In the two weeks immediately following the Sept 11 terrorist attacks on New York, a prominent psychiatrist interviewed many of those who had lost loved ones in that tragedy, and many more who had not. The results might surprise you. Those who had lost loved ones were unanimous in issuing a plea to their government that there must be no reprisals against innocent civilians. "How will it help my grief by making others suffer the same?" was how one woman put it.

But those who had experienced no personal loss reacted in a dark and different way. "They didn't worry about our civilians," said one. "Why should we worry about theirs?".

So Many Tears, So Many Flowers

Words by Peter Hicks and Geoff Francis

So you tell me, my friend, that the answer lies in war,
That with our missiles we can blast our way to peace.
But I ask you, my friend, what is this killing for?
Does the blood of others really make us free?

So you tell me, my friend, there is no other way
Than to finish that which someone else begun.
But I ask you, my friend, will there ever be a day
When another's grief can bring me back my son?

So many tears, so many flowers,
So many theirs, so many ours,
How many more before we say, "Enough"?

So you tell me, my friend, we must show that we are strong,
Before the enemy we daren't lose face.
But I ask you, my friend, when adding wrong to wrong
Did ever make this world a safer place?

So you tell me, my friend, that by settling this score
We can stop it ever happening again.
But I tell you, my friend, that's all been said before,
So many times I cannot count the pain.

So many tears, so many flowers,
So many theirs, so many ours,
How many more before we say, "Enough"?

So you tell me, my friend, that we do not have a prayer
Of a world where peace for all will have its day.
But I tell you, my friend, if we'll only learn to share
With dignity, we'll live a better way.

So many tears, so many flowers,
So many theirs, so many ours,
How many more before we say, "Enough"?
So many tears, so many flowers,
So many theirs, so many ours,
How many more before we say, "Enough"?

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