Academy Students Speak Out

The following responses to the Sept. 11 tragedy were provided by students at The Sharon Academy.

Why is terrorism such a hard enemy to fight? I think it's because we don't have any clue when or where it will strike…

I think terrorism is one the world's biggest enemies. I also worry that if the government spends all their time on terrorism, we won't pay any attention to the earth's other more important needs, such as global warming, or the damaging environment effect of drilling for oil in Alaska. Both of these issues concern our environment, and are far more important than terrorism.

I also think that Bush shouldn't retaliate against the terrorists with violence, but with peace. There is no reason for more people to die. That is the last thing that should happen right now…

Raji Ward, 14

Bethel

The act of terrorism that took place in our country on September 11 created death and despondency and could mean war in our nation and on our soil.

I think the war would most likely be nuclear, which would bring a lot of damage to any country. In a war with human soldiers, the damage would consist mostly of human lives, but a nuclear war would make the political leaders involved able to remain remote from the killing by simply pushing a button and killing thousands.

Terrorism is definitely a dreadful problem right now, but adding to death and destruction by killing more people is not the answer. President Bush and other government officials should work for peace among opponents. Whoever committed this unspeakable act obviously had some sort of reasoning behind the violence: we have clearly done something offensive in the past, something that we must take into consideration while making the decision whether or not to retaliate.

War would bring so much change to the world around us, on an international and local scale.

Hannah Harwood, 14

Tunbridge

Since President Bush has been in office, we have separated ourselves from the rest of the world on many issues. We backed out in the U.N.-sponsored racial meeting in South Africa and refused to join a worldwide group to end global warming.

We have been a very powerful nation for many years but will rapidly lose our influence if we become uninterested in issues that concern many other nations of the world. We have not put enough energy in issues that eventually will affect us.

The tragic and frightening events of September 11th brought the United States off of our throne and made us realize that we can not stay a strong country without the support of countries. Helping America is a great opportunity for many countries to unite against terrorism, which affects many of the world's countries.

To help the United States is not to help one nation stamp out terrorism, but for the world to be rid of it all together. If nations come together to fight for a common goal then maybe more things can be accomplished that will help us all, like the safety and sustainability of the environment. What has happened is nightmarish, but it does not have to end in disaster.

Jody Lowes, 15

Sharon

In some ways, terrorists are like all of us. They live, get sick, cry, laugh, struggle, play, overcome fears, and feel joy, all at least once in their lives. The difference between terrorists and "normal" people is that terrorists believe in something so explicitly that they'll give their life up for that cause. This belief does not turn them purple, they don't only wear pink and yellow polka-dots, and neither do they have "terrorist" tattooed to their foreheads.

Trying to fight terrorism is all jolly and good, but there isn't a poison, or a bomb that kills only terrorists. When waging war, you kill thousands, and when waging war against an unidentifiable enemy, you'll kill millions.

In the new age we need to think new; act new.

Ciel Haviland, 15

South Stafford

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