Cultural Creatives: Post-September 11: New resolve

By Arundhati Bhanot

Robert D. Putnam, a professor of Public Policy at Harvard University, in an article ‘Bowling Alone’ writes that civic engagement would be restored in America ‘‘by a palpable national crisis, like war, depression or natural disaster.’’

A survey done by him and Thomas H. Sander (involved in Civic Engagement in America project) a month after the September 11 attack showed a rise in interest among Americans in civic and government issues and the number of people volunteering for social work.

The survey also suggests that Americans are more open than ever before to making people of all backgrounds full members of the national community and are experiencing their broadest-ever sense of ‘we’.

A report by Tony Uvalde in Times Herald mentions that more people are seeking spiritual counselling, reviving their faith in spiritual institutions in such crises. He reports that the weekend after September 11, all the churches and synagogues were full.

In a society heading towards isolated lifestyles, an increasing number of Americans are now acknowledging the need to connect with their near and dear ones.

Peter Turner and his family embarked on a 4000-mile trip from Kansas City to visit uncles, cousins, siblings and old friends.

Turner says: ‘‘We are valuing things we do as a family more.’’

There has also been an outpouring of interest in volunteering. Applications for the national service programmes have doubled since President Bush issued a call for service.

The Red Cross chapter in New York has seen a rise of 30 per cent with people coming to offer their helping hand.

In Mississippi, the state commission for volunteer service has witnessed its ranks grow by 10,000 since September 11. The tragedy has given many Americans an appreciation for things they had taken for granted.

Ana Costa, who lost her father, says: ‘‘I want to live passionately, every moment in the present.’’

Valerie Schneider, 63, calls her daughter everyday to leave messages of love. She now greets her friends with words of affection and a warm hug.

‘‘Changes don’t have to be big things. It’s the everyday stuff we can make changes in,’’ she says.