The irony of togetherness is that it often comes in turbulent times.

When loved ones are sick, people band together to offer comfort. When loved ones die, those ties grow stronger. And when America is at war … .

For most college students, war is something new. Many were only newborns during the tension of Vietnam; it’s hard to remember. The few conflicts in most college students’ lifetimes—mostly in Central America—were nothing like now.

It seems an easy response to seek out someone to depend on. Fortunately, that togetherness is not serving to comfort only within. It’s supporting the ones who need comfort the most.

All across the country, including NIU and DeKalb, people are writing to the Gulf. They’re writing those they know. Or, they’re writing to anyone, to brighten someone’s day who doesn’t get a lot of mail. Best of all, they’re getting others to write.

Here at NIU, the drive by pen and paper began last semester at Video Plus, 854 W. Lincoln Hwy. Now that war’s broken out, it’s spread to residence halls, Greek Row organizations and the Village Commons Bookstore, 901 Lucinda Ave.

Some groups are passing out yellow ribbons. The city of DeKalb soon will line the streets with American flags.

It may be fairly early in the game, but it’s time to applaud these groups. While it’s not altogether pointless to protest, these people realize the time spent protesting can be used to make some people far away feel closer—while making us closer here at home.