The Real "Storm of the Century"Sep 07 '05 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Thoughts on Hurricane Katrina and opinion of the nation's reaction.
BELOW ARE A FEW OF MY THOUGHTS ON THE STATE OF OUR COUNTRY AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA. I want to extend my deepest sympathies and heartfelt wishes to those directly affected by the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. This disaster was probably worse than any other hurricane in the past century, and will quite probably go down as the costliest disaster in American history. Peace be with you all, and Godspeed. --------------------------------------------------- Recent events, such as the one witnessed and felt this past week, only serve as bookmarks to place in a "Guidebook of Our Nations Cultural Attitude". By this, I mean that any national disaster or catastrophe placed on a global scale seem to bring out the best in people, but also the worst. As if we thought gas prices in the United States were high enough, (not withstanding the fact that a price per gallon in other countries was a much higher ratio) they jump even higher in Katrina's aftermath. Suddenly $2.59 a gallon sounds like a bargain. Just another chance for us to take inventory of what we have, and what we had. The old philosophy rings true yet again---we don't miss what we have until it's gone. There's an ever-increasing chasm of separation, which (inevitably enough) does its job of turning mankind against itself. The news media is adamant to this, it seems---as nearly all fronts and stations attempt to present some sort of way to "blame" the other side as to why New Orleans didn't fare better during Katrina's fury. There's a side that blames the national government-- There's a side that blames the local governments-- There's a side that blames the city's arrogance-- There's a side that blames the city's mayor-- There's a side that blames another side-- There's a side that blames both sides-- There's a side that blames everyone. But beyond all of the blaming, beyond all of the unrealistic finger-pointing and @ss-chewing, there is actually a ray of sunshine beaming through the clouds of "intelligence"---the people of the United States of America. You have raised over $50 million dollars and donated it to the Red Cross. You have spent your hard-earned money, saving it for your own hard times. No matter how much money the government grants to those in dire need of help (and the needs are vast), the voice of the people will speak volumes upon volumes compared to any speech a man in a suit and tie can give. I am simply amazed at the amount of money, housing, clothing, bedding, medical care, school and dormitory availability...etc., that has been given! Our National Guard may have been late in activating its people---but those fortunate enough to have been rescued from an otherwise watery grave are more than likely happy to be alive now that they are (more than likely, again) somewhere dry and safe. Those people rescuing and saving others' lives are not inhuman--they are just as affected and emotionally involved as those who bore the brunt of the disaster. You would be hard pressed to find someone saving someone else, if not scores of other people, who would just say "it didn't have any affect on me". Through all of the good news, however, there is a section of folks I like to set aside like a group of guinea pigs. Through thick and through thin, there always seems to be a particular group of individuals who finds a way to blame someone else's misfortune on the way they lived. True, we can chalk some things up to that end---you spend all your money on drugs, you can't expect people to hand you things--etc, etc. The main point I'm trying to bring up here is that some "Right-Wing" conservatives in our country argue that Katrina is the Wrath of God. Now, is it me, or did Al-Qaeda just say the same thing? Is it actually possible that "conservatives" and "terrorists" agree on something? Not only that, if you think back to the Tsunami of 2004, Al-Qaeda (correct me if I'm wrong) said that the tsunami was a presidential conspiracy! Why, oh why---WHY is it these people use their own religious beliefs to sport some sort of JUSTIFICATION for a tragedy? Let's see here, in the eyes of Al-Qaeda: Tsunami outside of America--President Bush wants to kill us Storm hits the United States--Wrath of God. Makes a whole lot of sense, eh? Instead of attacking the President, though, SOME of the conservative people in our country like to blame the "gays", the "casinos", and the "unspeakable people" in New Orleans for what happened. What proof is there that God (the unseen force) took his hand and methodically blew up a storm that would devastate hundreds of thousands? Why not just take out a slice of the French Quarter, or destroy the city during Mardi Gras? You don't have an explanation for that--and you don't have an explanation for this either. All it amounts to is a rectal-cranial inversion. Personally, I think this group should take their finger points and point them up the old chute. But enough of the ranting. We should look at each other as HUMANS---we are here to live with each other, to HELP each other--not point fingers and shout and imitate the likeness of other figures in world-media. While I hesitate to say it, some of us are truly headed in that direction. Things may seem at their worst now. Believe it or not, they can get worse. Hurricane Katrina is merely a test in the grand scheme of things. How well we adapt to a cultural, environmental, and social crisis is telling of how we as a nation, and a world, will cope and survive through the years and centuries to come. I am not one to try and sound self-absorbed--but there is an entry I made sometime during the tsunami disaster alluding to another disaster that would "put things into perspective". I didn't "make" these things happen--neither did any of us. They just happen, and it just so HAPPENS that some of us are more aware of our world than others. Through all of this, please remember to love each other. Even I can allude to a Biblical phrase---"the greatest commandment is love". Love your neighbor as yourself--don't love your neighbor as a stranger. Until next time, everyone--take care. =Aaron=  |
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