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At least 2,000 people, including New York's mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, and the secretary general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, packed St Patrick's Cathedral in New York, for a mass to remember all those who were killed September 11. Hundreds more, unable to get into the cathedral, gathered outside listening to the service over loudspeakers.

"I am sure that we will seek justice in this tragedy as citizens of a nation under God in which hatred and desires for revenge must never have a part," Cardinal Edward Egan of New York said in his sermon.

Interposed with displays of sorrow in recent days were calls for retaliation, and talk of war was heavy in the air.

"War has been waged against us by stealth and deceit and murder," President George W. Bush said on September 14 during the national day of prayer service at Washington National Cathedral. "This nation is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger.

"This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others. It will end in a way and at an hour of our choosing."

The Washington service was marked by a solemnity unmatched in recent U.S. history. Billy Graham, 83 years old and frail from Parkinson's Disease, said the destruction of the World Trade Center did not destroy what he called the nation's spiritual foundation.

"Yes, our nation has been attacked, buildings destroyed, lives lost," Graham said, speaking to an audience that included every living former U.S. president except the ailing Ronald Reagan. "But now we have a choice: whether to implode and disintegrate emotionally and spiritually as a people and a nation or whether we choose to become stronger through all of this struggle to rebuild on a solid foundation. And I believe that we're in the process of starting to rebuild on that foundation. That foundation is our trust in God."

Graham's presence added a sense of continuity to the national religious ritual. Often called "America's pastor," Graham has been a well-known spiritual figure for half-a-century and has served as an unofficial spiritual adviser to many presidents.

But the Washington service also reflected the growing religious diversity in the United States. In addition to Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Jewish clergy, a Muslim cleric also participated. "Those that lay the plots of evil, for them is a penalty terrible," said Imam Muzammil H. Siddiqi of the Islamic Society of North America. "The plotting of such will not abide."

The symbolism of a Muslim cleric at the cathedral was not lost on Muslim Americans, who said they appreciated the honor, as well as statements condemning violence against Muslims made by President Bush, Mayor Giuliani and Cardinal Egan, among others.

But they were still deeply concerned about acts of violence and harassment against Muslims and non-whites that were being reported throughout the United States.

"This attack was aimed at all Americans without exception and the Arab-American community shares in every bit of the heartache and anguish that all Americans are enduring," said the New York-based Arab-American Family Support Center in a statement condemning the attacks in New York and Washington D.C.

"No matter who was responsible for this terrible crime, which no cause or ideology could possibly justify, Arab-Americans are no less moved, no less angry and no less outraged than our fellow Americans."

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September (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45