In that short period of time we have united in the demand not only that the perpetrators be brought to justice, but also that terrorism around the world be eradicated.

But we are told, and we understand, that both justice and a triumph over terrorism will take time.

So we wait. We wait for the military, for law enforcement, for our government and for the governments of the world to provide the solutions, the actions. We wait because we think we can do nothing elsethat individually we can do nothing in this battle but watch from the sidelines.

But we can and must contribute. And we may actually be the key to it all.

Terrorism is not about the institutionsnot the military, not law enforcement, not governments. It is about the peopleyou and Iwho feel the terror. It is about controlling our collective willshoping to force us through fear to sacrifice our ideals, our minds, for security.

Yes, our institutions will catch and punish the terrorists responsible for the attacks on the Trade Center and the Pentagon. They may even eradicate all known terrorist groups. But can they eradicate the idea behind terrorism? Can they prevent new groups from forming? I think not.

So how can we defeat terrorism for all times? We just determine here and now that we, all of us together, will not let them win. We go about our lives, our businesses, our pleasures, without letting them win. We go where we want, when we want, how we want. We support the leaders we want, the governments of the world we want. We support liberty and freedom everywhere in the world.

Yes, we may worry somewhere deep in our consciousness, but we never let them know, we never give in to the terror. We make terrorism, and its future, pointless.

It has been just a week since the horrific acts of terror in New York and Washington. We still mourn and will certainly never forget those events. But our institutions need our help. Make or take that sales call. Go to that convention or trade show. Take that business trip. Go on that vacation. Make your personal and business decisions. Do whatever you would be doing were it not for the realities of Sept. 11, 2001. Do it with the acknowledgment and respect of the victims and rescue workersBut Do It.

Dont let the terrorists win.

Garry Baumgartner

Reproduced from National Underwriter Property & Casualty/Risk & Benefits Management Edition, September 21, 2001. Copyright 2001 by The National Underwriter Company in the serial publication. All rights reserved.Copyright in this article as an independent work may be held by the author.

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