Finally Touching on the news...

Hurricane Katrina hit while we were in Italy and we had no idea it hit until our last night there--and we didn't realize how bad it was until the day after we got home. The recent tragedy in New Orleans is reported everywhere. Every blog that I read has some mention of this-- Generally the concenses has been to express gratitude for the life each has--and how our lives could be worse...and to be thankful for what we have. I haven't touched on it yet... not ready to blog about it or describe my feelings about it because I've had trouble sorting out exactly how I feel. Today, as I sat in church, members were discussing the recent events in comparison to the "LATTER-DAYS" or "nearing the end of the world as we know it." I'm sure MANY religions were discussing this today. It is a very sad and horrible time for those people living in such conditions. I'm sure I will get blasted by people about my feelings, but I don't really care. They are mine and I can't figure it out any other way. Some say that one never knows how they will behave in times of tragedy. Tragedy uncovers who you really are. I watched a bit of TV, the same loops over and over about the American people who were worst hit by the hurricane and survived. I finally stopped watching. I can't take it. How the heck did it get to this point of panic in such a short amount of time??? I have to say that I'm ashamed about how most of the people we watched behaved. And it confirms, to my embarrassment, how spoiled some Americans really can be. What I can't seem to wrap my mind around is: People were ORDERED to evacuate days ahead of the storm. Most people didn't listen. One place I read, rebutted this statement by mentioning that people were TRYING to evacuate, but the freeway was jammed. Um. yeh. When everyone tries to leave just before the storm... I'd imagine that it would be bumper to bumper for EONS. Get out of your car and walk. BILLIONS of refugees have done it. Germans walked through 2 countries to find safety when the Nazi's came--with no food and water: Just the clothes on their back. And sometimes not even shoes in freezing blizzards. Everyone wants to blame President Bush for the lack of aid the first day after the tragedy. Where were the state leaders? Where was the state funds that are designed for the first 48 hours of an emergency? Every state has them. And--what about the people shooting at the help!? WHY aren't people--those who are healthy, strong enough to yell at the camera that they need help NOW-- helping calm people around them, offering a soft touch, shoulder to cry on, cool cloth on those who are suffering??? WHY ARE YOU WAITING for someone to help YOU???? "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country!" (Completly paraphrased by me, but origionally said by John F. Kennedy.) Why do people keep saying that looting electronics is bad, but looting for food is understandable and justified? It STILL belongs to someone else. It is still STEALING. Someone else will suffer beacause people stole from them....the commandment doesn't say "Thou shalt not steal --except when you're in dire circumstances." ***I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT THOSE WHO PHYSICALLY CANNOT LEAVE. I have an online friend,whom I've chatted with for about 6-7 months.... She makes me laugh a lot. She has been without gas in her home since MAY. Her husband was unemployed for 5 months, and they have been and are currently living on their food storage. I have never ONCE heard her complain about her situation. Oh, She's normal....she fusses about the normal things--kids too cranky, hubs driving her nuts, bad hair days..people buggin' her and so forth, but NEVER does she complain about the lot she has. I didn't even have an INKLING she was going through this until recently. I've always thought I was a very simple and grateful person... She has made me learn to appreciate MORE of what I have--simply beacuse she is always grateful for what she has. If there was something I've learned from this tragedy, it is that I've become so self centered and complacent in my abundance... and that from this moment forward, I will step out of my comfortable little box and lend a listening ear, soft touch, loving hug to others and find ways to help another. How could I get so lazy in my giving?