1. What is the main idea of Mr. Sperry’s commentary?

2. The purpose of an editorial/commentary is to explain, persuade, warn, criticize, entertain, praise, exhort or answer. What do you think is the purpose of this commentary? Explain your answer.

3. What does Mr. Sperry identify as a problem in this commentary?

4. Mr. Sperry concludes: “Maybe we do need to start looking more closely at the families of terrorists and holding them accountable, as well.” The Israeli military at times after a terrorist attack has bulldozed the home of the terrorist's family. Maj.-Gen. (res.) Uzi Dayan, who served as head of the National Security Council during the second intifada, said, "What deters terrorists most is the thought of what will happen to their families."

If U.S. investigators prove that a terrorist’s family knew about his extremism and/or terrorist plans in the U.S., what should happen to those family members?

• if citizens, put them on a terror watch list and a no-fly list
• monitor their communications
• prohibit them from traveling to countries where terrorists are known to operate
• if not citizens, revoke their legal status and deport them
• push Congress to pass a law that would hold family members liable for not alerting authorities to the radicalization of a family member
• do nothing unless they commit a crime
• other

Explain your answer.