PICKENS COUNTY — A majority of those responding to last week’s Progress Poll felt that the terrorist who were partially responsible for the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, should not face trial in New York City.

The surprise was that the response on each side was split between conservative views and liberal opinions.

“Those animals do not deserve to step foot in the United States of America,” one reader said. “Our constitution guarantees a fair trial by our peers for U.S. Citizens. These are not citizens, but enemies of freedom. They need to face justice from a military court, who sentence them to a more appropriate punishment.”

Another reader agreed that the alleged terrorists’ rights to a jury trial should be limited.

“They want a fair trial? How’s this — we show them the same mercy that they showed those thousands of people who died because of their actions. If we had done that, they’d been gone a long time ago.”

Another reader feared allowing the alleged terrorists would only lead to similar attacks on the United States.

“There’s no need to put the people of New York in further danger by having the alleged terrorist face trial there,” the reader wrote. “The United States form of military trial is still far more fair than other forms of ‘justice’ throughout the world. What would not be fair would be putting our citizens in harm’s way just so we can flex our muscles in front of the world.”

One of the readers who voted that the trial should take place in New York City said the U.S. could use the event to show our best side.

“It would be a clear message that we are above petty acts of terrorism,” the reader said. “Any amount of revenge is not going to bring anybody back who lost their lives that day. We could show the world that our court system is based on justice, not mere anger.”

Another reader said that he feels not bringing the alleged terrorists to New York City to face a trial would be an act of cowardice on the part of the nation.

“They say having the trial in this country might inspire some other act of terrorism. They caught us napping in 2001. We need to show the that cannot happen again. The treat of punks like that should not change the way we do things. It should make us more determined to continue to do things the right way.”