Like many other countries, Germany has been affected by last year's events in New York and Washington. Many of us who live in Germany have American friends, and so we are touched by what happened.
A while ago I was watching a report from American television, in which two men were arguing vigorously with each other about how to respond to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. One man urged moderation, so as not to endanger innocent people. The other favored revenge. He demanded retaliation against the terrorists, without regard to loss of life.
But what I found more interesting than their views was the response of a woman who'd been standing close to the angry man when he first began to speak. As he talked, she inched, little by little, away from him. Several others seemed to have the same impulse. It seemed that they didn't want to be seen on television standing near this man. It was obvious, though, that in their silent way, they, too, were giving the issue deep thought.
