For Crying Out Loud

Maman,

I didn't know Charlotte & Bill were in New Orleans. I am glad they left when they could and had the means to do so.

I think the initial lack of reaction on our part is based on the fact that it is only just becoming apparent how severe the circumstances are. We're used to hurricanes in the southern U.S. The fact that this was 'Katrina' means that hurricanes A through J already came by, if you see what I mean.

Not that we don't care, but that we've only just realized how dire the situation is.

There's a lovely letter from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the States - have you seen it? I won't display it, as that would be 'general dissemination', which they ask us not to do, but I thought it was a really nice letter. They quoted 'Abdu'l-Baha, talking about another tragedy. He was saying that this type of thing is sent from God to remind humanity to rely upon Him [note: humanity, not just the people of the area, we're not talking about a vindictive god; CMA: this is just me paraphrasing].

To me, that means that I should pray, as that's about all I can do - in Israel w/o much money.

Yes, I did read it.

I have had the same feeling of slowly dawning awareness of the devistation. I am as surprised at my own lack of response as anyone else's. I am surely not pointing fingers here, just observing. When the storm was coming, my reaction was along the lines of, here comes another one. Hurricane season. Alarmist press, slow news day. It wasn't until after the idiot weather-reporters who stand outside during the storm to make a point about how strong the winds are had fled inside to seek shelter and stopped reporting, that it began to dawn on me that this was a bad one. There was actually a lull in the reporting between the storm and the aftermath when reporters couldn't get in, get power, etc. Then it all started to roll in, one hysterical person after another. And unlike the tsunami, it will be an even longer recovery. The tsunami rolled in and back out in one horrific moment, lasting maybe an hour. This storm was longer in duration, but then the water didn't leave. I have been hearing some predictions that it will take up to 6 months for the water recede because New Orleans actually sits in the bottom of a bowl below sea level.

The impact of tsunami was a leveler -- all strata of society were impacted equally. That is not true of Katerina. Those with means got out. Those who were left or stayed, were the poor and the feeble, those who are already struggling for survival on a daily basis.

And Daddy just read that the hurricane season is only one third over. Do they start the alphabet over again if they go all the way through? K is the 11th letter; we could get up to 33?

Yup, I remember I flew to Guadeloupe passing a hurricane on the way. That was the second week of September. I think it's over by the end of September. And yes, they will start the alphabet over if necessary (it's Katrina).

I've organized a prayer gathering for this evening.

I have been joking about how next we'll see Hurrican Sherman moving southeast from Northern Kentucky marching to Atlanta to burn the city. It's only a funny in reference to the totality of Katrina and not in the reality. I have to admit that I feel very little sympathy for Americans anymore when tragedy strikes. 911 was a wake up call that said, "America, you must rise to fulfill your spirtual destiny. This is one of the first chances, it's going to get worse from here on out." The tsunami was tragic, unavoidable, and a massive loss of lives. Terrible. The hurricane, while causing some deaths, has been a strident blow to American reliance on secular materialism. Perhaps Americans will wake up and see that Katrina is a result of global warming and that, indeed, we do need to remember God. Perhaps another atrocious hurricane will need to happen to the United States this year before people begin to understand that the threat of global warming is an impending threat.

On a side note, I think it odd that the book of Revelations talks about people seeking safety in the mountains in the day of judgement. I understand that mountains are a spiritual symbol but, nevertheless, so much of a threat to those of us on land comes from the sea and rising ocean levels, melting ice caps, tsunamis, perfect storms, hurricanes, etc.

Mensch, if you read the Kitab-i-Iqan, we are living in Judgment Day.

And you could seriously work on your empathy skills.

Though the hurricane was unavoidable the tragedies were not- that is why people are so upset. And you are playing a ridiculous game of blaming the victims. Absurd.

Mensch,

What are they putting in the water over there? As far as I understand it, it is the responsibility of the Baha'is to ameliorate the growing pains of humanity's adolescence. If things are horrible or downright horrific it's because we are not working hard enough. Just think about how much a difference the virtues of civility and consideration for one's neighbors would have made even after the hurricane struck. Even with the failure of technology or environmental policy, human empathy would have gone a very long way in saving lives and averting disaster.

Beyond Bush's failures (and there were many fatal missteps of this administration leading up to this disaster), there were many things that the people could have done themselves to lessen the scale of misery that ensued. There is still much that can be done! Think: What should the Baha'i response be? I don't think it should be "They had it coming!"

Look, we are all responding to this incredible tragedy in different ways. What stage are you in?

I'd been in disbelief for a few days, thinking that surely order would be restored in a matter of days, that there would be a massive plan for evacuating those that were left behind before things got to the deplorable condition that we just witnessed. Then I became angry. And now, I can see how this all fits in to the tests that we are going to be confronted with. I can also see the victory that can be achieved from this crisis.

For instance, for the first time in recent memory, we are vividly seeing the effects of the great disparity between the wealthy and the poor. People are seriously talking about these issues now! This is wonderful.

"There is no time to lose. There is no room for vacillation. Multitudes hunger for the Bread of Life. The stage is set. The firm and irrevocable Promise is given. God's own Plan has been set in motion. It is gathering momentum with every passing day. The powers of earth and heaven mysteriously assist in its execution. Such an opportunity is irreplaceable. Let the doubter arise, and himself verify the truth of such assertions. To try, to persevere, is to insure ultimate and complete victory."

--Shoghi Effendi

I can understand Mendon's point of view in the sense that he is frustrated with the U.S. people. I am too sometimes. I feel sympathy for the individuals who are suffering, yet I am not distressed as one of my coworkers is. I also don't really think that any of this stuff has to do with any god/s.

Rae, we understand where the frustration is coming from, what is going on in response to the tragedy.

You are as entitled to your opinion as we are to ours.

Here is most of Charlotte's reply about her trip out of the hurricane and a family update. I thought you might find it interesting.

"Hi, glad you wrote. I called Christophe and left a message. We are in Charleston, S.C. We evacuated Sat. evening before the hurricane hit. We went to Kit's who lives in Deridder which is in LA on the Texas border. We didn't get an ounce of wind or rain. She and Jim left for Maine on Wed. to work on their retirement property in Maine and Bill received a message to report to Charleston for work till the shipyard opens at Avondale, Louisiana, whidch is right outside New Orleans. Kit will be in La. for about a year and a half. Jim was going to retire but was offered a very high paying job for 2 years in LA, so he took it while their new property was getting a 3 car garage, 4 stall horse barn, and a new house. Dawn is driving her horse trailer, with 4 horses, from Oregon to Maine as I write. She will live on the new property till she finds a source of income. She's 24, now.

Bill and I have two granddaughters 3 1/2 and 1. They live in Minn. Glen is back from Iraq looking great. He's in Boston.

We had an interesting trip across La., Miss., Ala., Geo., and S.C. on Thursday. We drove straight through arriving at 3:00 a.m. Fri. There were tremendous lines at the gas pumps, prices were out of sight, some rationed their gas to only 25 dollars worth, many gas stations were closed due to no gas,
and some stations had only primium.

We are fine. The gov. has given us temporary quarters in the Embassy Suites. Feels like we've hit paradise. we have no idea what has happened to our home since we left before the storm. It could be: demolished, damaged, flooded, looted, or someone could be living in it. There is no electricity, water, gas, nor food. The news says we can't go back for 2 or 3 months. So we are in kind of a limbo. At least we are alive. We brought our 3 birds. Don't have a dog since Tasha died. I'm sure glad Mom and Dad weren't around to have to go through this." (Mom & Dad refer to Aunt Effie and Uncle Gardner, of course.)

I'm not going to get into the theology of this storm. I'm not sure there is any. I am just observing. I have noticed that the storm is beginning to fall off the radar screen here in Ohio. I think it is partly due to the enormity of the problem along with the feeling of powerlessness to really do anything that could make a difference. When were were at Gramma's last night (we went to visit Grampa in his new nursing home) and we were watching CNN. what struck me was the sort of shell-shocked look on the faces of the reporters who were actually in New Orleans. These are seasoned reporters who have been in war zones and have seen it all, yet they seem to truly stunned by this, and the feeling that the progress is one baby step forward, three giant steps back.