Members of the Westbury Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends express our profound sadness at the events of Sept. 11. We join with all who have been deeply affected by this tragedy and our hearts and sympathies go to all those who died and to the loved ones they left behind. In the wake of this event there is shock and sadness and emotions run very high. It is human to want to respond quickly, to find those responsible and ensure that this cannot happen again anywhere.

However, as Friends witnessing to our Peace Testimony of 1660, we believe that retaliating with violence only breeds more violence and ensures that future generations will live in fear, mistrust and suffering. We urge our fellow citizens to remember that history demonstrates that vengeance offers no relief, that retaliation can never guarantee healing, and that to meet violence with violence breeds more rage and more senseless deaths. Only love leads to peace with justice.

We believe it is our duty as a civilized nation to rise above the desire for retaliation and to find a way of dealing with this tragedy that is peaceful and just. We do not ask that we ignore what has happened. Rather we do ask that those who are responsible be held accountable under the rule of law. We ask that our country and the international community act through multilateral auspices of the United Nations rather than encourage the unilateral efforts of our nation, however grievously it has suffered. Further violence and the deaths of more innocent people will not resolve this situation or ensure the safety of future generations. We ask that we lead the world as an example of another way, a better way for all mankind.

We hold in the Light of God's Love our President and all those making the very difficult decisions that have to be made at this time. We plead with them for calm and a non-retaliatory response. We ask them to give us all hope for a future where good will truly prevail over evil, and where violence has no place. Our goal should be to build bridges of love, respect and understanding among all people.

Westbury Monthly Meeting

Of the Religious Society of Friends

Gretchen Haynes, Clerk