The Saddest Catalyst
by admin on Jul.10, 2009, under Uncategorized
Their love of country amazes me. Awed, I have listened to my grandparents share their stories of “the war.” Without hesitation, she speaks for her peers. “We gave up many of life’s luxuries,” my grandmother shared, “But we knew it was for a greater purpose. We knew it was for the well being of our country. And we love our country.”
But our generation has remained unchallenged and has never been forced to unite. War is a typical unifying factor, and our only experience with international conflict has been Desert Storm. But that brief scuffle in the sand was geographically far removed, and we were young. Desert Storm was little more than television images of bright lights in the sky and nightly briefings by leather-bomber-clad “SCUD-Stud” Arthur Kent.
The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon are our unifying experiences. This reign of terror is our World War II. This is the unifying experience that is awakening “Generation Y” to life’s greater purpose and uniting us through the birth of our patriotism.
Around the nation students are talking about foreign policy, and debating current events. Young people are praying together, crying together, and donating blood together. They are developing a passion for something greater than their stock portfolios and resumes.
Perhaps in the wake of this tragedy, America’s young people will learn. Perhaps we will permanently refocus some of our energies away from self-interest and towards patriotism, humanity, and charity.
And as I observe my peers and examine their dreams, their fears, and their compassion, I can smile in the midst of tragedy. There is hope for this generation and a bright future for our nation.
