COLUMN: One Nation, Indivisible

From Peter Morrison's "Think For Yourself," Fall '95 From Peter Morrison's "Think For Yourself," Fall '95A bomb blast shook the core of our country Wednesday, April 19, 1995. On this day, a Ryder van containing an enormously powerful bomb exploded in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, leveling the front portion of the building and collapsing all nine floors. Included in the debris was a day-care center for young children. This disaster is devastating. My heart goes out to those who wait in prayer as rescuers look for loved ones. I mourn for those who needlessly lost their lives. Understandably, this cowardly deed has left a nation angry and full of vengeance. Rage runs throughout America as citizens call for retaliation. Many desperately want to strike out and release their fury, and send a strong, powerful message that Americans will not accept terrorism in any form. But we cannot embrace anger. For if we do, we succumb to the same pure hatred that caused this terrible act. Instead, we must comfort those who have lost family and friends. We must remember those who lost their lives in this tragedy. And we must take preventative steps to ensure this never happens again. Most importantly, we must find hope. Out of the darkness of this evil, no matter how difficult, I have found renewed faith in a nation. I see a nation that has come together to support fellow citizens in a great time of need. People have traveled from the farthest reaches of both coasts to Oklahoma City to provide medical care, rescue services and moral support. Out of the despair, decay and rubble has emerged a nation united. Suddenly, our racial, ethnic, religious and political differences ceased to exist. People had suffered and they needed our support -- we all responded. Hundreds of rescuers from all over the country continue to work 12-hour shifts to find bodies still trapped inside the demolished building. Local residents and school children offer hugs of support and encouragement. Flowers, cards and pictures hang on a perimeter fence so that the searchers keep their sanity as they continue their grave, depressing work. Their efforts will not be forgotten. A billboard in Oklahoma City was purchased recently. The sign now reads: "Oklahoma City, Our hearts and prayers are with you." We have found a deeper respect for police men, firemen and others who must respond to disasters and emergencies. The country has reached out in this time of need and answered the call of an entire city. Philadelphia has also pitched in sending some of its experts to do whatever they can to help. Two Philadelphia bomb squad members, Lt. James McGinty and Officer Thomas Lynch, have recently traveled to the midwestern city to lend a hand. The support offered by all corners of the country has reminded me of the goodness of human nature. We are all, at our core, compassionate. Even for one day, the O.J. trial was buried among other more profound thoughts of life and death. Our superficial daily troubles suddenly became meaningless when we were faced with the senseless deaths of more than 100 people in an act of terrorism. In this unity, I find hope. Joshua Brower of Oklahoma State University also gives me hope. Brower, wanting to do something for those suffering, sent a condolence "card" over e-mail using the World Wide Web. Before long, more than 500 people from as far as India and Kuwait had made their own additions to the card with their own thoughts and emotions. The residents of Roosevelt Manor public housing development give me hope, too. Teenagers in this housing project in Camden, N.J. decided to go door-to-door hoping to raise money for relief. Residents, even though they have little money to spare, dug deep into their pockets to raise as much as possible. And those who couldn't afford to donate money signed a giant card that will be sent to the midwestern city. Various service organizations have also helped raise more than $4 million to aid the people of Oklahoma City. And the FBI has received over 9,000 calls on its tip line. The story of one Oklahoma City nurse captures the bittersweet feelings I have of the bombing. Upon hearing the blast and then the news reports, she nobly rushed out of her home to the crime scene to aid the injured. She wanted to provide assistance and help those in need. She died in her attempt to help someone who was trapped as a piece of concrete fell from the building and struck her on the head. It is this tragic story that will never let me forget how a nation can rise up together. Some have sacrificed their time, others their money. But this nurse made the ultimate sacrifice for fellow citizens in great need -- her life. I will not forget how during one tragedy, we overlooked our political schism, our racial strife, our vast differences and helped each other. It is this community building for which we must strive. It is this unity that has given me hope. I only wish my renewed faith would have grown out of better circumstances.