Don`t Let Terrorism Claim More Victims, by Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE

"A terrorist wins if his or her actions cause us to change our behavior." A commentator on Sept., 11, 2001 ABC News.

And "they" are winning across all fronts as we cancel meetings, hunker down, restrict access, and hide behind all the real and imagined fears of a nation under attack. We have become shell-shocked because that which we once thought was invincible has been devastated. But not devastated by some form of new technology but rather the cunning of the human mind.

This is the very mind that now we must get under control or else we stand to suffer extended damage. I am not advocating glib ignorance of security but rather a response that is both logical and courageous. If we, as individuals and organizations, do not proceed with the marching orders of commerce, of life, of production, then we might very well find businesses that cannot fill orders, belts being tightened even more, offshore competitors finding our customers, and employees sitting in shock without something positive and productive to do.

When the great famine claimed thousands of lives, international rescue teams who worked in the drought-stricken sub Sahara found that what kept people alive-despite the smell of death--- was a spirit of resilience and hope. Might we take a lesson from them.

The deaths of so many have brought us closer as a nation. Let us literally join within our companies and move forward, valuing the work and the labor of our hands and mind. We must not let violence take residual victims.

At the very least, now is the time to gather together, to talk not only about what happened, but what we now know is of greatest value. We must talk about what we can do to build those human connections that allow us to live and work together in our community, our nation and ultimately, our globe.

And then, it`s time to get back to business.