When the Japanese military was planning the attack on Pearl Harbor, Isoroku Yamamoto advised against such an action, describing the United States as a “sleeping giant”. I like that description a lot, but I think of this country as a sleeping, giant machine, like one of those giant towers with gears going all the way up. It’s not turned on much, only for emergencies, but when it’s working one can’t help but be impressed and fascinated by it.

Those who know me know that I’m fairly proud of my Canadian citizenship. Less well known is the fact that I’m also proud of my more recent American citizenship. This mechanical emergency efficiency is one large reason I’m proud to be a part of this nation. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, America’s industries shifted focus to producing ships and arms for the war effort. The world (especially the Japanese, I imagine) was taken aback as perhaps the highest production rate ever achieved on this planet was found in American factories.

Fortunately, this American machine does not just operate during times of war. We can all recall how well we as a people gave relief to victims of September 11. The gears also turned and worked after the devastation last winter from tsunamis. Americans in both instances showed an extraordinary capacity for organized compassion. Our government has encouraged us during these instances to express such hospitality: setting the country into war-mode during WWII, sending an immediate $35 million (ultimately $350 million) for tsunami relief. With the destruction Katrina has recently wrought and the aquatic hell it transformed the cultural hub of New Orleans into, it’s clear that our dormant machine must be turned on. The gears are rotating; most of us know about many universities’ policies for admitting students that were deprived of education by Katrina. Our very school is taking similar measures. However, due to the federal government’s sudden and surprising adherence to laws concerning intervention and rescue, it is up to the populace to operate our great machine. But that’s ok. We’ve shown we can take our own measures to help those in need.

Bruce Cockburn once wrote a song entitled “Lovers in a Dangerous Time”. I find it to be one of the most powerful songs I’ve ever heard. Others have felt similarly; Dan Fogelberg and the Barenaked Ladies have covered it. U2 has alluded to it in one of their songs. I’d like to read you the lyrics. It has a good deal to do with this spirit of responsibility during tough times. To me, the third stanza holds the most force, but they all carry meaning.

Don’t the hours grow shorter as the days go by?

We never get to stop and open our eyes

One minute you’re waiting for the sky to fall

The next you’re dazzled by the beauty of it all

When you’re lovers in a dangerous time.

These fragile bodies of touch and taste

This vibrant skin this hair like lace

Spirits open to a thrust of grace

Never a breath you can afford to waste

When you’re lovers in a dangerous time.

When you’re lovers in a dangerous time

Sometimes you’re made to feel as if your love’s a crime

Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight

Got to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight

When you’re lovers in a dangerous time

The title doesn’t only refer to romantic lovers. Love is often best expressed as compassion and a genuine caring for others. The first verse helps remind us that opportunities to show this love often pass us by before we know it. The second reminds us not to waste these opportunities. And the final verse lets us know that taking full advantage of those opportunities will probably be hard work, but then again all good comes from hard work.

As a class, we seniors have been asked to be leaders this year at school and set examples. Similarly, I’m asking the rest of the school to heed what I’ve said today and take initiative, helping to operate the great American machine—not just in our current situation with Katrina’s aftermath, but also in all future emergencies when the gears need to be started. I’m sure my church will be doing anything it can to help, and I intend to be a part of that. As for you all, I’m not the most well-versed as to what specific charities you can contribute to, so I encourage you to ask someone like Mrs. Sanders for information. We’re stuck in a dangerous time. Show some love.