The question now is what should our response be? There have been cries for bloody vengeance, some for reasoned justice, some for inbetween, and a lot of people who don't know exactly. I'm thinking more of numbers. Even if it's proven to be Osama bin Laden and his group (which it seems to be more and more as evidence is uncovered), and even if you somehow capture him and all his cohorts, that's going to be say a couple of hundred people. Compared with over 4500 dead.

No, I don't think that's enough. Our response should be overwhelming and comprehensive. Don't just go after the terrorist group responsible for Tuesday's attacks. Go after any terrorist group that has ever targetted US Citizens and property. Declare war on every country that has harbored those terrorist groups. Send a clear message: we're grouping all of you together and holding you all responsible for the actions of any of your members. Bomb them to oblivion and keep doing it every year on September 11.

That would be my response. No trying to be diplomatic, no trying to be fair and just, just plain and simple war. But I'm not the one deciding this, that is thankfully the job of the President and Congress. Some may say it's a bit hypocritical to be that unrestrained when we tell other countries and people to show restraint in the same situation. But really, you can't expect people to be rational and civilized when you touch their kids, and that's what it amounts to: you molested my child, you're going to die.

People have put up a lot of flags, and there are candlelight vigils and turning your lights on your car and other ways to show your support. Fine and dandy, but meaningless to me. Not that I think it's not a good idea, but I'm not really the kind of person who does those kinds of things. Donate money to Red Cross, donate blood, donate time -- that is more appropriate in my mind. Blood is a bit harder right now since I'm on the West Coast and not that many planes are flying yet. But money is easy.

I've heard some people express their fear. NFL players didn't want to use planes this week, so the NFL won't play games this week. People interviewed on the news also express fears of more violence. But most people are not afraid. We realize that, although a horrible tragedy, 5000 people is nothing compared to the population of the US. I'm not going to live in fear when I have bigger and more pressing worries, like that truck that cuts you off without signaling. We can't live in fear and we can't become timid. As I wrote yesterday, don't let others dictate your actions through violence.

Speaking of sports, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and all Division I-A college football games have been suspended until Monday. Most cite the need to respect the dead and that it would not be appropriate to play a game when rescue work is still underway. My view is that the games should go on. They are a part of our lives, a showy and overt part. You have to show the country and the world that we will go on, that we're not cowering in fear. I know I keep harping on it, but I really believe it. We have to get on with our lives, because that's the best way to thumb our noses at the terrorists.

There is also a feeling from some Muslims, especially in the Middle East, that we in the US get what we deserve. We support Israel and we support so many things that to them seem terrorist acts. Trying to drown their culture and religion with our own. Basically destroying their way of live. They live in fear, so what happened to the World Trade Center is only a small part of what they go through. Heck, there are people in the US who feel that way too.

I'm not too sure how to respond to that. We do have freedoms and rights that protect those people who are vocally against our policies. We want everyone to have those same freedoms and rights. If you have "the one true way", then certainly you have nothing to fear from giving your people freedom to choose what they think is best for them. We don't go in guns blazing, unless it is to help others who are oppressed with violence. As has been pointed out before, we are the first nation to help others, we are gracious to our defeated opponents, and we still do these things even when people hate us.

And we will keep trying to make the world a better place. For all our faults and hubris, we do a better job than any other country. I know that won't change, and I'm proud to be part of that.