Both women faced horrors that most of us can not imagine. They told the students their stories of persecution and fear, and of perseverance, emphasizing that violence will not solve the problems of the world.

In this time of anxiety due to the terrorist attacks on September 11 and the threat of anthrax, all of us are living in a world we could not have envisioned two months ago. Only those who grew up in parts of the world where terrorist attacks, shootings and bombings occur frequently could possibly relate and yet even those with experience never get use to that kind of violence

The message the women emphasized to the students was to not judge people and stereotype people and to not get into the trap of thinking that violence is the answer.

Despite the horrific experiences both women had, both maintain a belief in finding the good in other people. "Everybody's born good, it's what's done to them after they're born that makes them do bad things," said one of the women.

Their Quaker beliefs were often tested, they told the children, but they resisted the pressure.

We believe there is a lesson for all of us through these women. While our instincts are to fight back, to exact revenge, we must resist, we must be cautious. That does not mean that those who perpetrate violence should not be punished but we should make every effort to see that that punishment not include the innocent.