It turns out that the reports of violence in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina were exaggerated. Even some of the “looters,” we have learned, were simply desperately hungry and thirsty people searching for food and water.
When we stop to think about it, it becomes obvious that hurricane victims are just like the rest of the us: some are peaceful, some violent; most are honest, some are out to steal whatever they can; some are filled with love for neighbor; others couldn’t care less about anyone but self; most are upstanding citizens, some would do better behind bars.
Since Katrina and Rita, we have also witnessed remarkable signs of altruism and goodness, both on the individual and the international levels. Some of these are shining examples of what we might call the spirit of the widow’s mite (see Luke 21:1-4). I read about a poor woman, for instance, who donated a single jug of water to collection efforts in her local community.
In addition, some of the neediest countries in the world have offered aid to the United States. Here are only a few of the more than 115 offers:
- Bangladesh, itself struck with disaster after disaster, has offered $1 million and said it would send 160 disaster management experts, including doctors, nurses, and engineers. According to the CIA’s website, “About a third of this extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development.”* This is a country experienced in disaster management.
- Afghanistan, ravaged by war, with the second highest infant mortality rate in the world, and a life expectancy of slightly less than 43 years, has offered $100,000.
- Albania, troubled and poor, offered $300,000.
- Cuba, which has not been considered our friend, has offered more than 1500 doctors and tons of medicine. (The last I have heard, this offer has neither been accepted nor officially declined).
- The tiny Caribbean island of Dominica, with a population of less than 70,000, offered police to help bring control to hurricane-affected areas.
- Djibouti, in eastern Africa, a country where only .04 % of the land is arable, where the infant mortality rate is one of the highest in the world, and where the population has a life expectancy at birth of only 43 years, pledged $50,000.
- Sri Lanka , itself devastated by the 2004 tsunami, promised $25,000 to American Red Cross.
- Thailand has offered at least 60 doctors and nurses, along with rice (very appropriate, as many Southerners consider rice a staple).
- Vietnam pledged $100,000.
Such generosity is humbling. But graciousness in receiving is also a type of generosity, a gift that we offer the giver. The U.S. State Department web site has an article dated September 7 and entitled, “Nearly 100 Countries Send Money, Assistance to U.S. Hurricane Victims,” which leads me to hope that our generosity in receiving will match the generosity of the givers.
Finally, I would like to quote Glynn Stevenson, whose philosophy of life in times of upheaval is to be admired. The Associated Press reported that after swimming out of his New Orleans house, “with belongings taped to his body,” and as he was just beginning to settle into a FEMA trailer in New Iberia, he had to evacuate again for Rita. His response: “Just keep a cool attitude and help your brothers.”
There is much to be said for keeping cool and helping our brothers and sisters. This approach might well make the world a better place, even amid hurricanes.
[Jesus] looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.’ (Luke 21:1-4)