PEOPLE: And a Philosopher Named Katrina

You can read them all, Milton, Blake, Plato, all the way through Kant and Freud and more.  The historians and the philosophers, the psychologists and the writers of the times and of the peoples.  The questions asked and answers lie unfound:  Will war cease to exist as civilization advances?  Is it the people or the politics?  Need or greed?  Is man innately good or evil?

I watch the immediate aftermath of disaster, so many stealing what isn’t theirs.   Opportunists taking advantage of their neighbors–not even with the distorted view that those in want are somehow granted rights to that of those in plenty.  But hurting people who are no better off than they.  I can understand the grief, frustration and the hunger–but on the very next day to drive one to such callous disregard for your fellowman?  Why in God’s name do you need a television set now?To attack those who come to help–the ambulances, police and military is unconscienceable.  To hold them back from helping others is a sin against mankind.  To complain of not receiving individual assistance when there are thousands trying to help thousands on such short notice of such a major devastation of a place and population?

This, from AP: 

"I don’t treat my dog like that," 47-year-old Daniel Edwards said as he pointed at the (dead) woman in the wheelchair. "I buried my dog." He added: "You can do everything for other countries but you can’t do nothing for your own people. You can go overseas with the military but you can’t get them down here."

Well for Pete’s sake grab a shovel!  Why is it up to the military–who are coming to help in full force–instead of you, Daniel, who are right there on the scene?  All I can think of is that tv commercial out now where people stand around clucking their tongues at a piece of paper someone dropped outside of a trash basket.  Until one man silently walks by and picks it up and tosses it in.

I realize that I am speaking from a safe and cozy home up North and haven’t been through trauma such as this.  What would I do? 

I hope to God, not what I see.