ARCHIVE: We found the silver lining

Originally published in The Pow Wow, September 14, 2001

It is quite possible that I’ve never started a column, deleted it and started again more times than I have this week.

I have no problem finding inspiration or material. One only has to turn on the television or log onto the Internet for a few short minutes to know where the entire world is focusing its attention. Yet the right words to present to you are harder than ever to come by. Perhaps this is because none of us have ever felt as we do now. This week, we’ve all been presented with a new benchmark for awful.

I know that I’ve never been bothered by news images I’ve seen on television, that is, until Tuesday morning. I will forever remember how the knot in my stomach felt as I watched the first of the twin World Trade Center towers collapse. At that moment, I knew things had turned ugly in New York City, but to be honest, I don’t think I had any idea of how the effects would ripple to places like Monroe, La.

The first clue came Tuesday afternoon during a drive to the Monroe Regional Airport to hunt a possible photo opportunity. On the way, I noticed members of the Louisiana National Guard (including present and former ULM students) stringing concertina wire around their armory. I was told that the perimeter was later to be guarded by armed soliders.

I returned to the office to find that as many as four of our own staff members had family connections to the incidents. (You can read how assistant editor Virginia Dailey’s sister watched the events unfold on page one).

Tuesday evening, I joined hundreds (maybe thousands) of other folks in the region who flocked to local gas stations. It was the first time I’ve ever had to wait in a line that stretched out onto a highway to fuel my truck.

Wednesday at noon, however, I saw the real evidence that the effects of Tuesday’s attacks were far reaching. I also saw how an extremely evil event can actually have a positive effect or two.

In a sign of unity that seems to be rare on our campus, hundreds of students and faculty gathered during their lunch time near the fountain to honor the victims of the attacks.

In the close-up photos I took of the group, it was easy to spot the differences in the crowd. Some folks had dark skin. Some people had light skin. Some were obviously young freshman. Others appeared to be experienced in school, life or both. I noticed a few expensive fashion ensembles and some others at the other end of the spectrum.

I’m sure there were a fair share of commuters and plenty of dorm dwellers in attendance. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that many of the students were dean’s list material while a few others were probably on academic probation.

The point is that we’re a fragmented bunch here at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and many factors divide us. However, every now and then, something happens that allows us to find our common thread and join together as many did this week.

I think what I saw Wednesday was a sign of good things to come at ULM in spite of the bad things our fellow Americans face elsewhere. I know it felt good to see students come together even if it was for a very sad reason. It felt good to be a part of the silver lining of a very dark cloud. And I hope that we remember how good it felt -- and we do it again -- when our world returns to better times.

Michael Cossey is a Monticello, Ark. RTVF senior and editor of The Pow Wow’s online edition.