My Thoughts on Katrina...

I have been reading Random Blogs the last few days. It’s amazing to me the number of people who blame George Bush for everything bad that happens. I am a Republican. I voted for George Bush twice. I did not vote for Clinton either time he ran, the 90’s were not good to me. I struggled financially, barely got by, I lost several jobs, was unemployed for several long spells. Did I blame Slick Willey? No, I got up off my butt and found another job.

Let me explain something, as my Profile says I am a T-6 paraplegic, that means that I am paralyzed from the chest down. When my accident happened in 1990, I was on Welfare and Social Security for two years. I went back to school to finish my Bachelors Degree. I could not wait until I could go back to work and I did what ever I could to make it happen. Let me repeat I did everything I could to make it happen. Now I do admit that I had help from the Government. My tuition was covered. But, I had to go back to school and I had to do well in my classes. Many people told me that they would totally understand if I just stayed on Welfare, and drew Social Security for the rest of my life. This was before ADA fully took effect, I went to a School that was not very Handicapped friendly. Many of the disabled students on campus complained about the problems. I worked with the Administration to fix things on campus.

I don’t say these things to get sympathy, I say them to show that sometimes, make that most of the time, no make that all of the time, when tragedies happen the only way to make sure we survive is to take action.

I hear people saying, “Well there were a lot of poor people who did not have the means to get out of the City – THEY HAD FEET DIDN’T THEY. I saw a lot of people who were able bodied who, for whatever reason, chose to stay when they could have left. The city government knew there were people in hospitals that needed to get out, why didn’t the Mayor send buses and Ambulances to evacuate these people. It amazes me that all of these things are the President’s Fault.

But, I should not be surprised. One of my jobs in the 90’s was with a Ministry that helped unemployed people find jobs. I was Director of Skills Training. I was floored the first time someone came in my office and started telling me all the reasons they did not have a job. Here I was working full time, sitting there in my wheelchair, and this person was standing in front of my desk making excuses as to why they were not showing up in my classes, which were provided for free, and why they could not find work. The most astonishing thing is it is never their fault, it is their family’s fault, it is Society’s fault, or just plain circumstances.

One thing I have learned in my short 43 years on this earth is – you make your own circumstances. Everyone has bad things, no horrible things happen to them. Why is it that some rise above it, while others break under the pressure? It is the people who take responsibility for doing what they can do, that rise above.

When a hurricane hits, you do what you can to help yourself and the people around you to survive. When you are doing this, and not waiting for someone else to help you, you don’t have time or energy to complain about what Society didn’t do.

Don’t get me wrong, I am doing all that is in my power right now to help the victims. It is a horrible situation, and I would never wish it on anyone. But, people need to do what they can for themselves as well.

I will end with a story a preacher shared in a sermon once:

A hurricane hit a major city, the flood waters were 9 or 10 feet deep. A man had climb up on his roof to get above the water.

He began to pray, “Lord, Please save me.”

Soon a small boat came by the people on the boat said, “Get aboard we’ll take you to safety.”

The man said, “No, God will save me.”

The boat went on to rescue others. The man prayed more loudly “LORD, Save me! The water is rising and I may drown.”

Shortly, a bigger boat came by, the man waved it on. “God will save me.” He said.

Then a coast guard Helicopter flew over, they lowered a rope. He waved it on, yelled, “God will save me.” Eventually the man was overcome by the water, he drowned.

When He got to Heaven, He was very angry and confused, “God,” he said ‘I prayed three times for you to save me, and you never came?!?”

“What else did you need,” said God, “I sent you 2 boats and a Helicopter.”

Now after watching news footage on TV, it is amazing how many people we saw waving the helicopters on.