As American flags continue popping up in front of houses, restaurants, in car windows and on T-shirts, many UNM students are pondering their patriotism and support of possible retaliation for last week's terrorist attacks.
UNM student JD Harding, 18, said he is proud to live in the United States and that his feelings haven't changed since hijacked commercial planes crashed in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania last week leaving thousands dead or missing.
Harding said he doesn't support retaliating against the terrorism with war but also doesn't know how President Bush's administration should handle the attacks.
"If we start war, we're going to be doing the same thing again," he said.
He said he would go to war if drafted because his friends in the military might have to go.
"If they're at war, I don't see why I wouldn't go," he said.
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Dawn Hill, an exercise science major at UNM, said she always has been patriotic but is more active since the attacks.
"We've hung flags outside of our house, we've gone to a candlelight vigil and we've gone to church more often to pray for everyone who has been hurt and everyone who is still not found," she said.
Hill, 25, said she didn't come to school on the day of the attacks and hasn't let her 5-year-old daughter watch the news. She said she supports retaliation although she has two brothers in the Navy who could get hurt if the United States invades another country.
"We can't sit on this and let them think it's okay to take so many lives - so many innocent lives," she said.
Hill added that the terrorists could strike again if they are not punished.
"Next time it could be closer to home," she said. "It could be one of our labs here in New Mexico."
Michael Mullins, an art studio and English major, described himself as an involved citizen rather than patriotic.
"I've always believed in voting and generally participating," he said.
Mullins, 21, said the United States is not necessarily the best country to live in because all countries have their benefits and disadvantages.
"I don't think there is a best country per se," he said.
Mullins said four of his uncles fought in World War II and lived. He said he would probably join a branch of the armed services in which he would have a good chance of survival if the United States went to war again.
He added that if he were drafted for combat, he'd probably act passively.
"I'd take a camera and a first aid kit," he said. "I'd want to help save lives if I could. I have no intention of pushing a button or pulling a trigger to harm someone."
Mullins said that although he would participate, retaliation against another country would hurt innocent people.
Taylor Clark, a biology major at UNM, said she is proud to live in the United States and that she has always been patriotic.
"You're free, you have the chance to be whatever you want, worship whatever you want, state your beliefs," she said.
by Alma Olaechea
Daily Lobo
