Last Tuesday, terrorists attempted to threaten our way of life by committing horrific acts of violence on American soil. They did not succeed. From firefighters searching for their brothers in the rubble of the World Trade Center to candlelight vigils and 6-hour waiting lists for blood donations, the American people have shown their true devotion to freedom.

President Bush has boldly stated that we are at war against terrorism, and while it is clear that we need to rid the world of terrorist organizations that have no regard for human life, it is unclear how far we will have to go to do so. In the battle to make our world more secure, we could lose our valued privacy. Just some of the practices that may be put into place include increasing checkpoints at public buildings and having phone calls and emails monitored by the government.

On Monday morning, workers who returned to their jobs on Wall Street were greeted by police checking identification and national guardsmen on street corners, gripping semiautomatic rifles. Is this the future of America? How safe do you feel going about your daily business now? Would implementing stricter security measures make us safer, or would it only mean that we are giving in to the threat of terrorism?

Aiding the Relief Efforts:

Red Cross: