Its funny how fast your view of the world can change. Mine changed with one simple act this morning at about 9:00am. I turned on the television and learned that the US isn't quite as far from the scenes of war we see on the news each week. Not far at all, for this time those scenes were coming from New York and Washington DC. Buildings exploding, debris filling the air, people running, screaming, and worst of all -jumping from buildings 100's of feet in the air.

It seems unreal, for we've all seen this happen so many times before …just never on the NEWS. …in NEW YORK …in DC. No, these images are usually reserved for fiction; where victims wear makeup and walk away from the scene at the end of the take.

I don't know how to view this situation. I tend to think of those people hanging out of windows, the firefighters running into the buildings as everyone else was running out, the collapses, the victims, the families, the passengers, the people running in the streets, the rescue workers combing the scene as I type this… The stories I've heard of passengers calling home just before the planes crashed, of a firefighter who saw a friend die when one of the jumpers landed on him, of a cell phone call made to 9-11 from under the rubble of building #7.

When this all becomes overwhelming I take a broader view and wonder about the impact this day will have. Our sense of safety has been shattered, the American people are looking for revenge, and these terrorist actions may open the doors for more to follow. But in spite of these thoughts I feel no loss of hope for our citizens have proven that we can help each other through the aftermath of this great trajedy and work to ensure that it won't be a crime that goes unpunished.

I feel helpless and mad. I'm angry at the cowardess of these people. To attack undefended CIVILIAN targets… and the people of Palistine who flooded the streets upon hearing the news of the attacks shouting “God is great”.

There is a little glimmer of hope when I think of the bombing that's happening in Palastine tonite and the fact that there are rumors that we are responsible for it. But whatever devistation we cause will never bring our people back. Killing can never be celebrated but it can be justified. We must send a message to whoever is responsible and to anyone considering a similar attack on our country. Our buildings may shake and fall upon your impact, but our country never will. We stand united against such acts and demand justice for all those killed and injured.

Everyone's answer to todays tragedy is prayer. Pray for the victims… I just can't do it. If there's a god who has the power to answer our prayers, then there is a god who could have prevented this tragedy and did not. Perhaps there's a god and this is a test… I'm sure that there's justification out there, but I choose to take action instead -whether through blood donation, or simply by remembering what becomes of hatred and acting upon those memories. I hope god can forgive me.

As for the people around me. I guess I value family and friends a little more as I view life as a little more fragile today. The rest of the public -I don't know what to say… there are already jokes being told about today's events and the fires are not even put out yet. Its clear that this lesson will not be learned by everyone.