Hurricane
Katrina victims in need of assistance
Sterling
Harris
The
victims of Hurricane Katrina need our
help.
The most destructive natural disaster in American history has left thousands
dead and many more homeless and in need of assistance. By now, many of us have
seen the heartwrenching reports of families torn apart and children suffering.
The damage inflicted by the storm is expected to top $150 billion, and its
effects are likely to be felt throughout the entire economy.
Hurricane Katrina and its effects have demonstrated just how precarious our
modern way of life is, and that even people living in the United States are
vulnerable. Despite all of our technological savvy and scientific knowledge,
we will never conquer nature.
Our very survival is contingent upon a narrow range of conditions hospitable
to our fragile bodies.
Imagine for a moment the people of Los Angeles and Orange Counties were forced
to depend upon their immediate environment for their survival. How long would
we last? How long would it be until the region descended into chaos and suffering?
The English political philosopher Thomas Hobbes once wrote that without law
and order, man’s life is one of “continual fear and danger of violent
death…solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” This would seem
to be the case in parts of New Orleans, where armed gangs roamed the streets
and women were raped without fear of legal sanction.
As order is slowly being restored to the devastated areas, it is becoming clear
that governmental allocations for the victims will fall woefully short. Of
the estimated $150 billion in damages, it seems as though the federal government
will cover about one-third.
Although I can understand the emotional ties many Americans have to the inundated
areas, it would be unwise to completely restore them. Like the man who builds
his house on the sand, New Orleans is located in an area that is especially
susceptible to damage from hurricanes.
Completely rebuilding the city when another Katrina may strike again next year
does not make any sense. Our support should be directed to immediate relief
for the suffering and assistance in relocating the displaced. It’s hard
to imagine losing everything overnight, but we can help soften the blow left
by the terrible storm.
I understand most of us have mountains of debt and numerous school loans, but
even a small donation to one of a number of humanitarian organizations can
help bring food to the hungry. Consider the thousands of people in desperate
need of assistance the next time you use your credit card.
Donations of as little as $5 can be made online to the American Red Cross.
Even if you think you can’t afford it, consider all of the superfluous
things that you purchase throughout the course of a month, and make a small
sacrifice for the less fortunate.
Sterling Harris is a sophomore electrical engineering major. |
