This has been a week of tears for those who
were hit by Hurricane Katrina.
It would have been easier to turn the
television news off and not have my heart hurting. Simply put,
I couldn't.
I believe it is my responsibility to
appreciate the vastness of the human experience. Our world is a
very small place.
First, I worked through my feelings of
helplessness. Other than donating money, what could I do? We
heard criticism of the government's response, accusations of
racist decision-making, poor planning to protect against a
Level 5 hurricane and slowness of mobilization. We heard
miraculous survival stories, the resiliency of southerners, the
generosity of neighbouring communities, and the knowing each
community will rebuild - for every positive, a negative and
vice versa.
We witnessed this week once again our
vulnerability in North America.
This is just another lesson for all of us to
recognize our similarities with our global neighbours. This
vulnerability and realization that aid must come from others is
a strength. To ask for help from those who were helped in the
past will have the world as a closer community.
People want to repay with genuine caring. The
hierarchy of power can become more level and with this comes
open communication, which leads to understanding towards a more
peaceful world.
That being said, we must not forget the fact
that millions of people, each with their own story have lived
through a storm of great magnitude, a story that has taken
most, if not all, of their personal belongings and some members
of their circle, be it family, friends or community.
We saw or heard of behaviour that was
frightening - looting, pushing, shooting. Who can imagine what
it is like to experience a Level 5 hurricane, lose your home,
be disconnected from loved ones, be without food and water for
days and wonder if you would ever be safe again? Might you be
terrified, confused, hurt, and disillusioned?
Their plight is not yet over. Where do they
go from here? Who will be there to support them? Who will
listen to their stories? When will they have a home again? I
know there are millions of good souls out there and somehow the
two groups will connect.
Remember each day how very fortunate we are.
What do you have to be grateful for today?
Anna Maria Barsanti
Sudbury