Rekindle National Unity Shown Following Tragedy

MEAGHAN CURRY, GB Youth Board

Published: October 21, 2004

As a singer, I am often inspired by music. I am constantly exposed to music at home, in the car, at church and at weekly choir rehearsals. Because I spend so much time singing, it is easy for me to just sing the notes, without paying attention to the words or to the message of the song. But music is an expressive art form and when I actually listen to what I am singing, there is often a powerful message hidden in the song.

Saturday, Sept. 11, was the three-year anniversary of a devastating national tragedy. Coincidentally, the choir that I am a member of was scheduled to perform at the dedication of a Habitat for Humanity home that morning. We sang a song, “Homeland,” that I have sung dozens of times before in practice and in performances, but the words have never been so poignant as they were that day. “May your wisdom be your armor, your compassion be your sword; may your strength be forged with mercy; your courage lives restore.” Those words struck me as especially meaningful on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Three years ago, our country united in order to defend ourselves and to prove to those who attacked us that we cannot be torn apart by violence. In the first hour of the attacks, hundreds of innocent people died while trying to save others.

Three years later I watched a single mother with three young children, one of whom was in a wheelchair, receive her first house. The selfless efforts of the women who built the house reminded me of the efforts of those who perished in the aftermath of Sept. 11.

Today, however, we are faced with new trials. Hundreds of people in Florida and Alabama are now homeless due to the hurricanes that have recently struck our coast. We are facing extremely tough times, and it is more important than ever to unite and show compassion toward those in need. Although the nation is divided between President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry, Democrats and Republicans, we can still unite just as we did three years ago in the aftermath of Sept. 11.

As Christians, we are called to serve one another. We should fight for what is right, not with violence, but with our wisdom, courage, and compassion toward one another.

In 1993, upon his arrival in Denver for World Youth Day, Pope John Paul II addressed the many youth who were gathered to greet him: “America, you are beautiful and blessed in so many ways . . . But your best beauty and your richest blessing is found in the human person.”

I challenge myself and everyone who reads this to live up to the Holy Father’s statement: Let’s put forth an extra effort to be compassionate toward those in need; to unite and do what is right, especially during these difficult times.

Meaghan Curry is a junior at Parkview High School and a member of St. Stephen the Martyr Church, both in Lilburn.