I had lived in the New York Metropolitan Area for the first 32 years of my life, and remember my first views of New York from some high ground in New Jersey (Eagle Rock Reservation, Montclair N.J.) as a boy in the 1970's , and of course the unforgettable sweep one obtains from the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel... And these mighty images would stick in one's mind, you know.
But after the bombing, in 2001, it actually took me a full year to realize the Towers were down. It was like a bad dream one would awake from; or really, one would like to awake from. Our nation just needs time to heal; but let us not turn to vengeance and hate to recompense the guilty.
- John G. Lewis

I remember thinking that it was impossible for such large structures to collapse even though I saw it happen on live television. My engineering background fought with my eyesight. Before that collapse, I felt sick to my stomach when I saw people leap to the ground to escape the searing heat that boiled their flesh and the smoke that choked them. The fact that anyone could kill in such a fashion cemented firmly in my mind that evil had reared its ugly head once again. Some say that nobody is truly evil. I disagree. Some people embrace evil with great gusto and they do a lot of damage to life. They are like cancer in the body of the human race. I've had cancer twice and both times the scalpel of an honorable surgeon cut it out. That correlates with our military--Honorable Surgeons cutting out the cancer in the human race.
John T. Royer

Well John, I agree with you to an extent; and I think there are is a thing as "Just Wars"... yet I believe it should have been Congress that declared war against Afghanistan, not the President of the United States. Concerning Iraq, the situation was more complex, and the issue dubious, at best. But what should never have been condoned and approved was the torture of prisoners - waterboarding - by the Federal Government. If we do criticize other peoples, and more specifically groups, as evil, we should beware lest we become like them.

But often situations are not Black and White.... This is most usually, if not always, the case. That is to say, there are some reasons on the other side. Not to justify, of course, horrific actions; yet this does not mean there are zero reasons, zero points for the other side. Some Arabs are... disturbed and concerned with American and G8 control of specific countries, and the world economy. Do we have absolute dominion over other peoples? No, of course not; but it is possible that in certain areas we are exerting excessive control, and unjust control.

In 2000/2001 I actually thought we were in Iraq too long, and that we should have left. [The war was over, and let us respect (Iraqi) sovereignty.] I believe we were lording it over him, if you would. Sometimes, I believe one should make the first step toward peace, and not always return insult for insult.

We have all seen what the elected folks OTHER than President Obama can accomplish. They are good debaters but not good leaders who put the country above their own interests. President Obama knows how to lead. I TRUST President Obama. He risked everything in order to get Bin Laden. He put the security of the country BEFORE his political ambitions. He is my kind of President, a strong, honorable and courageous man who came from my people, the poor of America. I met three guys from the military at the Atlantic City Air Show this year who said that he is THEIR KIND OF PRESIDENT because he acts rather than talks.

My husband was supposed to be in the financial district that day. His job was changed at the very last second to West Chester PA. I still think of the "what ifs." I remember the frantic calls I made to him to make sure he was ok. I, like many others, watched all the news coverage including the 2nd plane that hit. I never understood why my mother (and others) could so clearly recall details of when J.F.K. was shot, until 9/11/2001--I was married exactly 1 month that day.

I am not completely against execuctive action by the President...as long as we are engaged in a general war. Such as during the Cold War (The Invasion of Grenada, for example, by President Reagan in the early 80's), and, indeed, the war against Al Queda (the raiding of the home of Bin Laden). Both actions, given the general circumstances, I believe, were justified.

It was a great call by President Obama to go that day into Pakistan... and get him, without the [direct or immediate (though one might say tantamount or implied) ] consent of the Congress, or of the mother country, Pakistan (and in so doing violating their *sovereignty*). A close call, but indeed probably nevertheless warranted... We should recognize too, the United States is the international police force in the world; but that we should use this power, and privilege (hopefully) sparingly, and above all, justly.

Yet we should remember that the power to declare war rests with the legislative body, the Congress [The Constitution, Article 1, Section 8, point 11] Correct (?) And the continuing battle for *human rights* goes on; and though we can be duly proud of our achievements, and general record as Americans, this 'war' exists even in our country.

Thank you for your commentary, John.

John Royer

You are welcome (!)
The reason why I am interested in the Patch is that I went to school in your state (Lehigh University, class of 1990, Bethlehem). Many fine schools in Pennsylvania (!)
Talk again.
- John G. Lewis