(Hypertension. 2001;38:1244.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.
Editorials |
Humanism Versus Terrorism
On September 11, 2001, a series of fiendish and inhumane events emerged from the skies of New York; Washington, DC; and Pennsylvania. Three commercial aircraft, commandeered and hijacked by terrorists, were driven at high speed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center of New York, into the Pentagon, and into the ground of Pennsylvania, killing thousands of victims and devastating the lives of tens of thousands of their families, friends, work associates, and citizens of other nations.
Within moments, human compassion and unbridled heroism became evident by fellow citizens, police and firemen, and governments. The victims, not only American citizens but also nationals from dozens of countries, stimulated cords of resonance by human relief agencies and national volunteers, as well as formal governmental organizations from single nations, the United Nations, and NATO.
In no smaller an expression of human solidarity, we, too, have been privileged to share in this touching outpouring of sympathy. We have received, in our editorial offices, numbers of e-mails, facsimiles, letters, and telephone calls from many of our professional colleagues and friends from the 4 corners of the earth, expressing their mutual concern and humane compassion.
In an accompanying editorial, we have expressed our strong feelings for our fellow workers in the hypertension community (or family). We certainly have valued our close relationships with you over these 8 years. Without any "Pollyannaish" connotation, these closing words of our years of work together have been punctuated so dramatically by your warm and caring expressions. In