salve the pain of those who have been injured.” we need to follow our leads, uncover the evidence, and when we are sure we know who the perpetrators are, punish them according to their actions. we do the same when we prosecute the worst of serial killers within our own borders. doing otherwise would leave us no better than the terrorists we despise. i will fight hatred with the only weapon i know how to wield, which is the written word.

4. i will not allow fear to dictate my actions. there is no such thing as security. death can take us in the guise of an earthquake, cancer, a drunk driver, a crazed gunman at any moment. death is one of the great certainties of life. i will not fear death. i won’t kid you though–this will take some work.

i would be very interested in hearing what all of you are doing as well.

i pray that all of us can fight fear. fdr said that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” the best way to defeat the ultimate ends of the terrorists is to take action in the name of justice, peace, and compassion::