The tragic events of last Tuesday fill us with horror, with sadness and with questions. We all desire to stand in solidarity with the victims and with their families. We look on these acts as acts of hatred and violence. Here is a nationwide sense that something must be done in response. It is in reflecting on the question of response that I speak a word of caution. Let us, as a nation, not allow the hatred and violence of the perpetrators enter into our minds and hearts. Let us not enter into a reaction of vengeance and retaliation which will only reap bitter consequences for us and for all peoples around our world.

We must ask the question why: Why this tragedy? Why so much hatred of the United States? And we must respond with honesty, recognizing our own violence in many instances of our country’s history. The two objects of attack seem to be symbols of what many throughout the world consider to economic and military control exercised by the United States. Only when we have examined our own consciences can we enter into an appropriate response to the tragedy we have just experienced.