Instead of resorting to military retaliation, an angry American government and society, and its allies, should refrain from being blinded by revenge and pre-existing agendas merely awaiting the proper catalyst to set them in motion.

They must support the rule of international law and the right to a fair trial in the place of more bloodshed.

Officials in power are your elected representatives; you put them with your individual electoral activity. And if you did not vote, well you must face the repercussions. For those who did vote, you either trust your officials to make decisions for you, or you must take on the responsibility of guiding them.

Write an article. Attend a meeting. Oceans consist of single waves.

An important rule Muslims should remember in their campaign is: never undermine a small effort. Send an e-mail or letter to your local or state representative. As Americans, it is your responsibility to question actions taken in your name and the name of your country.

Do not hesitate to mail a Representative who spoke inappropriately about Islam, attacked Islamic values or distorted the image of the Islamic message.

All these means of communications whether by the Internet, ordinary mail, phone, fax or through grassroots activities, are effective and will result in change.

Muslims should also use legal means available to them to file cases against public figures or public bodies that offend Muslims and undermine the Islamic presence in the West. Only by building an active front will others think twice before spreading incorrect information that contributed to hatred and racism and support for a war that will only kill more innocent civilians.

All legal means should also be used to oppose war: peaceful marches, collective prayers and petitions to different diplomatic and international bodies. The Constitution grants you the right to free speech and assembly…use it before it too becomes just another civil liberties casualty.

Muslims, and those of other faiths, dedicated to justice and not revenge, should work for reconciliation and just means of targeting terrorism, even if those committing it are seemingly "allies". While Muslims support the apprehension of those who are proven to have committed terrorist acts, we must also ensure that our government does not illustrate bias when combating terrorism.

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