Wilbraham is a fairly land-locked place. There are no huge oceans, no seismic waves, and certainly no violent tsunamis that would endanger both our lives and our quality of living. We are comfortable living with Spec Pond and Nine-Mile Pond, and certainly, in light of the catastrophic waves of the Indian Ocean, we’re all slightly relieved that we can’t see the ocean from our bedroom windows.

However, as we watch the news and listen to the radio from our not-by-the-sea community, it’s important to recognize both the magnitude and the results of the waves that have killed hundreds of thousands. It’s important, even though we were untouched by the disaster, that we contribute to rebuilding and repairing the section of the world that seems to have melted underneath the waves of the Indian Ocean.

In the wake of such a gargantuan natural disaster, it is obvious that the world reaches out. The Red Cross alone has collected more than 283.4 million dollars as of February 3rd in private donations, and governments across the globe have pledged billions to help the citizens of Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and India.

And we, as students and citizens, should be doing the same. Certainly, none of us are able to throw in a few billion dollars, but ten or fifteen dollars, though seemingly insignificant, is a contribution that would be welcomed by all the citizens of Asia. Countless organizations make it painless to donate – you can do it online, with a debit card or credit card. Even the opening page of Google, offers a link providing many different options for donating. As students, we may not always have a lot of cash, but what we can donate is appreciated. As a school, we have raised $782.00 on “Dress-Up/Dress-Down” day, and while that is an achievement and contribution in and of itself, it is far too small. $782.00 is much less than students spend on the vending machines in one day alone, and divided up among the student body, this donation only amounts to between fifty and sixty cents per student. We can only continue to add to that initial support, and we should do so on a larger scale.

It’s also important to remember that though the news stories and media coverage of this disaster will fade in the coming months, the rebuilding process may be decades long. Our donations and care should continue much longer than the media seems to dictate.

After any catastrophe – whether it be tsunamis in Asia or the collapse of the Twin Towers in America – generates the immediate emotional and financial support of the global community. It’s important to keep up that spirit of support, even after the dust of crumbled buildings has