Huskie community provides the heroes

In response to Gary Lichthardt's Feb. 19th letter "Where are heroes when we need them?"

Where are the heroes, you ask? While I commend your thoughts of action, while we would all love to consider ourselves the person who jumped up, subdued the gunman and saved the day, we never know exactly how we will react in any given situation until the moment of truth arrives.

Psychologists tell us that, as humans, our first instinct is survival. Survival often means running away from that which threatens us. Only after that initial run factor then comes the thought of others.

The tragedy at NIU happened in less than two minutes. No time to think about anything but survival. Yes, after 9/11 so many heroes emerged, but that tragedy encompassed many hours.

So, where are the heroes, you ask?

They are the victims, some praying until their last moments; they are the victims' families, who will now struggle to move on; they are the survivors, some still struggling to live; they are the students, faculty and staff at NIU, supporting one and other in a time of shock and tears; they are the DeKalb community, pulling together to make sense of this tragedy; and they are this country who called themselves Huskies all in a time of mourning.

There are your heroes.

Kristina Ekes

Sycamore