The concerns that I see swirling around (in general, not just in response to your question) are threefold--

* showing respect for the victims in light of this horrible tragedy.
* demonstrating to terrorists that they cannot win the day.
* a deep concern for safety & fear of further attacks.

I think that one can show respect for the victims by engaging in some sort of symbolic/ritual action at the Roundez-vous and elsewhere.... a moment of silence, taking up a collection for disaster relief, floating an empty kayak on the water, giving blood, etc. My heart goes out to the victims of the tragedy -- I have colleagues who have lost parishioners, and my kayaking partner has a student who lost both parents (they were on the 99th floor). A pastor friend of mine on Long Island reports that everyone who was in the tower above where the second plane hit was trapped in the tower when it collapsed.

And, we demonstrate that terrorists cannot defeat us by continuing to live. They win if we shut down or turn ourselves into a police state. They win if we become afraid to live our lives. They win if we tear ourselves apart.

The big risk that we now face as a society is to become paralyzed by fear. Terrorists are an unseen enemy. That's why we feel so vulnerable. That's why there were unprecedented security precautions implemented yesterday and the United States virtually "locked-down," fearing that practically anything and everything might be a target. Collectively, we need to ask ourselves whether this is truly the "first strike" of a war of terror-- or an attack that required the element of surprise, and that now that it is done, it is done. As for me, I'm scheduled to fly from Bozeman, MT to Seattle & back on Friday & Saturday, so I'm hoping that the airlines get back on-line & the backlog of passengers with canceled flights gets sufficiently dealt with by then.

Although this attack has lulled us out of whatever sense of security we may have felt, we need to be careful that we do not let fear overtake our lives. Yes, we need to take precautions to protect ourselves -- but we also need to let reason rule the day, otherwise we will wind up imprisoning ourselves... or lash out & seek reprisals against the innocent whose only crime is to share the same ethnic backround or religious heritage as those whom we suspect-- and thus name-- as our enemy.

In the meanwhile... let us build... and paddle.... and appreciate life -- not only our own, but also our loved ones --- aware of its fragility, but thankful for its existence, taking neither our time nor our relationships for granted.

(The Rev.) Julie Kanarr