Tuesday, March 18, 2006. Despite all the turmoil and chaos in the country and around the world, many Americans managed to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with vigor and alcohol-induced vitality. This year many St. Patrick's Day parades also became memorials to the millions of Americans who had died since the beginning of the year. Of course, many millions of citizens were too busily engaged in search-and-rescue operations to take time out for any merrymaking. Festivities would have to wait until debris was cleared, fires were extinguished, injured were cared for, bodies were found, and dead were buried. The extraordinary efforts of the common citizen were taxed to the maximum, and American volunteers were holding up exceptionally well under the most adverse conditions. Surprisingly little looting, price-gouging or other criminal activity was reported. It was as if the country was pulling together in a display of astonishing unity. One man in LaCrosse, Wisconsin said it well: "If God thinks He can destroy our spirit with a little bit of catastrophe, He'd best think again. We're Americans and when the going gets tough, we're up to the task."

Economic chaos had been prevented even though most major banks national headquarters had been destroyed. The Federal Reserve continued to function, distributing money to smaller local and regional banks that happily accommodated all of the former Wells Fargo, National City, Chase, and Citibank customers. While there was some anxiety and moderate panic over how to access investments, savings accounts, and other financial instruments, the 'transition' had actually gone much more smoothly than O.U.T.R.A.G.E. members had anticipated. It was becoming crystal clear to everyone that "big" wasn't necessarily "better" (in fact, "big" was often the problem!). Most companies were still finding ways to meet payrolls and pay bills. Vendors and suppliers were being extremely flexible with payment terms and credit.

Amidst all the chaos came an unusual calm.

People were actually beginning to share their vehicles so that three or four neighbors would all go to the grocery at the same time in one car. It not only conserved gasoline; it also introduced a new civility to the national society. It no longer seemed to matter as much whether you were of a different color or creed. All that mattered was that everyone got along and made the effort to get through one more day. People were friendlier. Neighbors helped neighbors. America's apparent self-absorption attitudes seemed to be dissolving into attitudes of helping one another and looking out for someone other than one's self.

America was showing outward signs of reformation and cleansing. Could it be possible to heal a whole country- perhaps an entire world - and return a "kinder, gentler" global culture to mankind?