Last night I watched the leader of our country, some would say, of the free world, speechify about how we need to go to Iraq and send more and more young people to fight for...what?
And, what was truly stunning was the fact that the recovery of a large portion of country, or should I save LACK of recovery, was not even mentioned.
If it is out of sight, it is out of mind.
Since I have been back I have been asked what it was like, what did I see. People are amazed when I tell them that I saw miles and miles and miles of ravished neighborhoods, homes still untouched since the storm, lives still unmended. Yes, many of those who were forced out of the area have gone on to what some say are better lives elsewhere. They found new homes and new jobs, and this when many of them were chronically unemployed. Does this mean we need a good earthquake here in California to get back on track, to shake out the ne'er-do-wells, to cleanse the state and start again? And who would come to our aid?
Whether it is shaking out or washing away our sins isn't this ultimately so we do not have to face how abominably we do treat each other? We need to come together and build a true family of mankind. Sometimes tough love is warranted. Other times extending a helping hand up is the thing needed. But we all need to be reminded of the Golden Rule and think about what we are doing..would we want what is being done to New Orleans to be done to us?
I am lifting the rug, (something I learned how to do in New Orleans), every chance I get now. We need to remember what has happened in New Orleans, at Ground Zero and in southeast Asia, (remember there was a major tsunami?). No more "out of sight, out of mind." That is one of the lessons of our mission trip to New Orleans...it is perhaps the most important one.
Rob
R
And, what was truly stunning was the fact that the recovery of a large portion of country, or should I save LACK of recovery, was not even mentioned.
If it is out of sight, it is out of mind.
Since I have been back I have been asked what it was like, what did I see. People are amazed when I tell them that I saw miles and miles and miles of ravished neighborhoods, homes still untouched since the storm, lives still unmended. Yes, many of those who were forced out of the area have gone on to what some say are better lives elsewhere. They found new homes and new jobs, and this when many of them were chronically unemployed. Does this mean we need a good earthquake here in California to get back on track, to shake out the ne'er-do-wells, to cleanse the state and start again? And who would come to our aid?
Whether it is shaking out or washing away our sins isn't this ultimately so we do not have to face how abominably we do treat each other? We need to come together and build a true family of mankind. Sometimes tough love is warranted. Other times extending a helping hand up is the thing needed. But we all need to be reminded of the Golden Rule and think about what we are doing..would we want what is being done to New Orleans to be done to us?
I am lifting the rug, (something I learned how to do in New Orleans), every chance I get now. We need to remember what has happened in New Orleans, at Ground Zero and in southeast Asia, (remember there was a major tsunami?). No more "out of sight, out of mind." That is one of the lessons of our mission trip to New Orleans...it is perhaps the most important one.
Rob
R
3 comments:
Here's to a good swift kick in the pants!
Be well my friend.
Rob - I also found the State of the Union speech lacking in that he didn't mention the Gulf Coast devastation and recovery at ALL. Not even a tiny bone was thrown in that direction...how sad it is that there is such denial about the lasting effects of Katrina and our abysmal response to it. I find it extremely sad that not only did he ignore those people and places physically hit by the hurricanes and storm surge, but also the cities and states that are struggling with refugees (not a word we like to use in the U.S. about our own citizens) of the devastation.
I am even more committed to speaking my thoughts and writing to our leaders - it really is the LEAST I can do.
Thanks for continuing to "process" on this blog...it helps-
Barbie
Hi Rob - thanks for putting up the links on the blog. I've been keeping up with "The Parish" stuff through http://www.sbpg.net/ It's their local government site. You might want to check it out.
Barbie
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