The water is everywhere, but not a drop to drink. It is diseased with germs that cause illness. It is contaminated with toxic chemicals. It carries and submerges, eats away at wood and rots the formerly sat upon, gathered around, and treasured.
Water, which is often a metaphor for healing, cleaning, and restoration is responsible for unprecedented agony—both in the tsunami of the past December and the 300,000 lives lost in that catastrophy and most recently Katrina.
Last night hubby wrote a reminder, on his blog, about The Washing of the Water. Once those effected by tragedy both small in scope and beyond the scope find higher ground, they will attempt to heal. It is my hope they turn to the healing waters.
I’ve seen the tragedy politicized, blame thrown around (how can we blame anyone for a hurricane?), and outlandish conspiracy theories abounding. I have yet to see the Hollywood elite so quick to jump on the handwringing bandwagons start any telethons or fundraising drives. It is up to individuals, it seems, to step forward and help.
Even in small, seemingly meaningless ways we can reach out—donate what you can in goods or finances to various relief organizations. Be good stewards of what you have in your homes. Don’t consume excess energy. Yeah, I can be happy I have a full tank of gas. If someone needed it, though, I’d say “sure” and make my kids walk to school, uphill both ways, in the snow and barefoot.
We’ve been given so much. I know that. We all do. When we have laundry to complain about, or dishes to wash, or bums to wipe for the 10,000th time, I will remember I didn’t have to loot the diaper from WalMart, an act of desperation and shame (I have no sympathy for those who are looting Dyson vacuums* and plasma TVs).
So, in New Orleans, there are signs of the Healing Waters. Somewhere, they will find it in the flood.
*h/t Michelle Malkin
Well put, Gretchen. I often sit in the midst of my abunance in contemplation (often guilt)when I know that there is suffering on this scale taking place. Speechless, anxious, not really knowing how to help. All I know to do is pray and give what I can. Please read the letter I posted under comment in your blog titled “The Gulf.” It is a more first hand account of what is going on.
Who, exactly, are the Hollywood elite?
George Clooney, The Sarandons, Matt Damon, Paul Newman, etc…all who usually don’t miss any opportunity to raise money when disaster strikes elsewhere.
I was wondering where the big telethons, benefit concerts, etc. were…..
Add Bragelina to the list, although I admire Angelina’s sincere efforts in helping the less fortunate worldwide.
It is their perogative. I don’t know why I am expecting anything out of Hollywood, or entertainers in general. Maybe because many have positioned themselves as goodwill ambassadors and experts.
It’s funny that I feel I need to defend the celebrities you’ve named, but I really don’t think they’ve positioned themselves as experts on anything. I mean, George Clooney hangs out in Italy and dates teenagers, and while Susan Sarandon, Matt Damon and Paul Newman have expressed political views, I don’t think that obligates them to host telethons after every disaster.
But, on a different note, I was wondering why there wasn’t more of an outpouring of money and charity and telethons in the way there was in the days after the tsunami, but then I realized, much of that effort was galvanized because the US initially pledged soooo little after that disaster that it was an embarassment. Also, the countries affected are in many cases poor and their governments could not hope to deal with the cost of rebuilding. By contrast, we live in the wealthiest nation on Earth, so if it’s physically possible to do so, the government should be able to help those states and their inhabitants rebuild. I’m not saying that personal charity and kindness is not warranted, this is just my own explanation for why the reaction to this disaster has been so different.
You always make me laugh, in a good way of course. The George Clooney speculation is priceless…
Anyway, you make very good points. They are, indeed, very different disasters. The people here have definate hope for reclaiming their lives, but the people in south Asia had so little to begin with, in many cases.
There is still time. This is new and the scope of it is just becoming evident. I bet lots will be planned. I hope.
But, in many cases, the people who did not evacuate were people who had so little that they could not afford to leave. They had no money, not even enough for a bus ticket to safety. And the devastation is so widespread that they are now predicting it will be months before New Orleans is functional again. There are literally thousands of people here in Houston staying in hotels and shelters. Even at a relatively cheap rate of $50/night, how long could you afford to stay in a hotel? They’re bussing 23,000 people from the Superdome to the Astrodome. Many of them no longer have homes to go to after the water recedes because they’ve lost everything in the flood. On some level, this is really not vastly different from the tsunami.
I heard something earlier tonight about a benefit concert NBC is broadcasting Friday night. Names like Aaron Neville (who is apparently missing three nieces in New Orleans), Harry Connick, Jr., Tim McGraw, and Wynton Marsalis were mentioned. It is my sincere hope that they are able to raise large sums of money to help these poor people (and that the money is used wisely), they are going to need all the help they can get.