There are No Strangers

Have you ever experienced a spontaneous bond with a perfect stranger? One moment you were strangers, the next moment you were one, caring as much about what happened to him or her as to yourself. Under ordinary circumstances this common bond doesn’t often surface, but extreme conditions can bring it out.
One such example was in the aftermath of 9/11. Perfect strangers put themselves in harm’s way to help others in need.
A story that recently came to light involves the sea evacuation of nearly half a million people. Many who escaped the towers made their way south to the seawalls, where they realized something New Yorkers hardly take notice of: Manhattan is an island.
When the towers were attacked, the tunnels and bridges were shut down. Those who tried to leave found themselves stranded ashore, and they mobbed whatever ferry or tugboat they could find. The Coast Guard put out a call for additional vessels, and within ten minutes the waterways were dotted with more crafts than the eye could count. Keep in mind that no one knew the extent of the danger, and crews had reason to fear an attack against their boats. Yet these ordinary Americans stepped up and plied the waterways all day, executing the largest sea evacuation in history.
Happily, it is not only disaster that brings out our common spark, but also joy. Take, for example, the feeling of elation that sweeps across a grandstand when the home team wins. Under these circumstances, it is quite common for perfect strangers to celebrate like family. But when the moment passes, they become strangers once again,