A tale of two disasters….
America is currently experiencing two disasters. The first is the election of Donald Trump. The second is hurricane Harvey.
The first was man made via a presidential election. The second was a natural disaster created by a weather system that will go down in history that is epic.
Trump’s election has divided the nation and we are currently engaged in a civil war. From an ideological point of view, it’s has all the characteristics of the Civil War of 1865. It is sad and disturbing the country is in such turmoil and this turmoil coincides with the presidential election.
Hurricane Harvey is a historical natural disaster.
My sister-in-law lives in Houston. We are very close to her so we have had communications every day as Harvey hit Houston. We can not put into words the totally helpless feeling we have had as we are given updates of what she is experiencing. We tried to get her on a plane to travel here but every airport was closed.
However, the disaster has a side bar. The outpouring of help that has brought the human race together in Houston is natural and epic.
At first, there was no organized institution [Red Cross] helping. It was individuals helping individuals, neighborhoods helping neighborhoods. One furniture store opened its doors for people who lost their homes to sleep on showroom furniture. Schools became havens for those who have lost everything. Some slept on a cot with 12 inches of water under the cot.
People went door to door looking and helping those who were flooded.
There are many more heart warming experiences that have united a population to help people in need in a life threatening disaster.
There was no prejudice in the life saving efforts…no color, no political agend, and no declaration of Democrats and Republicans…just one thought process, help people who need help.
The aid and helping effort has evolved from local to national. I saw a very touching scene on the news. It was a group of kids outside Boston that had set up a lemonade stand where it was advertised as the profits going to the hurricane victims in Houston. The reporter interviewed each child that was involved. The responses were heart warming as I said previously.
Our nation has become unified in Houston.
The Houston life saving efforts by individuals give a feeling that is warm and genuine. It’s man made and soul cleansing.
Just when I became disillusioned with the cultural [civil] war going on, the natural disaster hit Houston.
I am proud to be an American, once again. My faith in the human race has been restored. I am feeling there is hope and a chance to heal the sores created by the current political atmosphere.
“Hope is a good thing, perhaps the best of things, and no good thing ever dies”…a quote from the Shawshank Redemption.
Hope being that this country will take a page for the local/national help that has been extended in Houston. Hopefully this will help to generate enough force to decrease the hate and tension going on today.
Steve Bender, Mattapoisett, FHS Class of 1966
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