The Departmental Final By: Shariq Ansari The recent events that occurred on September 11th have forced us to take a step back and reassess the way we live and how our society has dealt with the situation. There have been many articles that discussed how we have reacted, how our lives have changed, and how we have dealt with the terrible tragedy. But while these essays and observations are accurate, to a certain extent, we can also look back at past works and find that they apply themselves well to the current crisis, particularly The American Crisis, by Thomas Paine, which discusses the American Revolution, and the opening to Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, which discusses the French Revolution. Paine says, "Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." The conflict we faced in the days immediately following the attacks was indeed a difficult one, but on a whole, the American people, particularly those of New York City, triumphed brilliantly, showing courage, determination, and unity in the face of a horrible disaster. Our glory can be seen in the form of Old Glory, our country's flag, and the resurgence of patriotism that sweeps our nation today. Dickens discussed a duality that existed during the French Revolution, a duality that can be found anywhere during times of crisis and war, particularly today. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity..." It is the best of times, because a great deal of the American people are showing unity, patriotism, and compassion, but at the same time, it is the worst of times, because racism is rearing its ugly head, and many Arab-Americans and Muslim-Americans live in fear. It is an epoch of belief, because many of us have turned to God, for comfort, or even answers, and yet, it is also and an epoch of incredulity, because many Americans ask, "How could something like this happen to us?" Our lives are changed forever, but it is comforting to know that we can look back to the past and gain insight into our dilemma. We can see that we aren't alone, and that we aren't the first to experience a Season of Light and a Season of Darkness. Surely, these are the times that try men's souls, but by stepping back and learning from our situation, our triumph will truly be glorious.