CoL: Katrina, Our Shakti

To Those of You who went to the aid of your neighbors, the aid of strangers, in the storm. To Those of You who grabbed your truck, toolbox, and skill to drive down and help look for vicitims, to start rebuilding, to offer your energy and sacrifice. To Those of You to tried to do and succeeded in doing the Right Thing in the disaster.

You saw need, woe, misery, suffering, mourning on a scale we are learning to live with, and you turned your heart toward the people betrayed by our ineptitude and lazy indifference.

You moved toward the danger and sadness.

To Those of You in cities all over the US who opened your homes to strangers in need. To Those of You who found a way to volunteer whether it was Official or Not. To Those of You who have made a place in your communities for people knocked off thier feet: in your homes, churches, schools, and lives.

You saw people, not a spectacle, you saw people, not dirty clothes and disorgnanized fear, you saw people, not foolishness, you saw people, not criminals, you saw people.

You responded to people with the dignity and care they deserve for existing.

We should not depend only on you and your private choices and sacrifices. We should not make of this distaster only private profit in real estate. We should not.

To do so is to slander your generosity and spirit.