Centennial Park will be reopening this morning with a memorial service for

the victims of Saturday’s bomb. One woman was killed in the blast, a

Turkish journalist died on his way to cover the story and 111 people were

injured.

I am sure that the world will be not only mourning for the deaths of Alice

Hawthorne and Melih Uzunyol, but also sympathizing for the victims injured

by the blast. At press time, 17 individuals remain hospitalized in serious

condition.

My heart also goes out to the Atlanta organizers for the Olympics. These

people spent years preparing for the Games, and trying to ensure the safety

of all persons involved with this international symbol for peaceful world

competition. I truly hope they do not blame themselves for the actions of a

perverse and violent individual.

While I was watching coverage of the explosion around 2 a.m. Saturday one

of the journalists on the scene interviewed an Irish vendor who came to

America several years ago to escape the violence of Northern Ireland. The

man said he knew the blast was a bomb and he was very disappointed that an

act of terrorism could reach into America.

As with the bombing of the World Trade Center and the federal building in

Oklahoma City, terrorists (whether international or domestic) have again

struck our lives.

Obviously as individuals we cannot combat unknown terrorists who cowardly

skulk into areas with malicious intentions. However, we can change our own

lives. We can smile as we pass people on campus; we can reach out to open a

door for someone whose arms are full of books; we can lend a sympathetic

ear to a friend. We can pause for a moment to remember those innocent

people killed and injured by all acts of terrorism, and act as the decent

people that make up this university.