says it’s not enough simply to mourn. I wish it were otherwise, but I agree with him entirely on this point. We are in the midst of a period of extreme danger, and thinking, feeling people must gather up the strength to fight all forces who would use this for their shallow, fundamentalist, outrageous political goals.

Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson have already blamed this on gays and lesbians and a general moral lassitude in the US (and presumably in the West in general). This is absolutely wrong, and although we may hurt, we cannot just let objectionable, fundamentalist views such as that to slide without remark.

Many people (Jish being but one) are reporting mistreatment of people who are or are taken to be Arabs. This is unconscionable, and if you’re a thinking person, you know it’s unacceptable. Do something about it, if you are a witness to such behaviour.

As we speak, politicians are meeting to discuss serious curbs on speech that are certainly unwise and arguably unconstitutional. Like the Son of Star Wars in the military arena, laws such as this would do little do deal with any security problems leading up to a tragedy such as the one this week – and yet, liberty will likely come under attack though little, if any, evidence has been or will be put forward to justify these laws.

It is a time to mourn and grieve. It is also a time to speak out, and to act.