On Sept. 20, George Bush gave a speech to Congress and to the nation regarding the incidents of Sept. 11. It was eight months ago to the day, that Bush had given his inaugural address and finally taken the title of President. In my “America and the World” course, Professor Ken Gilmore gave a positive spin to the entire speech. “This speech was for Bush what the ‘tear down this wall’ speech was for Reagan as he urged the end of Communism and the Berlin wall,” said Gilmore. “It was quite possible once of the ten best presidential speeches of the last 100 years.”

Gilmore, who considers himself “a staunch critic of Bush,” felt that the President, “through the aid of some excellent speechwriters truly articulated himself to the nation and gave the country supreme confidence in him.”

After speaking with various Guilford students and faculty, I have concluded that despite the political and social activism on campus, the majority of the student body seemed unaware or apathetic toward the speech in general.

Why, on such a socially aware and political interested campus, do students not take the time to pay attention to events that have a great impact on their lives?

The answer seems to be that students on campus are trapped within the bubble of Guilford College, and more importantly the bubble that is their own life.

I feel that to be a good citizen of this nation, and a true participant in a democracy, you must step outside the events of your daily lives, into that of the greater world. The classic political mantra that “All politics are essentially local” is also very important to keep in mind. The events on our national and world stage greatly impact your life, more than you ever realize possible.

So, by being unconcerned and apathetic you are letting a few people decide the fortunes of the many. Is that democracy? Is that what you want your nation to be?

Thus, I urge you to care judiciously about your country and be involved in an active role, instead of letting others talk for you. So that the next time George Bush gives a speech, you will have an opinion on it.

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