We conquer hate with forgiveness, not vengeance

Relatives of 9/11 victims are testifying for the defense in the Zacarias Moussaoui conspiracy trial. It is obvious, and has been so testified by psychiatric experts, that Moussaoui is delusional and psychotic, the product of years of childhood abuse. Of course, that won't stop the Bush White House and Abu Ghraib Gonzales from gaining the death penalty: they need a body to stand in for Bin Laden and all the other terrorists they've been incapable of capturing. But the relatives of the victims understand that vengeance heals nothing.

Anthony Aversano lost his father:

"How I fight the terror in me is to live my life well," he told the jury. "If I
let myself succumb to the fear, that will lead to fear and anger and hatred," he
said.

Donald Bane lost his son:

"Every day we miss him," he said. "To do things that promote a celebration of
life, whether a colt, or Keep The Music Going, or people talking to each other
and trying to solve their problems without killing each other, that's what I
think our lives ought to be about," Bane said.

Marilynn Rosenthal lost her son:

"We're not going to get caught up in a whirlpool of frustration and sadness and
anger," she said.

Forgiveness heals. Vengeance destroys.