September 8th, 2005
Down in the Flood
I’ve been thinking for several days now if I should, and how I could, address the tragedy in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It’s funny that this was so difficult, because, as you probably know, I have had my share of hardship. Just a few months ago, I was having so much trouble getting Apple to send me an iPod that worked properly. It was ridiculous…. Somehow that doesn’t quite seem the same, though.
While I finding this daunting, it seems too big not to acknowledge, so I don’t want to skip over it.
So let’s see, I could try to get inspirational, and let you know you need to give blood and donate money. Of course, I haven’t done these things either. I could write one of those soul-bearing confessions about what a hypocrite I am and how I sat there, watching it on TV and saying “Why isn’t anyone helping those people?” and how I feel bad about that. Or I could just bitch about the price of gas (oh, how I could bitch about the price of gas). But you’ve heard all this before, in a hundred different variations.
So I don’t know…. All I can think to do right now, is to paraphrase someone who offered some simple, accessible advice on how to help: Jason Boone, the social justice leader at church. He simply asked us to eat at home rather than go out; to stay in instead of going out to a movie; to get that book we need from the library, instead of at Barnes & Noble; etc.. Then to put that money aside to give as a donation. I think this is a good way to approach it. You don’t have to leave your job and go work on the front lines, or get your pilot’s license so you can airlift supplies into the Superdome. Just make a few minor sacrifices with this deliberate purpose in mind.
Also I’d like to refer you to The Onion, which, once again, has risen to the occasion. How they know how to do social satire that is so funny, in the wake of something so tragic, is beyond me. They did it after 9/11, and they’ve done it this time, too.
On a side note, doesn’t it seem like these planet-altering catastrophic events are coming closer and closer together? Just a thought. It’s probably nothing we should be worried about….
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