To all our friends in the United States of America.

Sept.14, 2001

Dear Friends,

You should all be observing today, Friday, 14th Sept.2001, as "a Day of Prayer and Remembrance", as declared by your President. We too join you in solidarity.

Only this May we, our family with our friends Bob and Jo, walked under the towering buildings of the World Trade Center and through the Wall Street and we can therefore visualize the intensity of the catastrophe that has come upon the people working/living/visiting in that area. We remember those innocent lives, which were laid on the altar of human hatred and hostility and pray that they find eternal peace with the living one, the God of life. We pray for all the injured ones that the healing hand of God touch them and grant them speedy recovery. We uphold in our prayers all those who have lost their loved ones in this great tragedy: "As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you", says God (Isaiah 66:13).

Your prompt responses calling for restraint, self-examination and "recommitment to our highest ideals" on the part of the people of America allay the fear of many of us, the fear of the sacrifice of many more innocent lives in other parts of the world as a result of possible measures of revenge and reprisal. One of the title articles by Raj Mohan in our leading daily "the Hindu" (13th Sept.2001) bears the caption "Towards a global war against Terrorism" and in this no right thinking person can have a second opinion. We all are in solidarity with you, the people of America, in fighting against terrorism, overt as well as covert. Our resolve to fight against terrorism should be guided by our deeper commitment to God and to humanity as! ! ! a whole. The root causes for the mistrust, hatred and hostility among human communities that breed terrorism should be identified, analyzed and adequately dealt with rationally and spiritually. Our prayers go with you, especially with your President and decision makers, as you "walk through the valley of the shadow of death". It is our hope that the USA, the leading nation of the civilized world, will show to the rest of the world how one should deal with such a moment of grave tragedy.

The Center for Interfaith Relations, Studies and Joint Action (CIRSJA) of the Peace Trust in Kanyakumari, India has taken up "Combating Terrorism" as a subject for in-depth study, and seminars are being planned in Chennai (Madras), Bangalore and Kanyakumari. When we come together for these seminars, we will be remembering you, the people of America, especially, the victims of this tragedy, in a special way.

Yours in Christ

Gnana Robinson,
Director,
Center for Interfaith Relations, Studies and Joint Action (CIRSJA),
Peace Trust, High Ground,
Kanyakumari,
S.India.