I opened my email the other day and read a letter from a friend in Japan. I have also received emails from Russia and other places since the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon last Tuesday morning. The letters are similar, more or less stating disbelief that murder could occur on such a massive scale, hope that my family and friends are well and offers of condolences for the loss of life my countrymen have suffered. The outpouring of love I have personally seen across the globe is amazing.

I, for one, felt somewhat guilty last Tuesday evening as I sat down for supper at my house here in Sparta. It seemed almost surreal that I could be eating supper and preparing to go to bed while thousands were dead and dying just to the north.

I had always thought the Pentagon and other important Capitol buildings were protected by some sort of secret missile system that would annihilate anything that came too close. That, obviously, was not the case.

Perhaps just realizing that we are vulnerable to an attack is pretty amazing in itself. Other than Pearl Harbor, I would have never thought I would live to see the day that American civilians were killed on our soil in modern history. But it happened.

I thought of something while listening to these news programs, which I am sure others have been doing as well. What if one of those planes had been taken from Charlotte's Douglas International Airport? The fight for control of the plane could have taken place over North Carolina and the ensuing crash could have even happened here. Put in that perspective, it really makes you wonder, doesn't it? What would have happened if that fourth jet that crashed near Somerset, Penn. had come down in someone's Christmas tree farm, or even in Sparta, right here in Alleghany County? It is a sobering thought.

You know, we live in perilous times. There are enough hate groups right here in America to make you wonder how all that hate can continue to breed and grow like a festering wound. In areas like Palestine and other parts of the Middle East, it is nothing unusual. That area of the globe has been a battleground since history was first recorded. Only the methods of war have changed, not the nature of the region.

As for our own country, one thing I feel is that this tragedy has served to pull us all closer together into a more communal spirit.

It is good to see that we, as Americans, can show more to the world than our hatred. We can offer our prayers for our fallen comrades, we can pray for peace and love all over the world and we can even pray for those who would do such a thing in the name of religion. At the same time, we can also look to take action against anyone who would dare attack us in our own country and try to round up possible accomplices even here on our own soil. It definitely is a time of confusing contradictions. I must admit that the first reports filled me with a quiet anger that has yet to be quenched. The thoughts of assaults on anyone who could be held accountable came to mind with some glee. Thank God that I am not in control of our government and that those who are have more knowledge, restraint and ability than I do. In this case, I feel that our country will not be safe until we have worked to eliminate these threats to our sovereign nation.

However, I hope this time of prayer and a return to our faith is not a short-lived phenomenon. Now, more than ever, we will need God's guidance, love and direction in the troubling times ahead. It seemed right to see President Bush and other members of Congress engage in prayer this past week. Perhaps the ACLU will have a new opportunity for lawsuits now.

On other fronts, as security measures continue, I hope our basic freedoms as Americans are not affected by this tragedy. While security is needed, we cannot let these attacks change our way of life. I feel sure that we can overcome these purveyors of evil without giving up the freedom so many have died to uphold. I think it's all part of a greater plan that we just don't have the capacity to fully understand. Brighter days are ahead and our time in the sun is not over. Perhaps it is only beginning.

Get more tongue in cheek commentary this week's issue of the Alleghany News!

Email: allnews@ls.net