Editor,
Our community, like our country, is uniting to support those who continue to suffer from the terror of Sept. 11. Gloriously, flags are flying and people are giving of themselves to show how truly great our country can be in the face of adversity.
It is imperative that each of us perpetuates this once dormant greatness and realizes its place in this community, for terrorism is not our country's only problem.
The need for change is found in every neighborhood throughout America. Admittedly, I am often overwhelmed by the pervasiveness of these problems, not to the mention those in my daily life. What can I really do?
My inspirations led me to realize what I can do is dedicate my passion to affecting positive change, even in its slightest forms. As we redefine ourselves in the wake of this tragedy, we each have a responsibility to maintain our passion that arose from the rubble and employ it for progress in our community.
One of many options to effect change is The Spring Storm which is being run by The Community Experience. The event has the potential to be among the greatest UNM has ever known. On April 6, thousands of people from UNM will embark on hundreds of projects for progress in our city.
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The Spring Storm will transform old ideas people have about community service. We do not embark upon this endeavor because we owe it to our community. We owe it to ourselves. We are not lending a hand out of guilt or pity. We are empowering ourselves to affect change.
Universities are incubators for great uprisings and The Spring Storm is no less than a local revolution. With constructive enthusiasm, we are revolting against apathy and unhappiness. We give new direction to the change for which our society yearns.
While others take the crucial roles of protesting and commenting, we wield our passion and abilities in the streets. We will seize control to improve the lives of everyone with whom we share this home.
If this strikes you as an overstatement, consider your own complacency. What prevents us from achieving greatness? We are not the leaders of tomorrow. We are the leaders of today.
Do you want to affect change? Join the revolution by e-mailing tce@unm.edu or visit www.unm.edu/sprstorm.
Dathan Weems
Executive director of The Community Experience and UNM law student
