Lost
Posted on September 10, 2005 4 Comments
What would you do if you lost everything? Where would you go if your home simply disappeared, washed away, pounded by winds or lying in ruins, collapsed? Who would you be without your possessions? Would you have the strength to rebuild? Would you have the resources to go on?
…
The tragedy in New Orleans and on the Gulf Coast has left much of the nation heartbroken, distraught. We don’t yet know the body count, but we know the loss of life will be staggering. For every victim, a million tears will run.
Thus far, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has been nightmarish on every level, from the scale of destruction to the late response. Beyond criticism, though, this tragedy brings lessons for the living – and a reminder of how delicate life and liberty can be.
I posed the questions above because they’ve been floating around my head ever since New Orleans sunk, driven to the surface by rising waters. Around the same time as the hurricane hit, I noticed an AP article about the state of spending, “US spends more, saves less,” which, as you can tell from the title, detailed Americans spending a record amount in July at the expense of our savings accounts – fueled by automobile incentives.
We in middle-class America are prone, for whatever reason, to splurge on a great deal. We buy material goods possibly because they symbolize a better life, a better status. Do most of us need to trade in our 2002 coupes for a 2005 SUV? No. However, if the price is right, you bet we’ll buy. If you can afford it, society says, then you deserve it.
But at what price do we spend? What is the trade off of our diminishing national pocketbook? We’ve seen the answer, and I for one am terrified.
People will ask you in the coming weeks and months how Hurricane Katrina has affected your life. Many of us will donate cash or supplies. We’ll check our stock of flashlights, water bottles, canned food. Some of us will buy guns and bullets.
My hope, my challenge to you is this: in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when someone asks you what changes you’ve made, say that you’ve begun to save more. Save more to your 401K. Take more directly from your paycheck. Invest more. Do whatever you can to put that money away for a windy, rainy day. (That expression seems more relevant than ever.)
To be clear, donate to the victims. They’ve suffered a terrible loss. But recognize the lessons learned: if you’ve lost everything, the government won’t build you a new house, won’t protect you, won’t ensure your safety, won’t find you a job. Your life, your children’s lives and your family’s life are in your hands. Will a $2,000 debit card be enough to start anew?
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September 10th, 2005 @ 2:42 pm
Good post!
I heard another interesting sidebar story last night regarding the flooded-out refugees. One of the more common responses I’ve heard from people, when asked what they thought about the state of affairs in LA, is that “Well, that’s what flood insurance is for, right?”
The anecdote I heard last night, though, makes this not nearly so clear-cut. One refugee, a middle-class female, had to contact her insurance company to begin the claim process. The company rep wanted to know the refugee’s policy number.
“I don’t have that,” was her response. “It was in my house, and that’s underwater.”
The rep then requested an address at which to mail the refugee some paperwork.
“Don’t have one,” she said. “I’m living in an auditorium.”
What about a P.O. box?
“No. Our post office is underwater.”
As it turned out, the woman’s situation — no house, no phone, no stable residence, no belongings — placed her in a position such that not even insurance was able to assist her. Consider how common this position is for so many people right now.
The old game of “What would you do if …” sort of takes on a new perspective when you watch scenes like this play out in real life.
I’m not entirely sure the severity of Katrina’s aftermath — and this country’s lack of preparation for any such disaster — has even begun to sink in.
September 12th, 2005 @ 5:18 am
Why is everyone calling these people refugees? Why can’t we call them the displaced, or the victims, or the evacuees?
When was the last time we used the word refugee in American to describe another American?
They are not fleeing to another country. They are right here in their homeland. I would accept the term refugee better if they fled to Mexico or something, but they are still here at home.
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Great post. This did indeed open up my eyes. We all have to be provident. I will start to invest and save more for a rainy day. literally.
One thing that i learned from this is that you cannot rely on this administration.
You can rely on the government, but just not this administration. They get a “C”, for corruption.
September 12th, 2005 @ 5:30 pm
Eveyone’s gotta have someone to blame, so why not blame the federal government? I’m sure it’s because they’re all just a bunch of racist oil tycoons. Jump on the bandwagon. It really frustrates me all the flak the current administration is receiving over this hurricane. Fact is, local governments are first in line to ensure that their consitituents are properly prepared and they bear the brunt of the responsibility for repairing and rebuilding after natural disasters. The federal government’s role in the situation is to assist–not lead–the recovery effort. For some reason, the press seems to have missed this tidbit of information and takes every opportunity they can to blame someone.
September 12th, 2005 @ 10:11 pm
They should have assisted when help was requested before the storm hit. Instead they ignored the pleas, ignored the warning, and failed at governing.