By Amy Porter
Editor
I recently had the honor of listening to a Nobel Peace Prize
winner, Holocaust survivor and humanitarian. Elie Weisel is one of the most
amazing individuals I’ve ever had the opportunity to be in the same room with.
His experience in Auschwitz is beyond words. To say it was tragic and horrible
does not begin to do it justice. He survived the worst things one person can do
to another.
During his speech at McKendree College, an audience member asked, “What can we,
as students and individuals do, to better the world?” He said something to the
effect of: don’t tune out. Ban together when there’s a cause worth fighting for.
In the world I live in, with a constant barrage of media telling me everything
from what I “should” wear to how I “should” think, it’s hard to care.
It’s hard
to care about people I’ve never met and places I’ve never been. Sometimes it’s
hard to care about people in my own community. I know that sounds bad, but it’s
honest.
Weisel inspired me to care again about a world against which I am jaded. To see
someone who’s lived through worse things than I can ever imagine, and instead of
living a life of hatred of the world, embraces the good, is beyond inspiring.
Sometimes I fall over. I have a momentary lapse in my new found inspiration and
I revert to my familiar jaded self. I strongly believe these momentary lapses
will lessen with time and maturity and the entire experience will make me a
better person.
I strongly recommend becoming familiar with Weisel, be it through his books or
lectures, and if you feel passionately about something, do something about it.
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Amy Porter Max (the dog) and Rose (the cat) |
Stephanie Hoke Kittyman |
Chris Unthank Azure |
Chris Ayala Porkhound |
Ryan Yepsen Cat 2 |
Vanessa Hafner Spur |
Stephanie Orr Clockwise from top left: Boba, Ann, Reeny, and Dan |
Ryk Lewis Cee Cee |
I wanted to have an
open mind, but at the same time I was ready to start uncontrollably giggling
if she told me I was pregnant. My “reading” didn’t hurt, it was actually
quite interesting. 
The main reason that I got involved in government in the first place, was
because I was tired of having problems and no way to express them.