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Observance: Great things happen when we work together We've all heard our parents tell us where they were when they found out JFK had been shot. Now, our generation has a similar experience. We keep asking ourselves, did Sept. 11 really happen? Almost instantly, our entire country shut down. The airports closed. Officials throughout the country evacuated federal buildings and other landmarks. And immediately, people around the country were united. In New York, firefighters, police and rescue workers rushed to the scene. All over the country, people rushed to give blood with such frequency that they had to start turning people away. For the last month, we've been inundated with images of this disaster. We've been told about the thousands of people who are still missing. We've heard the stories of people who have been lost. We've even seen the faces of the people who did this. And we've also seen a country come together and help each other like never before. And this is what continues to amaze me. Just look what this country has accomplished over the last month. People of the entertainment industry immediately started planning a telethon, which aired only ten days after the attacks took place. The fact they were able to so quickly pull off an event, with star power rivaling the Academy Awards, is remarkable in itself. And did I mention that a CD will be released of all the performances from the telethon and all proceeds from its sale will be donated to the cause? Other stars also joined the effort. The New York Mets donated all of their salaries from their first game back after the attacks. Michael Jordan offered his salary from his first year back in the NBA. Rapper Dr. Dre contributed one million dollars. The record label Arista is donating all the proceeds of their re-released recording of Whitney Houston's "Star Spangled Banner." One of the most touching stories I've heard yet is about an elementary school in Texas who had been saving their pennies for seven years to build a new playground. Instead, the children of the school unanimously voted to give all the money they had collected to the people of New York. For many of us, this is our first time experiencing the nation rally together in such a way. Past generations have been familar with this feeling of comradery and purpose in times such as World War I, World War II and the '60s. However, our generation has never felt this before. We have never felt such urgency, patriotism or this sense that our country actually needs us. Why does it have to take such a horrific disaster to bring us together as a country? But now that we have come together, let's stay together. Let's start addressing our problems collectively and applying this same sense of immediacy to them. Who knows what we could accomplish? Let's not forget this feeling. ––Bevin Parrish
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