Americans And Miracles
We had an interesting conversation today, with an attorney. The gentleman is question is well thought of and well regarded. He is perhaps best known for his thoughtfulness. We discussed American expectations, realistic and otherwise.
As a nation, we have come to expect miracles.
No matter that Katrina affected an area of 90,000 square miles- unprecedented in modern history. No matter that the levee system in a sinking city was doomed to fail and no matter that even if for the last 15 years, all the levees in New Orleans were brought up to standard, we'd still have 5 years to go before they would be ready. There are those that are stupid enough to think that miracles originate in the Oval Office and there are those that believe that what appeared to be - and was- professionals tripping over themselves was actually a ballet.
No matter that no other country on earth can respond to disasters like we do. None of that matters. We expect miracles.
We want an incompetent mayor and governor to miraculously find their mettle a day or two before the onslaught of a catastrophic event and we want a guy who arranged pony rides for birthdays to run a national disaster relief agency, flawlessly. Depending on your political persuasion, only half those truths will matter.
What matters are the miracles, the ones that need to come to pass. It is the kind of miracle that we have come to expect that is disturbing.
Depending on your politics, more than anything, you hope that those who disagree with you go blind or deaf. The loud, shrill voices on either side of the aisle, believe that if they yell loud enough, their detractors will switch sides and go after their former idealogues in the same way that Jihadis target Americans and Jews. Those are the kind of miracles that some want- and cry out to the heavens in anguish if those kinds of prayers are not answered, if their demands for blood are not met.
Those people don't give a damn about about the victims.
For the most part, Americans are a lot smarter. The only miracle they want to see is of manna variety- that all who are hungry, in need and with with only temporary shelter, will find those needs met.
Those are the kind of miracles the vicious and loud political types hate- really hate.
Those smarter Americans are the kind of Americans that the extremes from either side despise- because the American dream is more important than a partisan political agenda- and a big part of that American dream is simply getting along and accomodating our neighbors- those things the hard right and hard left, despise, because that nullifies them and their scortched earth policies and beliefs.
We may not have had all the miracles we needed happen this past week. We may have to roll up our sleeves and work long and tirelessly, on behalf of people who need that help. After all, we are our brother's keepers.
Maybe, that is the miracle- that we recognize what needs to takes priority over politics.
As a nation, we have come to expect miracles.
No matter that Katrina affected an area of 90,000 square miles- unprecedented in modern history. No matter that the levee system in a sinking city was doomed to fail and no matter that even if for the last 15 years, all the levees in New Orleans were brought up to standard, we'd still have 5 years to go before they would be ready. There are those that are stupid enough to think that miracles originate in the Oval Office and there are those that believe that what appeared to be - and was- professionals tripping over themselves was actually a ballet.
No matter that no other country on earth can respond to disasters like we do. None of that matters. We expect miracles.
We want an incompetent mayor and governor to miraculously find their mettle a day or two before the onslaught of a catastrophic event and we want a guy who arranged pony rides for birthdays to run a national disaster relief agency, flawlessly. Depending on your political persuasion, only half those truths will matter.
What matters are the miracles, the ones that need to come to pass. It is the kind of miracle that we have come to expect that is disturbing.
Depending on your politics, more than anything, you hope that those who disagree with you go blind or deaf. The loud, shrill voices on either side of the aisle, believe that if they yell loud enough, their detractors will switch sides and go after their former idealogues in the same way that Jihadis target Americans and Jews. Those are the kind of miracles that some want- and cry out to the heavens in anguish if those kinds of prayers are not answered, if their demands for blood are not met.
Those people don't give a damn about about the victims.
For the most part, Americans are a lot smarter. The only miracle they want to see is of manna variety- that all who are hungry, in need and with with only temporary shelter, will find those needs met.
Those are the kind of miracles the vicious and loud political types hate- really hate.
Those smarter Americans are the kind of Americans that the extremes from either side despise- because the American dream is more important than a partisan political agenda- and a big part of that American dream is simply getting along and accomodating our neighbors- those things the hard right and hard left, despise, because that nullifies them and their scortched earth policies and beliefs.
We may not have had all the miracles we needed happen this past week. We may have to roll up our sleeves and work long and tirelessly, on behalf of people who need that help. After all, we are our brother's keepers.
Maybe, that is the miracle- that we recognize what needs to takes priority over politics.
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