AFTER the recent atrocities in the USA, my overwhelming hope was that the American people would finally wake up to the realities of terrorism.

For so long, they have been comfortably distanced from it and because of this, many Americans quite happily support terrorism so long as it isn't in their own back yard.

I know this for a fact as all of my family live in America and I, like many others had to endure the agony of waiting to see if the members of my family who were in one of the buildings had managed to get out.

I thank the Lord that eventually they did get out but one of them at least will be scarred for life by the mortuary duties she then had to undertake. All I have heard since is comments such as: "We will stamp out terrorism."

Terrorism by its very nature, is impossible to stamp out. Terrorists don't play by any rules and it is impossible to track them all down.

Who are terrorists any way?

My dictionary gives many descriptions. Political fanatics ruling by terror is a good one; people who intimidate and coerce by means of terror is another.

The world is full of people and organisations that fit the bill ranging from the Taliban to the people who slashed your angry reader's tyres.

No country can be classed as civilised if it allows terrorism on any level, and while I wholly disagree with knee-jerk reactions, I pray that an international policy and sustained programme of action against terrorism at all levels will make our world a better place to live in.

But we can't sort out international terrorism and ignore our own back yards. Time and time again I read about the lack of action of our police force - my trusty dictionary describes this as a civil force for the preservation of law and order'.

Judging by the comments given by the police, it seems they have no order left to preserve and are powerless to enforce the law or protect citizens.

In my own experience recently, my children have nearly been knocked down by illegal, under age motorcyclists on parks and paths.

Then I had a missile hit my windscreen which had been thrown from the top of the multi-storey car park in Winsford. Sitting waiting for the traffic lights to change I was an innocent sitting duck and I was terrified.

People can be killed by these acts of terror (I refuse to call them pranks and I have since found out that it happens often, so it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt or killed).

The police said they will send someone'. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to any act that terrorises people no matter how small.

All that is needed for evil to take over this world is that good people do nothing.

Lastly, although I was more than a little disappointed to read Anglican of Winsford's letter, Mr Blackburn's reply shows a similar lack of tolerance and knowledge.

No person in their right mind believes that those protestors were Christians in any way shape or form, Christians are just that, people who follow Christ's teachings, the main ones being Love the Lord your God and Love your neighbour as yourself'.

So when these people, who are filled with hatred for their fellow man, profess to be Catholic, Protestant or whatever, please do not make the mistake of believing them.

They may even believe it themselves, but they are fooling themselves as well as people like Mr Blackburn, but they can't fool God. And not giving out your personal details for publication is not a case of being adult or otherwise. There are so many sicko's around who don't think people should be allowed to give their opinions without fear of molestation. Are they terrorists too?

LIZZIE B

Address supplied