Additional stresses for New York unfold in politics

when I was writing about this. The next paragraph was going to be about how I felt lucky to be in a country like the United States and how things like terrorism do not happen often or in a large scale like they often do in Ireland and other foreign places. Now that the tragedy of Sept. 11 has happened, Americans learned that we could be hated and killed just for being American. However, I do not think that people in the United States realize that the hate for people that is demonstrated through killing and bombing is going on throughout the world. The more you look at the history of countries like Ireland you realize that it has been going on for what seems like forever. Retaliation only seems to lead to more retaliation and fear among people. I do not have a resolution for what happened in Ireland or for what happened here. I cannot tell people to stop hating each other. I can only hope that people will realize what they are doing to each other and stop on their own.

Muslims and the Taliban

sured him to take it under advisement.

How can Sharpton can see his way through the severity of this crime and pretentiously say that they have the best interests of the city in mind while scaling a political war on the mayor? Giuliani has been working 18-hour days to rebuild his damaged and heartbroken city. These political rabble-rousers who are creating friction during this hellish time should be hurled into the Hudson River.

Joe Holden copy editor

As if terrorism is not enough for the Big Apple, New York City has turned the page to a new chapter of confusion. New Yorkers went to the polls on Tuesday to vote in the city primary. A new mayor will be elected in a little more than a month. Term limits restrict Mayor Rudy Giuliani(R) from seeking a third term. Now is not the time for New York, a city in utter duress, to change its leadership.

Giuliani would need Gov. George Pataki's(D) support to lift the term limits law. The New York TIIDes'Tuesday edition quoted Pataki saying whatever Giuliani's decision, he will support it. He would also need the governor's backing to delay the change of power, a more viable option.

Unfortunately now is the time for foes of Giuliani to attack. The Rev. Al Sharpton, a publicity-craving and misguiding menace, has been quoted by the New York Times saying that he would launch an all-out movement to keep Giuliani from a third term. Sharpton finds the mayor and his "underlings" pursuing another term for political gain. It was reported that Giuliani did not consider the third term a possibility until political leaders of both the city and state pres- of the 2 billion Muslims around the world, one percent of them are radicals. Ninety-nine percent of the radicals live in the Middle East.

Instead of moaning and complaining, Sharpton and his cronies should be answering phones at the Red Cross, sorting donated goods at Ground Zero, and mustering support for the city badly in need of leadership continuity.

Giuliani's current term should be extended. I do not think he should seek another term. The extension would be an excellent middle ground for both adversaries and enemies of the overwhelmingly popular mayor.

New York City, the mayor, and the citizens have more important issues facing them right now. The city has to hold its election when it is emotionally able. For the time being, Giuliani's term should be extended at least until the city is stable enough to seek a new leader. As for Sharpton, every dog will have his day.

Since the tragedy on Sept. 11, Americans have begun to question the loyalty of their fellow citizens. Many American Muslims have been harassed.

Cheryl Wagstaff staff writer

I found myself wondering what was different about the Muslim terrorists who attacked our country. So I asked a few family friends, who are Muslim. about their religion. The first thing that I noticed was how upset they were. Most of them came to America to get away from all of the terrorism and to live a decent life, not to be accused of terrorism.

In the Islam religion women are treated with equality. When they get married, the bride's father gives a dowry and the husband is required to provide everything that his wife desires. It is the man's responsibility to make sure that his wife is satisfied.

Osama bin Laden calls himself and his followers Muslims, but they do not follow the beliefs of Muslims. In fact the Taliban government has a credo on females, which are limitations as to woman's rights. In the Taliban religion and government women have no rights. They are property. They must cover all of their body except for their eyes. The true Muslim women have a choice to cover their heads.

According to the Muslims that I talked to,

What happened in the United States was well planned out, and the fact that the terrorists were right under our noses the entire time puts us on edge. However, many of the Muslims that we come in contact with throughout our daily lives have nothing to do with bin Laden. These people are our friends and neighbors, and most of all they are Americans just like you and me.

Please remember that two wrongs do not make a right. Terrorizing these innocent Americans will not change the tragedy that has struck the U.S.

This is a time when all Americans need to unite and prove to all of the terrorists around the world that no event or person can bring our country down.

The terrorists that we are dealing with today do not make up a majority of the Islam world. In fact many Muslims are furious with these radicals. They feel as though their faith is being blamed for wrongdoing. Bin Laden's followers claim that they believe in the Islam bible, the Koran, but they do not practice anything that it preaches.

The next time your emotions take over, try to think of all the innocent Muslims in America that are being treated as though they are terrorists. Remember that all of them feel the same way you do. They want to feel safe in their country, America.

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