... (perhaps inadvertently ) a very important point.

September 11th has been called "the day that changed the world forever" (which, frankly, I think is overstated hyperbole).

It is not, however, the first such day in the history of our country. Perhaps the most recent previous such day was December 7th, 1941 (called by our then President "a date that will live in infamy"). That day plunged the United States into World War II, during which our most bitter enemies were Japan and Germany -- we now have few better friends and allies than those two countries.

Looking at other periods of time in American history, we were enemies with England for more than 40 years ("Oh, Say Can You See ...") -- and now England is unquestionably our strongest international ally.

We were enemies with Mexico in the mid-1800's ("Remember the Alamo") -- now another friend and trading partner.

The two halves of our country fought the most bitter war in our history -- against each other. And came together after to make this the greatest country in the world.

We have fought other wars against countries we now consider friends -- or at least trading partners -- such as Spain and Vietnam.

Even Russia, the "Evil Empire" against which we waged the "Cold War" for more than 40 years ("Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" -- a speech given, ironically, by an American president speaking in Germany to a former ally about a former enemy), has become at least a tentative friend.

Heck, the government of Afghanistan was hostile to us prior to the fall of the Taliban -- and now Hamid Karzai, the Afghani president, is being protected by U.S. troops.

The point is that there is nothing inherently evil about Muslims, Arabs or the countries of the Middle East which now appear to be enemies of the United States. There is no logical reason to believe that it is impossible for us to ultimately achieve the same level of friendship with those people that we now enjoy with other former enemies.

It may not be easy and it may not happen soon, but I believe there is every reason to think that it is possible, can be done and, in fact, will eventually come to pass.

----- jim o\-S