I feel it is very important at this time of national anguish to reflect on the true meaning of terrorists. Terrorism is not a nationality. It is not a color of skin, an accent or a form of religion.

It is an evil mindset of those who are bent on the destruction of all that others not “of their cause” hold dear. We have seen it in small gangs of young people out to brutalize anyone in their path. We have seen it in Seattle – riots fueled by eco-terrorists. And now we see the results of national terrorism burning in front of us on our TV screen.

In spite of this, as a people we cannot blindly suspect and lash out at those around us who have the misfortune of being from the same part of the world as those who are responsible for this horrible act. Many Americans of Middle Eastern descent have left their native lands to live in our country and had to flee the same acts of terrorism that we now face here. Many more have been born here. These fellow Americans deserve courtesy and understanding from us when a terrorist group associated with countries that they left seeks to destroy the United States, and in the process dishonor those from their own homeland.

I would like to remind everyone of the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. In a famous speech, he stated there would be a day when a man would not be judged on the color of his skin, but by the content of his character. Let that day be today.

Marysville