We all see the firefighters and police working in New York City on the news. They thank local people for the constant support shown and are obviously moved by the World Trade Center disaster. RPI even raised money for victims and rescue workers, in addition to providing support for people on campus. The whole country has taken pride in showing their patriotism and support of those we lost to terrorist acts.
What I would like to do is to use this space to ask everyone to remember a few things. First, the holidays are approaching. The next two months are typically a very difficult time for many people; the number of people suffering from depression increases during the holiday season. I suspect that, with the current events, many more people will be touched by some level of depression this winter than in previous ones.
With this in mind, I would like to humbly ask everyone to make a point to be nice this holiday season. This is not a request that should be honored because of our nation’s tragedy, but because we are all people who deserve a basic level of respect. I think it took a tragedy for the country to show how good we could be to each other. So, instead of getting stressed out and worked up, take a deep breath, have some tension-relieving tea, and smile. Let pedestrians cross at the crosswalk, give some nonperishable food items to the local shelter, send out cards to your family and friends, and donate a toy or two to children who may otherwise spend this Christmas season without. At the risk of sounding like a Hallmark card, sometimes it really is the little things that make a difference in someone’s day.
So, please, remember to treat people with the respect they deserve, even if it means swallowing your pride. Try to see the other person’s perspective before jumping to conclusions and just be nice. It really isn’t that difficult, and I promise it will make you feel better yourself.
