Friday, September 02, 2005

Disbelief

The sense I get from most is a state of total disbelief about the events in New Orleans and the Gulf Region. It's really difficult to digest this reality, I don't think Americans have ever witnessed something so incomprehensible in this region. Though I think it's safe to say that many of us are able to acknowledge that natural disasters, violence, rapes, hunger and lack of medical care are a daily occurrences for a large chunk of the World and as Americans, we are fairly spoiled and ignorant to these struggles.

Possibly that is why it is so shocking. Going about ones typical activities with the knowledge that children starve to death every single day may be upsetting for some, but easily dismissed when it's Ocean's away. But when it's in their own back yard, it is pretty frightening and difficult to fathom which I think has a paralyzing effect on communities and decisions makers as a whole. As I often say, fear is powerful. Perhaps this accounts for the lack of coordination and immediate response measures? I don't know and I choose not to speculate as I don't know all of the facts, I doubt any of us truly know the depths of this situation as we are still in reactionary mode and will be for some time.

What I do know is that while I believe the media in it's true-to-form nature has sensationalized the horrors of the past week to the general public, I think what is happening is real and people are suffering.

Mother Earth is powerful and our respect for Her should supercede our greed for Her resources. Quite possibly our impact as humans beings on our environment have much to do with the climatic extremities we've witnessed in the past several years, but I do not believe the increasing severity of this situation stems purely from the weather and climate that are part of the cyclical nature of our dear planet. No question there would've been loss due to the hurricane itself, but my heart whispers of something much more sinister.

Seems the chaos has much more to do with the ravages of shear poverty and frustrations over the clearly biased sociological lines that still exist in America, especially the South. Not to mention the declining funds for emergency preparedness and relief efforts in that part of the country. The lack of response and ability to take a leadership role in a time of crisis? That award would go to our famed President and his administration which never ceases to disappoint.

Time will tell. But in the interim, my thoughts and heart are with every women attempting to quiet a hungry baby; every looter consumed with hate or greed; every elderly woman needing immediate medical attention. Please stay safe, stay out of the water as much as possible and choose your actions wisely, what you do today may have more impact then you know tomorrow.

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