Terry Rockefeller lost her sister Laura on 9/11, yet today she and her colleagues in September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows are proposing to meet with the hijackers' families, hoping to humanize the conflict and to explore the root causes of terrorism. To those who call them naïve or apologists for terrorists, Terry is unequivocal: "Our work starts from the horror of having experienced terrorism."

For Terry, the pain of her sister's murder was followed by a deepening grief as bombs began to fall on Afghanistan. She doubted that the bombings would destroy the terrorist networks, and was horrified by reports of civilian casualties. "I knew this was increasing the quotient of human pain in the world -- creating thousands of families newly grieving, as mine already was." Soon after, Terry connected with other victims' families, and in March 2002, she joined Peaceful Tomorrows, whose members aim "to turn our grief into action for peace." Inspired in part by the work of Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation, the group takes its name from a speech by Martin Luther King, Jr.: "Wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows." They advocate peaceful means to achieve peaceful ends, to break the cycle of violence. They documented civilian casualties in Afghanistan, sent a delegation to Iraq, and continue to participate in peace rallies, dialogues, and educational efforts, which include their website, www.peacefultomorrows.org.

On September 11, 2003, members will participate in the public commemorations at Ground Zero, as well as their own remembrances for loved ones lost in that unspeakable act of terror. Meanwhile, Terry isn't afraid to ask tough questions: "Why do people resort to terror? Was the American public misled about why we went to war in Iraq? Do we feel safer, two years into the war on terror‚ or are we caught in a cycle of violence?" By asking these questions, Terry and the others in Peaceful Tomorrows -- 80 members and growing -- continue on the long path towards healing.

Working with the organization "has made me optimistic and empowered. By working for peace, we can turn away from fear and violence," Terry says. "Identifying with the victims of war in Afghanistan and Iraq is both healing and potentially revolutionary."

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