As time passes the magnitude of events decreases. It's not that people forget; they just move on.
We still recognize the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, every year because it's still relatively fresh in our minds. We will have discussions about where we were, what we were doing or how we felt; what effect it's had on the world and how the history books will treat the event. Shafer Tower's bells will toll every 10 seconds for 15 minutes today in memory of that day eight years ago.
However, the recognition dwindles with each year. Discussions get shorter, moments of silence get shorter.
It's been nearly 68 years since the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Not many people recognize that anniversary on Dec. 7 and even less could tell you it happened on that day.
We shouldn't let this event slip into distant memory. The events in our lives and the lives of others from that day need to stay in back of our minds. It may be hard. This year's freshman class was in fifth grade in September 2001. But the chain reaction of events afterward aren't complete, and we still are not completely sure how important Sept. 11 was.
While it should stay with us, we also should try to take something positive from it.
Student Voluntary Services and United Way of Delaware County are trying to do that with National Day of Service. The two are organizing five volunteer projects in nine hours today to give Ball State students the chance to help out five organizations around Muncie.
National Day of Service is a great way to turn a moment of silence into two hours of helping people in your community. It's a way to turn a defeated demeanor brought out by terrible memories into a sense of accomplishment and pride.
It won't erase the awful memories, and it shouldn't. We need to remember the past and learn from it. But why let the memories bring you down when you could be picking someone else up?
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