When terrorists have defeated us

To the editor:

When we look at the pictures from last Tuesday and no longer feel the pain and sorrow, they have won! When we steal a flag from someone, they have won! When we exploit money at a time of crisis, they have won!

When we make excuses not to give blood or donate money, they have won! When we lose faith in our economy, they have won! When we criticize our leaders, they have won!

When we take for granted our freedom, they have won! When we no longer get tears in our eyes when hearing "God Bless America," they have won! When we feel hatred, they have won!

When we loose that sense of urgency to pray, they have won!

As rain can erode soil one drop at a time, the terrorists can destroy our nation one small step at a time. Don't let them win!LEE A. WATSON

Cape Girardeau

Proceed with reason in conflict

To the editor:

A columnist for a local newspaper (not the Southeast Missourian) is calling for reason and planning to be thrown to the wind and for the United States to be quick and decisive in retaliation for the terrorist strikes.

So what, he says, if innocent bystanders are killed, they are harboring the criminals amongst themselves, so they should feel the wrath of our force. The columnist chastises many Libertarians and Quakers who wish to use what we consider good judgment in carrying out what we hope to be justice.

I ask you, what if there was a person in your community who went to another community and killed someone, do you feel that justice would be served if the other community retaliated by taking the lives of everyone in your community, including women and children? In fact, hatred would be served, but not justice. But this is not about justice at all; it's about killing and destroying to show the might and wrath of the United States. I ask all men to search their conscience to think about what kind of man would kill the innocent as well as the guilty.JAMES NALL

Marble Hill, Mo.

U.S. military will show no mercy

To the editor:

This is an open letter to the terrorists who attacked America:

What you have done reminds me of the song "You Don't Mess Around with Jim." It goes: "You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind, you don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger and you don't mess around with Jim."

You have messed around with Jim! When we find you, may God have mercy on you, because the American military won't!PAT PATTERSON

Cape Girardeau

Editorial eases our sadness

To the editor:

I unfolded my paper this morning and saw the large centerfold flag with "God Bless America" and tears came to my eyes. I thought, "How can we as a nation ask for the blessing of God before we first ask for his forgiveness and repent of our sins as a nation?"

I am ashamed that, in this great country of ours, millions of unborn babies are being destroyed by legal means. I am sad that our children go to school without any knowledge of God.

Then I read the editorial and the sadness eased and hope took over. It read: "God ... unite us in the bonds of love."FREIDA HOPPLE

Cape Girardeau