SNET DSL: Features : Survey : State of Mind

Understandably, many people are reassessing their opinions of air travel safety in the wake of the events of September 11. But 59 percent of respondents to this weeks survey say either that "we can't be ruled by fear" or that flying is "even safer now."

The results:

How have the events of Sept. 11 and afterward affected your personal state of mind?

"Now that Americans have experienced terrorism first hand they will realise what it has been like for the people of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the last 30-plus years. Hopefully they will stop and think very carefully before they give their U.S. dollars to the IRA to further their reign of terrorism on innocent people just like those in New York and Washington, D.C." Jane, Litchfield

"How about changed? I feel as though I am a changed person, so much less seems to bother me personally. I tend to have no more road rage, I feel as though the little things that used to bother me are not bothering me at all anymore. What a sad way to have a wake up call for the important things in life." Jennifer, Naugatuck

"The one thing that got me was something my son said, he's in the Air Force and stands up for our country. He called the other night and said that he was really upset because of al the people that were killed and said that the people in this country should have stood up for our flag way before this happened. People to listen, I feel the Lord has been talking for a long time and nobody is listening. 'Well people, wake up and start talking to Him'. I wonder how many people even know the Pledge of Allegiance? When I was in school we said this everyday and the 'Our Father' too, time to go back to this I think. Thank you and God Bless America" J.B., Torrington

"I am all of the above. I try not to let this all interfere with everyday life but it does. Today I was at a fair, and when the thunder boomed from out of nowhere, everyone's heart stopped for a moment, and then we were relieved it was thunder. It sounded like an explosion. Would we have thought like that September 11th? Probably not. You try to have life go on as usual, but will it ever?" L.J.N., East Haddam

"How could 12 percent not be affected...are they dead?" C.K., New Hartford

"Emotions are like oceans. If the tide rides too high there is sure to be irreversible damage." Priscilla, Glenville

"I am saddened that we are considering war against a population that already has many problems. There must be another way because revenge isn't the answer. The women of Afghanistan and the children should not be punished for this. Now we know what it is to see war on this land, it's easy to command a troop to have war in another country, it's not easy anylonger. We are all connected to the family of man, and what we do to ourselves is what we do to the earth." J.T.F., Woodbury

"It hurts a lot to be right. When I heard about the first plane, I knew instantly what was going on. I had been expecting it since the first bombing of the Trade Center. I knew that our patchwork foreign policy was going to come home to roost, and that would probably be the place.

"Large scale terrorism was the only result I could see from the indescriminate arming of crackpot revolutionaries and zealots. I mourn for the families that were devastated by that atrocity. I also mourn for the people caught in the backlash that is sure to come. We must remember that a small group of zealots and opportunists did that. We should be polite and kind to all people who came from abroad to make lives here, regardless of ancestry or religious belief. Remember: there were over 300 Moslems in those buildings when the planes hit them. Their families are hurting too!

"Remember too, that the people of Afghanistan didn't cause this to happen. They have enough trouble without picking fights with us. When our troops go in there, I hope it is with care and respect. It should be a surgical procedure- only to get Osama, his lieutenants, and what people of the Taliban that are sympathetic to them and the idea of a Jihad.

"Remember, we are all worshiping the same Deity, albeit using different Names. That Deity loves us all. We must respect that. As we bring these people to face the consequenses of their actions, we should paper the walls of their cells with pictures of the dead, and leave the lights on, so they must look at them all the time.We must keep them alive for as long as possible, so that they can see the evil that they have wrought, and the families of the victims can come to a closure, and find forgiveness, by giving forgiveness. To forgive a monstrous evil, is the only way to live with it. Otherwise the anger and pain will take on a life of its own, and dominate all our lives. Killing will only cause more death. Where is the good in that. Too many people have died already. Too many families are suffering already. We can be bigger than that. We must, or too many more people will die in the future, and more generations will have to live with the hate and pain. We are all brothers and sisters. the planet is getting too small to pretend otherwise!" Jon, Glastonbury

"I feel very much saddened and at the same time very angry. I ask myself over and over, how could this have happened and can something like this happen again. I am also very scared for myself as well as my family." Debbie, Oneco

"|It is time for America to stop this funk were in. We are letting the Bin Ladens of the world win. Stop feeling sad and depressed and start living again. That is how we will honor the dead. Buy stock, go shopping spend money! Do not let these cowards win! Our battlefield here in the United States is a strong economy. SPEND MONEY NOW!" Bill, Norwalk