Please allow me to write one more time about this fateful day before I put it to rest.September 11, 2001 has already gone down in American history as the day this nation suffered the greatest loss of its citizens, about 3,000 lives, in a single day. It was unprecedented. The saddest part is that those who lost their lives were ordinary people going about their business, making a living just like you and me and people around the world.

There are hundred of in-depth- analyses and pure speculations published and broadcast on the attacks by famed sociologists, psychologists, criminologists and so-called experts in every field imaginable. Everyone has been trying to get to the bottom of it. The WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, HOW and WHO slowly emerged. We now know who is the mastermind, the leader of this group of criminals (terrorists), planners, executioners and collaborators.

It is a big comfort to know that the leader, Osama bin Laden, is on the run for his life, hiding like an animal. His buddy, the founder of Taliban and ex-president of Afghanistan is also on the run, hiding like an animal, too. The rest of terrorists since then have been killed or captured or constantly on the run like the big boss. American people demand justice and justice is being served. We still have a long way to go. But we will fight to the end. We are united to fight this war against terror, no matter how long it takes.

Folks, you might want to know that the founder of Taliban and ex-president of Afghanistan was not serious about following the rules that he invented and harshly enforced on his own people. He was living in extravaganza in his palace under heavy protection of personal bodyguards (perhaps he knew that he was not well liked by his own people). Audaciously, he also had a barn with concrete floor and running water for his cows while the majority of his own people struggle daily to get water, not to mention running water in their houses. The ex-president treated his cows far better than he treated his own people.

Bottom line: he is a typical cult leader and Alpha male who does not practice what he preaches. Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Queda (terrorists), proudly wore a camouflaged jacket on his now world famous videotape (broadcast around the world). The jacket was American, made for U.S. Armed Forces. I have to admit that no matter what we think or say about him, the man has good pair of eyes and know what is good for him. Are there lessons to be learned from these infamous attacks? And can we, Americans and the rest of civilized world, prevent them from happening in the future?

Sadly, there are over 60 nations that also lost their citizens at WTC. Several lessons have been learned and put to use. With outpouring sympathy and full cooperation from international community, we have systematically installed preventive measures that also include being on the offensive: preemptive strike, hit them first, hit them hard. Keep them on the run all the times. No let down and not allow them to regroup. Collectively, we hit them where they hurt most: money.

We have been seizing, tracking and monitoring financial transactions of suspicious groups throughout the civilized world. It is a new ball game. Free for all and no more mister nice guy. The war against terror is going well according to plan. Also, we have identified and reevaluated whom we can call friends, allies and enemies (we found that 15 of the terrorists were citizens of one of our strongest allies in the Middle East. It might have been a coincidence and that government has no knowledge of their involvement. We have to be fair and patient while the investigation is still under way).

Honestly, I believe that there will be no more elaborate attacks like 9/11. It is very hard to plan, coordinate, finance and execute a grand scale and spectacular attack while you are on the run. The role has been reversed. The hunter is the hunted.

The 9/11 attacks are the prime example of hate crime based on religion, ways of life and race. The U.S.A. is a Christian nation, representing the West, with military might and economic power that every move it makes can have positive or negative impact around the world. Being the only superpower in the world also has a drawback. It is constantly under close scrutiny. And if you look hard enough you will always find some thing wrong with it. Never mind that it also has the good, bad and ugly side, like the rest of the world.

To some, it is easy to point the finger at the U.S.A. and blame it for everything goes wrong. All I want to tell you is this: Everything about our products, whether it is our culture itself, technology, ideas and consumer goods, is hinged on the law of Supply and Demand. Pick and choose what you want.

A month ago I had a chance to see a special show on Cable News Network (CNN) about September 11, 2001. The show consisted of real life coverage of the horror in progress, captured on camera, tape and camcorder by several eyewitnesses. It was a revisit to the worst nightmare in our nation's history. I, again, saw the two planes plowing into the Twin Towers of World Trade Center. I saw black cloud of dust and smoke engulfing people and everything in its way. I saw courageous firefighters and rescue workers rushing in the Twin Towers with the knowledge that death might be awaiting them. I saw ordinary people helping others out.

And then for the first time, I saw some thing that I would never forget the rest of my life. People were jumping off the towers to meet a less painful death. They looked like small debris or little birds plunging down to earth. They knew that they would be splashed like eggs once they hit the ground. And yet they jumped to their death. Several eyewitnesses shakily described the sound of the body hitting the ground as a "POP". Pop, pop, pop, pop and it kept coming for a long time.

At first, it was a total shock and disbelief. The impact of this incredible sight was clearly illustrated through eyewitnesses' body language. Their eyes were wide open with absolute horror beyond imagination. Their bodies started to tremble. Slowly the tear started to roll down their faces. They wiped the tear away and covered their mouths with shaky hands. Some of them turned away and some bent down and vomited. Folks, those people were our fellow human beings. They were a father, mother, daughter, son, brother, sister, husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend and friend, just like you and me.

It has always been easier to cause harm to strangers or outsiders than to our families, friends and fellow worshippers. We can be callous and have no sympathy or feeling for them. We tend to look upon strangers or outsiders with suspicion and contempt. Historically, it takes courage to reach out and try to understand them. And that is why we invented diplomacy, a universally accepted rules of engagement to deal with so called outsiders.

We all know that all religions in the world share common ground when it comes down to outsiders: be kind to them. Whether we like it or not, religion is the most powerful and influential force in our lives. It comes with the rules and reinforcement measures that we have to go by, step out of bound and you are in trouble. It is supposed to bring peace, harmony and tolerance but throughout history it has been the cause of wars and destruction. It would be nice if the leadership of any religion that keeps producing fanatics reevaluate the methods of the teaching of its faith. It should be very critical of any fanatical act and quickly puts a stop to it. Some time it takes an extraordinary courage to stand up and do what is right, especially with your own people. Not many of us can do it. And that is why we have these ongoing hate crimes and cycle of violence.

Folks, have you ever stopped and wondered why our beloved religion, Catholic, never blossomed in Thailand the way it should? I bet the answer is a solid YES from all of you. You are minority and some time an outcast in your homeland. And the world superpowers of colonization period such as France, England and Spain did not make it easier for you, too. First they colonized then shoved their religion down your throats and did whatever they wanted. They forever changed the world and left a bad taste in everybody's mouth. Your religion is theirs, too. That is why you are looked upon with suspicion and resentment.

You have to constantly prove yourselves to your country that you are good and decent human beings like the rest of your fellow citizens. Some time you are under attack physically or spiritually. It is a constant source of frustration that just would not go away. Some time you want to scream and pull your hair out trying to make the point. Folks, that is how the majority of decent American people and I feel. We want to tell the rest of the world that we, Americans, are good, decent and honest to God, too.

Finally, here is the million-dollar question. Will there be peace on earth? The answer is No. Or not any time soon. But we can make the world a better place to live if we, from the leadership positions all the way down to ordinary people, pitch in and be a good worshipper of our faith, not just giving lip service to it.