Spare Change

Katrina Perspective

Posted by Bryan

So Hillary Clinton and John "I'm no Psychic" Edwards have launched their 2008 presidential aspirations on waves of Katrina's floodwaters. Hillary rewrites history to cast her (husband's) tenure as a do-nothing wrong Camelot, while Edwards race- and class warfare-baits a reconnaisance (in homage to Vet Kerry, perhaps) to the "Two Americas" campaign that did such a bang-up job the first time around.

So here's the thing...I've been up to my snout for a week now in this, and I want you to know the following to be true (and if you've been involved, you'll likely concur):

• FEMA has done a great job. They have expedited funds to people quickly -- certainly more quickly than I'd imagine for a calamity of this magnitude. We have been placing people in apartments rapidly because FEMA has been an excellent partner in helping restore lives. Have they been flawless and without blame? No. But if one is to flick boogers of blame, let us remember that the before the proverbial nasal mucus dried into a crusty klinger hanging from the nostril wall, it performs wonderful service of respiratory filtering.


• Nothing about these efforts are perfect. The paths to solutions have proven to be as fluid as the floodwaters that have caused the problems. Bureaucracy is no friend to fluidity, be it entrenched in the government, the church, the business, or civic/charitable organization. Our ability to succeed in providing aid is directly related to our ability to adapt to the enigmatic phenomenon of meeting the total, seemingly inexhaustible needs of thousands upon thousands of wonderful people who have suffered the worst series of experiences in their lives. That said, just because the efforts have not been perfect does not mean they have not been good, or even excellent.


• This is not a political matter, no matter how much libs (or even some cons for that matter) want it to be. Notice, politicos are the only ones clamoring for an inquest. Everyone else either wants to be helped, or wants to help. Nancy Pelosi classlessly wagging her hate-spewing tongue and blame-pointing finger in synchonistic castigation does nothing to improve the situation. All her animosity and $3.95 will get you a grande Cafe Americana with two spoonfuls of bitterness.


• There is not two Americas, despite the claims otherwise. Here in our One America, we have people helping people...financially, spiritually, emotionally, relationally, civically, and provisionally. We are not separated by race, money, geography, or circumstance. We are shoulder-to-shoulder living together, loving together, and learning together. We color-blind and hope-filled. We are intentionally ignorant of differences and focused on connecting the hands reaching out in need with those reaching out in assistance. We are taking new friends into our homes, our churches, our communities, and our very lives. If ever there is a dichotomy in America right now, it is only between those who understand that now is a time for celebrating and pursuing that which unites us, and those who do not.