Humanity Shines in the Immediate Crisis

In addition to Texas and Louisiana, there have been devastating flooding this week in Mumbai, Nepal, and Bangladesh.  The picture above is from the flooding in Bangladesh, which have killed at least a thousand and left millions homeless.

Amidst all the catastrophe and terrible loss of life and property, it has been heartening and encouraging to hear stories of people helping each other.  In addition to the dedicated work of first-responders, there have been innumerable acts of courage and kindness by regular citizens.  People instinctively helping others, even when it may put themselves at risk.  There have been many dramatic rescues, people forming human chains to pull people out of flood waters, private citizens taking their boats out and helping rescue people trapped in their homes or on rooftops.  These heroics have been both witnessed by, and assisted by, reporters and their cameramen. 

We hear a lot of bad things about the state of culture, about how people are basically selfish and unwilling to help each other.  It is still impressive, however, to see how immediate danger and crisis can bring out the best of so many.  None of us know for sure how we would respond in such an urgent situation, but it helps brings confidence and hope, that so many respond so well.  There is still a lot of good in human instinct and compassion.

Kudos must also be given to the first-responders, the professionals who are on the front lines of the storm's rage.  Police, firefighters, medical personnel, and others, have all performed admirably in the face of terrible adversity.  The state government has also been quick in marshaling what resources it can, including deploying all of the state's National Guard.

The Federal response to the immediate crisis has been fairly good as well.  FEMA, NOAA, the Coast Guard and other federal agencies, have all pitched in, and true or not, it feels like a much better and swifter action than it did in Katrina. Since he will definitely get the blame when things go wrong, President Trump should get the credit for when things go right.

The agencies mentioned above, and others as well that help in times of disasters, are being considered for massive budget cuts in Trump's first budget to take place starting in October.  Part of the rationale for this is to make room for spending on the Wall.  I'm sure another reason is conservative instincts to cut all spending not related to defense or support of the wealthy.  I hope that what has happened in connection with Harvey will cause some changed minds in Washington. Terrible weather events that were once called "100 year events" are now becoming almost annual occurrences, and we need to have the resources to cope.

People respond well to immediate crisis and danger.  Our instincts are to support and aid.  For every Joel Osteen, there are a hundred other churches giving everything they can, without questions or pre-conditions.  For every business doing nothing, there are dozens like the Mattress King, giving away what he can to make people more comfortable. The problems come before the storm, and after it's initial destruction is complete.

We need to stop playing partisan games with global warming, recognize its reality, and start dealing with it.  There are conservative and progressive solutions, and we need to start blending and compromising and move forward together.  Some action is better than inaction.  The costs of rehabilitating Houston and others areas damaged, both now and in future storms, is infinitely more expensive than the greening of America, and making it the alternative energy leader of the world. 

We need to buckle down to commit the resources needed to restore Houston and other damaged areas to be even better than they were before.  And we cannot leave the poor out of the mix.  A plan that does not significantly aid them is no plan at all.  We need legislators to stop voting by region, and start voting for the nation as a whole.  Texas Senators and Congressmen need to be as concerned about storm damage in New Jersey as they are in their home state.

It is good and faith-restoring to see people come to the aid of each other.  Rescuing pets from car tops, providing food and shelter, getting so many out of harm's way - all show the basic root dignity and compassion of mankind. But it is when the danger is not imminent, when it comes to the hard case of continued support, and rebuilding, and taking a look at where lack of regulation and where ignoring the reality of global warming, leads us - that is when our humanity sometimes lets us down.

I have faith that there are many good works to come.  That on all levels, from private to federal, from churches to businesses, we will continue to rebuild Texas and Louisiana, and that our caring and sharing will expand beyond the immediate crisis, and help make a better world for all.