To Amarnath and all on slow response and more

[Guest guest]

amarnath wrote:

 

"If we can't respond faster than this to an event we saw coming across the

Gulf for days, then why do we think we're prepared to respond to a nuclear or

biological attack?" asked former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Republican.

 

 

 

Dear amarnath and All ~ this is well stated, and quite true. It is

interesting, isn't it, after all the money that has been thrown at the "target"

of

"homeland security," the response wasn't immediate. Yesterday, before I went to

the fair, I watched the news for a few minutes, and the Director of Homeland

Security (can't think of his name at the moment) was speaking. He was doing

his best to try to make nice on behalf of the government, and when asked why

the response wasn't sooner in coming, he said (paraphrase): we can ask the whys

when all this is taken care of...now is the time to help. (Well, very nice,

except about a week too late).

I wouldn't want to be in his shoes, because, usually, after a mistake of

this magnitude, in Washington, DC, heads roll. And the heads that usually roll

are symbolic heads, like the head of Homeland Security or the head of FEMA or

some other agency.

 

Of course the real responsibility belongs to the person at the top, and that

is Bush. He would have been the one to launch "homeland security" efforts

for this disaster. Perhaps he just wasn't making the association in his head:

"homeland security" = response to terrorism; ? = response to natural disaster.

With most natural disasters, it has been the governor of the state who is

the first responder, calling forth all the resources at his or her disposal and

then turning to the federal government to declare the area hit a "national

disaster" area, thereby making it a legitimate recipient of federal aid and

support from federal agencies, such as FEMA.

 

This disaster, of course, was unprecedented because the "homeland" in

question was totally wiped out (as it would be with a "dirty bomb" or some other

type of major terrorist attack. Whoever was in the area would be toast. I am

glad our elected officials, and especially Republicans, since they are of

Bush's own party, are saying that the response was off. On the other hand, why

didn't they say something earlier. And is a $10.5 billion dollar relief package

enough to repair the damage, or even to just be the line of first response?

 

People become easily reduced to an animal level when faced with this kind of

total tragedy ~ they don't have a place to stay; they don't have food or

clean water; they aren't safe from those who would exploit the situation by

looting; they don't know where their loved ones are.

I think the government is somewhat lucky that there wasn't massive rioting,

but all the victims were just too sick, too tired, too hopeless, too wrung

out.

 

See how fast Amma responded to the tsunami ~ immediately, with safer

"housing," with food and water, with love and compassion, with a pledge to

rebuild

housing that became an actuality as soon as She was able to get the

cooperation of the Communist government. Yet Amma relied on Her many hands and

feet

(Her children) to make this response happen so quickly and so well. She may not

"need" us, though I question even this comment, but the disaster stricken

people do, and She relies on us to be Her "first responders." Now She has given

us our marching orders, so to speak, and She has, as always, addressed the

various circumstances where Her devotees are.

 

On the Katrina Relief page on the Ammachi website, She has given three

primary ways of helping.

 

Under "Amma shares the pain," She exorts Her children to pray, and She says:

 

"Pray that the anger and hatred in the hearts of all those who are creating

terror, war and conflict in the world be transformed into repentance,

forgiveness, understanding and love."

....Amma said that the power of prayer can transform "what would be a

hurricane into a gentle breeze." She then led everyone in the chanting of Om

three

times, as well as the chanting of lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu (which means

May all being in all worlds be peaceful and happy) for several minutes.

(Perhaps in the future, we, Amma's children need to begin praying right away,

as soon as there is word a natural disaster is possibly coming, for then

"what would be a hurricane" might indeed become a "gentle breeze."

Under "Go & Help," is Swamaiji Dayamrita's written response, sent out after

he spoke withAmma about the hurricane disaster. This section is a bit less

clear, but Sw.Dayamrita does say, "Hence I am going to Hot Springs to assess

the situation. I will keep all of you informed. Meanwhile, according to Amma's

advice we are starting to collect funds to help the victims of the Katrina

Hurricane disaster at the M.A.Center. I will send reports to you. We will need

a lot of help in the days to come."

I have written to the Hot Springs satsang and asked what kind of help they

need the most.

I told them many people simply want to get in their cars and just go there

to help, but this may not be what is most needed. I hope they will respond

soon, and as soon as I hear from them, I will let the group know.

Under the "Make a donation" segment is actually a link to the page where you

can use your Visa or Mastercard to make a donation immediately. Or money can

be sent to:

The M.A. Center

P. O. Box 613

San Ramon, CA 94583

(please forgive me; my computer is acting up, or out, and for no apparent

reason I can think of, at times simply "decided" to double space the type,

without me doing anything. if any of you geeky computer types out there have any

idea about why this is happening or what I can do about it, I would love to

hear from you.)

Blessings ~ Linda

"Love and beauty are within you.

Try to express them through your actions

and you will definitely touch the very source of bliss."

~ Amma