Today For Me , Tomorrow For You!!!
September 9, 2005
Edward Harris At Large!!!
TODAY FOR ME TOMORROW FOR YOU!!
Who could have imagined the response of Washington to the recent hurricane disaster in the State of Louisiana? Oh how I love Jazz, and it was my hope that one day I would have walked the Avenues of New Orleans and listened to Jazz in all its forms. However, I am still hopeful that disaster will give way to serious revival in all areas of existence within the State and my dream would be realized.
It just shows that a super power could be humbled by a natural disaster of great magnitude. The shock of the circumstance put into effect a delayed response but such to many is unacceptable coming from the USA. The system of Homeland Security failed the people. It is not time for reporting on the past but immediate action should be taken to correct the bureaucracy that caused the delay. The late response in my mind has nothing to do with race. It was a case of shock and awe for the administration both local and national levels. It was a wake up call.
What about the pumps that were not working in spite that flooding is always a possibility in parts of the State? It is great to note that relief has begun to flow in and the nations of the world are making donations to ease the burden on the residents of the State even though at least one offer came with strings attached.
President Castro as usual in his humanitarian spirit and no one should be surprised, he made the USA an offer to provide medical personnel which they should not have refused but they did, and again no one should be surprised.
I am disappointed at those who will play the race card but again there are many ways to get into the spot light and some people will never lose an opportunity. There are great black leaders of organizations in the USA and I am eagerly waiting for their response to this black disaster as some will prefer the world to see it. It is not only black people that have lost but of course black people shared the worst fate. What about the business community? It will be a while for things to return to some degree of normalcy and it will be the efforts of people of all races and colour that will have to work together to bring relief.
In the Caribbean our individual islands and regional organisations’ response to disasters have always been swift. The various Disaster Preparedness Agencies should be cheering their achievements over the years and when it all settles down, a few of our Consultants in the area of Disaster Preparedness could offer their services to the USA Government.
Given our experiences in recent times with Hurricane Ivan in Grenada and other countries where it passed in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in the State of Louisiana, no longer should persons in the path of a hurricane take warnings lightly. It is also the responsibility of the leaders in the communities in collaboration with Central Government to ensure that steps are taken to evacuate the residents, including adequate provision of transportation. People cannot just leave because they are told to leave, many will have no place to go and in many cases not even enough money to pay a bus fare. The poor is always with us and this point must not be missed. It seems prudent to me that as in the case of a fire drills in office complexes and other places where the possibility of fire exists, hurricane shelter drills should be organized to give residents a clear indication of where to head for and what to expect in an event of a disaster. Hurricane Ivan was a wake up call for us in the Caribbean and Hurricane Katrina is for residents of the United States of America. Always remember if it can happen, it will.
The world now has enough lessons to learn from when it comes to disasters. The people of the world must be reminded on a regular basis so that the lessons learned will not be forgotten. We have short memories and too many of us believe that it wouldn’t happen to us. Some higher power will take care of his children. It is promised in the Bible that knowledge will increase and it has increased to the point where equipment have been invented to track weather systems and C130s fly into the eye of the hurricane to test its intensity. So we have the knowledge, why not use it. If we don’t, then knowledge becomes simply entertainment. Those who have ears to hear and eyes to see are expected to take action.
My heart goes out to the families that have lost loved one in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. I am praying for them and I hope that their sufferings will be relieved in the shortest possible time. We in the Caribbean share your sorrow. Many of our relatives and friends are going through the disruption. A friend of mine was just getting ready to take his son to a University in the State of Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina struck. We are interconnected and the Caribbean people are very much a part of life in the USA.
Out of the current struggles, the music of New Orleans will be sweeter. Today for me, tomorrow for you, we must be our brother’s keeper.
Keep the Faith, Be Strong, God is in Charge!!!
Edward A. Harris
Biblicist & Freelance Journalist
Email: eaharrisdestiny@gmail.com