What were your first thoughts on hearing the news of the events on 11th September? I'd just finished an exam, and on handing in my paper was told not to worry about the outcome because World War III was about to start BEFORE being told what had happened.

My immediate reaction was one of disbelief and horror that something taken for granted in our society could be violated so horrifically, and more importantly, so easily, replaced quickly by trying to imagine the horror that those affected were going through, followed simultaneously by an overwhelming desire to rush home and be with my family, to feel their love, warmth and arguments around me.

My mind started playing all sorts of tricks, praying the Americans wouldn't grab the bull by the horns and fight back, which they didn't immediately - wondering what sort of existence we would have if World War III broke out, and that fear still lingers.

As numerous people have pointed out, the world has been dogged by terrorism for as long as anyone can remember, the IRA and various other groups in Northern Ireland, The Basque Separatists in Spain (a bomb exploded outside a hotel in Salou a few weeks after we returned from our holiday), of a plane being blown up over Scotland, of numerous hijackings in the 1980's, bombings in London particularly during the late 70's and 80's - I do not claim to be an expert in Terrorism, or world situations and thus maybe I shouldn't really be writing here - but I do know a couple of things I have learned during the last 6 weeks:

a) There are people in this world who do not even deserve the label EVIL

b) The World shut their eyes to what was going on in Afghanistan because it suited them

c) That many 'fanatically led' Muslim countries, 30 years ago were far more advanced in terms of rights and education of women than the UK - a lot of people don't recognise this, but it is true

d) Women g
et executed in Afghanistan for speaking in public, for walking without a man, for not wearing their garment (burqa) correctly, they are not allowed to work, or receive medical care from a male doctor - as female doctors are prohibited, a lot of women die young and in childbirth.

e) I have heard groups calling for talk and peaceful resolution to this situation, I don't think this can happen - Do You?

WHY DO I THINK THIS?
Because every day our TV screens are blasted with figures of support for Bin Laden and his organisation, surprisingly so (or not as the case may be), frequently by those far removed from this particular situation -

WHY? Have they got a genuine reason for their grievance? - Did America leave themselves wide open for this attack?

I have learnt that Britain and America removed the people from Palestine in 1948 so that the Jews could have a homeland, I know little about this, history was not my subject, but we hear comments every day about the level of refugees moving illegally into Britain and the possible impact this is having on society, How would you feel if you were moved out so that people from elsewhere could move in?

Talking is not sorting the problem out in Northern Ireland, in Israel, in Algeria, In Bosnia to name a few - neither is fighting, bombing, sanctions, so please someone tell me the answer? I have just been questioned on my ignorance 'that talking has achieved nothing in Northern Ireland'. At the beginning of this op, I openly questioned by ignorance on such matters, I don't live in Northern Ireland, I have never been there, but when children cannot walk to school for fear of their own safety, when people still die needlessly, if thats called achieving something, then I don't see it. I hope peace does return to Northern Ireland through whatever means, as I do for the rest of the warring world.

Even if the current decommissioning in Northern Ireland is suc
cessful, it will take a long time for the bitterness and fear to leave, I truly hope it does, but at the moment, when children have to walk the streets in fear anywhere in the world, that is not peace.

Night after night I listen to TV programmes, Panorama from Pakistan and New-York simultaneously - many Pakistani people believe the Americans are wrong - many Americans visa versa - my friend in America (a Brit) is not complementary about the situation, and was quite persecutory towards me when I told him that many of the people in Afghanistan don't want war (and remember these people can live in situations which most of us in our materialistic worlds could not even begin to contemplate) they just want a roof over their heads to call home, safety, schooling and laughter for children and medical care, - basic needs which Maslow defines as the most fundamental and basic requirements for mere existence and claims that none of us can even begin to aspire to better things until we have these - aren't these the most basic of human rights?

But the people of Afghanistan have not been allowed them because of the Taliban, the same government that the world allowed to get on with their barbaric regime as long as it wasn't causing them any trouble.

These minority people, and they are the minority, are not confined to Muslim or Catholic, Protestant, Jews, Hindis, Sheikhs, but are waving a banner in a desire to cause mayhem and fear in society - headbangers, fanatics, crusaders with a cause will always cause mayhem in society - sometimes peacefully (I still remember Greenham Common), others with Acts of Terrorism, many of them too horrific to even contemplate.

I cannot give an answer to where the world goes from here, any more than I think any other person can - talking hasn't solved the problem, ignoring it hasn't, bombing hasn't, more often than not, peace keeping forces don't - are there any solutions left for wo
rld peace?

I loathed the thought when the Americans and British started bombing Afghanistan, no-one has won a war in this country since Alexander the Great so I am told, so what makes this different?

But after witnessing and reading the practices that go on inside that country, I hope something is achieved to allow people to return to their villages, and start rebuilding their lives in some modicum of decency and peace, whatever religion they follow, the question is where do we turn next?

For me, the strongest force/hope has to be the more tolerant governments of the world uniting not just during this period of extreme turbulence, but always and learning to overcome Evil through Good.

The downside to this is that whether we like it or not, many many more innocent people of all nationalities and religions will die before this is achieved - but and this is a big BUT, people have to believe that this is possible to continue to give hope to the future of both the earth and mankind.

SUE
===================
THOUGHT:
For anyone who doesn't know how women are treated in Afghanistan - visit this web-site and read it for yourself - I wasn't close enough to pick my friend up from the floor in the US when he received it.

http://www.nowfoundation.org/global/taliban.ht ml