Congresswoman Eva Clayton spoke to Halifax Community College students on Tuesday morning, one week after the terrorists wreaked havoc at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

She began her impromptu remarks in the filled auditorium by saying that we all have unanswered questions – "Why us? How could this happen here? Where did we go wrong? What are we going to do now?"

In strong, reassuring tones, the congresswoman assured the audience that we are still a strong country: our values, our belief in God – the very reasons we were attacked – will help us to go forward in spite of the terrible blow to this nation. She suggested that we all stop to take stock and to re-evaluate our own beliefs and our values. She reiterated the fact that the perpetrators were attacking America – all of us, and all that America stands for. She further stated that the terrorists were not going after individuals - individual hardships and/or consequences to the victims were not a consideration of the attackers.

Before taking questions from the audience, she warned that we must be careful and go slowly in pointing fingers at the enemy at the risk of harming innocent victims – unlike what happened in New York and Washington. She also admitted that our nation’s security is at risk; we have been lax in some instances, but she also pointed out that these attacks were not of the "hi-tech" variety. In-coming missiles could have been averted with American technology. She also said Bin Laden was not alone if he is the perpetrator, and we will need to find new ways to increase security and protect our country from all terrorists.