The Women’s Resource Center remembered the sixth anniversary of 9/11 on Tuesday. The message of the day: Show people what the world would be like if people focused on peace instead of war and violence.

The intention and nobility of the day’s events were broadsided by the lack of interest from the campus population. The attendance at these events was beyond discouraging and disappointing – it was disgraceful. There have been haggis cook-offs with better turnouts.

The events of the day included a performance by the West African Drum and Dance Club and Jesse Ortiz-Ocelotl, a member of the Quetzalcoatl Citlalli Aztec Dance Group.

There were also displays from the Clothesline Project and “Porcupines for Peace” in the library quad. The Clothesline Project allows friends, families and victims of sexual abuse, violence and assault to create a shirt to help cope with their past. This was the first year for the “Porcupines for Peace” display, a table in which students were invited to decorate a pine cone with glitter and paint. While decorated pine cones sat on the table, many more sat in boxes waiting to be painted.

I have never once advocated that singing, dancing and thinking good thoughts will end all of the horror and atrocities of the world. It was really deflating to see only a handful of people taking the time to stop and address the real concerns of this country while scantily-clad females fell over themselves to pledge for the ridiculous and self-serving sororities in the quad.

Painting some pine cones and engaging in dance does not stop rape, murder and war. Many important issues were raised Tuesday, though, and not nearly enough people heard them; issues such as spousal abuse, child molestation and murder.

These are not comfortable subjects to discuss, but part of being an adult is doing things that are uncomfortable. Even though the day was not as successful as some may have hoped, it showed that the anniversary of 9/11 is an opportunity to create a necessary dialogue about social issues in this country.

It was encouraging to see 9/11 pass by where we as a society did not have to watch the Twin Towers collapse over and over and over again on television. Hopefully it means that we are moving on from the tragedy and coping with it in a healthy way.

It was even better to not see any conspiracy theory jerks, “System of a Down” fans and “Loose Change” half-wits parading around the campus blaming Bush and the government for the deaths of thousands of people. Thank goodness we don’t attend the liberal cesspool that is UC Berkley and have to deal with that excrement. In the few short weeks and months following 9/11, this country embraced a spirit of unity and equality that were the theoretical basis of this country. Then the dust settled and we went back to quivering and bickering with each other over trivial nonsense like political affiliations and conflicting opinions. We shouldn’t have to get attacked by terrorists to encourage us to look out for each other.

Jordan Guinn can be reached @ [email protected]