Let Freedom Ring and Terrorists Lose

My experience in London with regular terrorist attacks over the years was that the very best thing we could do was to carry on as normal. The terrorists are trying to control our lives by making us live in fear and change our way of life. Our only weapon against them is normality. If we continue going to sporting events, music shows and churches, if we continue to watch TV shows, window-shop in malls and relax at Disneyland, the terrorists lose.

That does not stop us from feeling appalling loss and sorrow over what happened. We all feel fear and doubt--in the months to come many people who seemed fine will suddenly lose it, and it will hit them hard. This is normal, and with the love of our friends and family, it will all pass.

We will never forget Sept. 11, 2001, but we have a future that includes a share in the futures of all of the people who lost theirs. Our duty to them is to ensure that every day of our future is a credit to them; that way they will live on in a way that no terrorist could ever destroy. There is no better tribute possible.

Simon Holzman

Riverside

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The United States is a beacon of freedom to an often chaotic and cold world. Because that light shines across the globe, much ugliness and many monsters are revealed. As in horror stories, these evil beings, pulled from their darkness, lash out at the light in vain attempts to extinguish its power.

But the power does not rest in the institutions or places brought down by these efforts. The light comes from the ideas and principles that are found in the heart of man. Though thousands will die, millions will live. These millions will carry on a flame fanned by the passing souls of those dead.

Thus the beacon burns brighter today than yesterday. We memorialize death through life as our nation has in countless times past. By living free we defy those who would have us live in fear.

Lucas Drake

Fontana