We are a Nation in mourning. We are glued to television sets and radios, mesmerized by images that our minds cannot comprehend. Our country is in the grip of the most devastating circumstances that we have ever known. Tales of extraordinary heroism as well as unprecedented acts of abomination will emerge for quite sometime.

I cannot imagine that anyone wouldn’t be horrified by accounts of snipers shooting at rescue workers, reports of looting, assaults, rapes, murders. These crimes are being perpetrated against helpless individuals that have already lost everything. Their homes, their jobs, their possessions, their sense of security, their loved ones. They survived the unimaginable, to be subjected to even worse atrocities. I pray that the Good Lord and their own karma deal with the offenders appropriately.

Disasters of any type are usually a great motivator for conversations with the Almighty. Whether it be in thanksgiving and gratitude (Thank God, I’m alive!). Prayers for the safety of the people affected and the people going in to help them. Prayers that needs will be met, lives will be healed, souls will be comforted, good will triumph over evil. God even welcomes questions, rants and raves (God, how could You let this happen??).

This is the first natural disaster that I haven’t seen this type of anger directed at God. I saw on the news, that some groups and individuals aren’t holding God responsible for this one. According to them, President Bush is responsible (along with the hole in the ozone, global warming and the heart break of psoriasis.) I always pictured God as being a little taller, a little more imposing, with a whole lot more facial hair than President Bush. I’m so used to God getting the blame for everything that this one threw me for a loop. I’m still trying to process that information. Not like it was the Pope gettin the blame or anything. The President. (Shakes my head.) Unbelievable.

I have been watching Shepard Smith reporting on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I truly like His style. He has passion, empathy for the people that He has been interacting with. I have to amen Bill O’Riley’s comment about Shepard. I sincerely hope that He is awarded journalisms highest award as well.

While reporting on the situation during the O’Riley Factor, Bill was commenting on the slow response of the agencies involved. Shepard became quite animated in His defense. The point that He was making in His discourse was this, the damage is so wide spread, so cataclysmic, so overwhelming, it is going to take time to get everywhere that they are needed. If it had been one city, it would be a different story. It isn’t like it was one state that was effected. Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are all reeling from catastrophic damages.

How dare the state and federal governments, the disaster agencies, the military be less than omnipotent to the exact magnitude of the hurricane? Why did they not anticipate all potential out comes? How dare they not be so omnipresent that they were not everywhere, instantly? How could the National weather service be so inept, that they didn’t pin point the exact point of landfall? Why were agencies not more aggressive in forcing residents to evacuate? Someone was obviously asleep behind the crystal ball.

I have been on the wrong side of a 911 phone call before. A minute seems like a day. For the people in the disaster areas, everyday has to feel like an eternity. They have every right to feel every emotion that surfaces, and I’m sure that they have run the gamut. The fear, the frustration, the hopelessness are unimaginable. It has to be a veritable Pandora’s box of heart break.

I read where Congress may even call for a review of the situation. That’s nothing new. Anything that draws national attention becomes review fodder. Not to be overly critical of them that trod the Hallowed Halls of Government, but in my humble opinion, they should just hand over the cash to the folks that are on the clean up crews and in charge of taking care of thousands of refugees (you know, the ones that do the real work) and not waste precious tax payers money bickering about who’s at fault and in what capacity.

Once Pandora’s box is emptied, there is that gleaming gift laying snuggled at the bottom. Hope. This is still America. There is nothing stronger, more courageous, more generous, than the heart of the American people. We are at our best as a united people than when we have a cause to fight for. The American spirit remains undaunted, even in the worst of times. Nothing is impossible when we band together, pool our resources. Goods, services, monies, homes are being offered to the hurricane victims eagerly, freely, compassionately. We have come to the aid of foreign countries time and again. How can anyone seriously think that we wouldn’t come to the aid of our own, as fast as we could, as effectively as we could?

The quick response to the disaster from our neighbors to the north and south is nothing short of heartwarming. Other countries are offering their aid and support as well. We have truly become a global tribe. Human pain and suffering knows no boundaries, recognizes no nationality. Corporations and individuals are standing in the gap. They are embracing the challenge.

Sometimes, bad things do happen to good people. The world has known natural disasters since man crawled from the primordial ooze. We have survived them all. We cannot fight nature on Her terms. But we do have the fire, the imagination, the drive, the heart to over come anything that she can throw at us. We are Americans dare it!

Too much time and effort has been wasted on the shoulda, woulda, coulda’s. Focusing on the negative is counter-productive and accomplishes nothing. Kudos to all the personnel that have been working tirelessly, around the clock, offering aid, comfort and assistance. May God richly and abundantly bless each and everyone that has offered of themselves and their resources.

Pay it forward. In whatever way you can join in the effort, please do so. It will take time, money (and lots of it) as well as a Herculean effort to rebuild the damage wrought by Katrina’s fury. Donate what you can, say a prayer, light a candle. All the small outpourings will become a rushing flood of love, into a devastated area.

Til next time...sassy v

© sassy vixen1 2005

http://www.delilah.com/content2/katrina.html (Delilah’s page has links to all the major organizations and services during this time of crisis. Please, check it out.)

United We Stand~ The Brotherhood of Man

(Written by Tony Hiller and Peter Simons)

There's nowhere in the world that I would rather be

Than with you my love

And there's nothing in the world that I would rather see

Than your smile my love

For united we stand

Divided we fall

And if our backs should ever be against the wall

We'll be together,

together, you and I

For united we stand

Divided we fall

And if our backs should ever be against the wall

We'll be together,

together, you and I

And if the world about you

falls apart my love

Then I'll still be here

And if the going gets too hard along the way

Just you call, I'll hear