Hurricane Katrina
I was listening to NPR news this evening and heard a report about a Dan Lester that opened a health clinic in his home in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. According to the man, he was approached because he owned a generator with enough capacity to operate a variety of equipment including an air conditioner. Dan says that "it kinda mushroomed from there". When he was first approached, his first response was to say that they knew where his home was located, just go on in.
Dan was very humble about his tremendous act of humanity and support for his community. He "ma'am"ed the interviewer regularly and seemed to me to be like most people that I've met living in the midwest and in the south. The sort of common American that understands that a time of need is the time to act.
Earlier today I was reading a story [go to bugmenot if needed] about a neighborhood that had taken refuge in a school building. One man called "Sarge" had recalled a similar situation from 30 years ago when his father had led his family and others into the same school to seek shelter. He knew the 3rd floor would stay dry. Sarge got his nickname from his time served in the Marines.
Faced with gang members breaking into vending machines, this group of honest survivors forced the thugs from their midst. They kept themselves clean and fed. They went out to the elderly living nearby to give them food and see to their needs. When the helicopters started coming in, they got the worst folks to the roof and saw them lifted to safety.
Quite a contrast from the mess at the Superdome.
These stories remind me first of the example we are all supposed to be following at a time like this. There isn't time for blame and finger-pointing when people are still sitting on roof-tops waiting to be rescued. Saving people must be the only priority of the day.
These stories also remind me of the disconnect between some of the elites in this country and the people that make America tick. Reading about Sarge's group and Dan Lester's generosity reminds me of the way most people I know work in a time of crisis. In many ways it is the blossoming of our common faith in an Almighty Creator in response to tragedy.
I think back to many of the discussions I've had with such high thinkers over the years, and it seems to me that in their rush to be modern and sophisticated, such people often overlook the values of the heartland. To some we are hicks who's belief in God is identical to native worship of a volcano god or some such thing.
We stand for something. We understand that there is such a thing as right and wrong. We don't attempt to bring every issue down to a debate on shades of gray.
And that is why we donated billions for tsunami relief earlier this year. And that is why we will be donating billions more to help the refugees from Hurricane Katrina.
by Dann
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Michael Yon
