Can you imagine what the French said when they founded New Orleans? “Hey, look at this great flat piece of land! It would be perfect for a new settlement. The best part is that it’s only 6 feet beneath sea level. If we pile up a bunch of dirt along the outside, it will be perfect…unless it rains! But then if it rains, it’ll be like a big lake. But still, I think this is where we should settle!” Genius.
As I watched the storm coverage, I wondered what would happen if Katrina hit New Orleans directly…to a certain extent, I hoped it would, if only to see if the doomsday scenario would come true. Of course, tonight I see the lake that was New Orleans, and I can’t help but imagine how bad it could have been…thankfully, it is only this bad.
TV News coverage has done a great job of showing what is there, but I have this dull feeling that they do a disservice to the rest of the world. We look at the images, and we exclaim how bad it is. We talk of the 1.5 million people without power and the 4 (currently) people who have died. It’s all so sterile. It’s just that person over there…another statistic to use in my story.
Honestly, four people are dead. Imagine that it were your parents who died. Is it still only four people? Or is it catastrophic and hugely life changing? What if your house was destroyed? Do you mind being the statistic–you’re just 1 out of 50,000–but it doesn’t matter…your house is gone. What if your electricity is out? It’s 90 degrees outside and you’re dripping with sweat. Does it matter that you’re only one out of 1.5 million? I wouldn’t be so amused.
We speak of how terrible it is. We have no idea. We offer prayers and secretly gloat that we’re not them. And after we say amen or finish the conversation, we don’t give it a second thought.
Someday, I suppose, it will happen to a family member, a friend, or even you. And then what will you think? Will it be a passing thought? I don’t think so. It will be as visceral to you as it is to them now.
One last thought…I keep hearing from people who “braved” the storm and are now calling in to talk to CNN or Foxnews. I say those people are idiots who chose to remain in order to get some attention. Who in their right mind would decide to call CNN when the floodwaters are rising? That wouldn’t be in my top ten list of things to do.
Oh yea…one more point. Bill O’Reilly amazes me sometimes…amazes in a bad way. Tonight he was telling everyone without electricity that they should boil their water. Sounds nice, right? Except–how in the world would you be watching O’Reilly if you didn’t have electricity? Silly.