A Kaleidoscope of Emotional Reactions to “Disasters”
Depression 38%
Despondency and dejection are the most common feelings when a writer uses “disasters” .
In short, Daily Chapel is ‘a waste of time, a waste of money and a waste of energy, because it does not have the support or the interest of the students or, apparently, of those who conduct it. Without the threat of academic disaster which is directed at the delinquent it would soon die a very quick and welcome death.
Yet, in the face of this appalling fact, the world blindly heads for war; war between Russia and Japan, war between Germany and France, war between Bolivia and Paraguay, between China and Japan. Everywhere there is the unmistakable threat of wars, any one of which may engulf all Europe and America. The plain fact must be met boldly and resolutely and speedily if such a world disaster is to be averted. Let us not fool ourselves. We are besieged on all sides by the most subtle forms of war propaganda.
Does victory rest upon his colors? Dynamite is slow compared to the speed with which his enthusiasm is kindled. Is the vic tory an important one? The Mussulman’s paradise is not a circumstance to the glories of that College in which a kind Providence has placed him. But let defeat and disaster come, and the graces of other institutions be come correspondingly attractive, and he won ders why his college life should have been destined to be passed in such an uninviting place.
Vietnam was a disaster. The soldiers knew it; they couldn’t tell anyone. The media knew it; they didn’t know how to make anyone believe them. The government knew it; and it wasn’t about to tell anyone. Instead, the “seamless belt of lies” was created” whole untruths, half-truths, little white lies and big black ones, repeated over and over again until they became the truth; the only truth that the government could speak. Two hundred reported dead when there were twelve; empty, isolated villages captured and victory claimed; indeed, victory claimed, often when there was only defeat. This was the American war effort.
Fear 24%
The fear of the uncertainty behind disasters trouble the writers.
We feared that the realization of the attempt would be fraught with most dire disaster, and the result has exceeded our most gloomy forebodings.
The outbreak of war compelled the hasty adjournment of this body which contained representatives of the hostile belligerents. When news of the Athenian disaster reached Amherst, extreme fear was felt for their safety as it was believed that they intended to sail from Glasgow on the ill fated liner.
What is the likelihood of disaster? The only honest answer is that we have no inkling. For all we know, it could happen at a moment of relative peace, or at least before leaders’ nerves cracked.
Mansions, limosines, and nymphomaniacal housemaids. Yes, this is certainly a slice of real life. “What happened to him should happen to you”, the ads for this disaster announce. Aside from the fact that this sounds very much like my grandmother mapping out my future, using Uncle Sidney as a role-model, the truth is that what happened to him shouldn’t happen to anybody.
Anger 18%
Anger towards a system that failed to prevent disasters from happening or worsening result in frustrating complaints.
The approach of the anniversary of the Walker Hall disaster, reminds us more forcibly of the need to take these precautions. And with such an awful warning before them, it seems strange that the authorities can be so deaf to the dictates of duty and common sense.
The warning that Amherst should have taken from the two disasters to fraternity houses at Williams College has been utterly neglected. The fire at the Chi Phi house is no more than might have been expected at any of the other fraternity houses in town.
Jeanne Kirkpatrick has said: “Disaster, thy name is Jimmy;” and how correct she was. Under the Carter Administration, the U.S. suffered monstrous inflation and a sorely under armed military not to mention several political blunders (remember the Panama canal and the Iranian Hostage Crisis?)
Now that we’ve built the AARC, will it float? The answer to this question depends on the enthusiasm and response of the student body. The need is great. Hundreds of African people are dying from lack of food every day while in Valentine we consider it a chore to go down to Veggie in search of Oreo ice cream.
Hope 11%
Hopeful to a future after the disasters are over, writers try to lift the audience’s spirit.
Change often has the appearance of destruction and disaster, and few there are whom it fails, in one aspect or another, to frighten. The transformations which have occurred during and since the war in geographical, political, and economic lines have come so fast that they have startled many who have seen customary institutions humbled and strange ones rising in their place.
We too have spent many a frustrated and angry night trying to figure out a solution to the problem of the missing yearbook. Now the ordeal is over and in a few weeks, we will be able to enjoy our 1980-1981 yearbook. Hopefully, the disaster of almost losing these pictorial memories will make them all the more precious and meaningful to us.
Care 6%
As a college community, some writers express care towards others who suffer in the disasters.
The extremely regrettable incident of last Friday cast a tragic atmosphere over the usually hilarious senior elections. That a man has suffered a serious and permanent injury from participation in this event is a seemingly inexcusable disaster. To that man the sympathy of the entire college is due, and its admiration for the exceptionally fine spirit which he has shown throughout the case.
Recalling the Judaic belief that God made a covenant with the Jewish people after the great flood, Rabbi Perlmutter pro claimed, “We want to reaffirm the rainbow covenant that there will be no more world disasters. Now is the time for all of us to make a pledge to prevent a nuclear holocaust.”
Happiness 4%
Very rarely would one be truly happy in the face of a disaster, but writers have found some happiness in consolation or humor, with the help from their readings and creative writings at the college.
In Greek tragedy somehow or other amidst the greatest disaster we realize even here still remains beauty and that the powers of evil have not prevailed.
After which his Kidlets Clayson / Standeth forth before the people / While they gaze with admiration / At the pin wheels round his collar. / Here occurs a sad disaster / And we can but pity Clayson / For one hot ingrowing pinwheel / Has caught fire inside his caput. / Now a man called Charles Job Staples / Imitates a firey fountain, / As he sets forth his opinion / Of our Ex-Bookkeeper, Swampy!