Dear Editor,
It is repeatedly stated to the public that the Masterpage Communications’ Cell Tower application in the Town of Olive is in Federal Court due to pre-existent zoning violations. This statement is untrue and very misleading. In June of 2000, when Masterpage applied to the town for it’s cell tower, the application was for a Special Use Permit which is required by the Town’s tower law, Local Law No.3 of 2000.
The Special Use Permit application is for a parcel of land located in a RC-10A zoning district where commercial radio, television and other electronic transmission structures are permitted pursuant to section 321.1(m) of the Town of Olive zoning law.
At the property where the Special Use Permit Application was submitted for, there currently exists an unoccupied seasonal hunting cabin with a fully insured right-of-way leading access to it.
The reason why Masterpage was forced to pursue it’s application in the Federal Court is due to the Town Board refusing to act on the application, not a zoning violation. Why would Masterpage, a small business, endure $185,490.00 to date pursuing it’s right under Town law to construct it’s facility if Masterpage was in violation?
The truth is, all the Town Board had to do was approve the Special Use Permit application in which they gladly required Masterpage to pay $28,600.00 of monies for approval, and after the Town’s consultant had deemed Masterpage had justified the need for the facility and recommended the issuance of a permit. Instead of holding up the Masterpage application based on their “Property Use” delay tactic, which was thrown at Masterpage nearly a year after applying, and which again would be superceded by the Special Use Permit, they could have simply approved the Special Use Permit Application when it was deemed complete. Instead, they decided to deliberately hold up the approval process, forcing legal litigation thus depriving the citizens of the Town of Olive of wireless emergency Cellular Phone and two-way radio coverage.
In a recent printed article, regarding the current Nextel application which the Town Board is entertaining and rapidly pursuing while Masterpage is tied up in Federal Court awaiting a ruling, the Town Supervisor is quoted as saying he thinks there is a large population in the Town that want cell tower service.
The factual truth is that the citizens of the Town of Olive could have had cell tower service nearly five (5) years ago if the town Board had just complied with all applicable laws and approved Masterpage’s SPECIAL USE PERMIT. Two Cellular Phone providers have had executed lease agreements with Masterpage for well over four (4) years now due to the site’s unique ability to cover nearly the entire township with ONE tower. The taxpayers need to find out what the Town Board’s real agenda was. What was it? None of this legal litigation would have been necessary if the elected officials of the Town Board, which people elect and entrust with their best interests in mind, would have abided by all applicable laws. Masterpage complied with all applicable laws, why should the Town Board be exempt? Again, it must be stressed that a Special Use Permit supercedes local zoning regulation and only requires a YES vote by the Town Board which has designated themselves as Lead Decision Making Body as per their cell tower law.
Kevin Kellerhouse
Masterpage Communications
West Hurley, NY

Dear Editor,
Praise for the wonderful photographs by Beth Blis and Violet Snow in the September 1st Olive Press.
The Blis photo on the front page of the towheaded child with the blue balloon was truly poetic and made me want to see the next frames of this child's journey, like a French film. In the photograph on the next to the last page, by Beth Blis, the flowers are like huge sculptures in space with the light coming from inside them.
The full page of animals and insects by Violet Snow was marvelous and a lot of fun. (I think the frog should run for Town Supervisor in Shandaken.) The deer's eye, the curve in the goose's neck, the beetle seemed to have its head on backwards and if you turned the page upside down the bees were like creatures from outer space ready to attack.
Much appreciation to Beth Blis, Violet Snow, and The Olive Press.
Robert Jacobson
Mt.Tremper, NY
Dear Editor,
...and the beat goes on; for the two Onteora Central School District board member holdouts in favor of Large Parcel. Board member Lev Flornoy has seen the error of his ways and repented. The other two, one acting like a lemming is being led by Marino D'Orazio, PC; former President and "wannabe".
I have difficulty in understanding a professional and obviously intelligent legal mind that on one hand laments the fact that "Large Parcel" was "dumped" on the Board's lap last year and then proceeds to vote again on it this year. Mr. D'Orazio; have you ever heard of abstaining? When a legislature, commission or board is voting, a member has three options; Yea, Nay or Abstain. Who told you that you had to vote Yes or No? Indeed, who instructed the new board to even recognize the existance of this craziness by the state legislature and the Governor who saigned it? Why should a high-school "dropout [me] be giving any of you a lesson in civics? I thought school board members everywhere were/are as intelligent as the teachers and administrators they oversee.
Mr. D'Orazio still "harps" on the fairness of it all. Mr. D'Orazio, when was the last time you took an unfortunate family into your home to share your resources and assets? Have you invited a homeless person to dinner [with wine and brandy], a hot bath, change of clothing and a night or two in a comfortable bed, a hearty breakfast with directions to someone elses home? Of course you haven't. You know as I do that fairness exists only in the minds of those who promote it for personal or political gain. I have worked for what I have and I want to be the sole dispenser of my charitable giving. Who are you to give two town supervisors a political parachute when they [or their towns] have invested nothing, nada, zilch? Not even in the legal jousting with NY City. As Linda Burkhardt has reminded all concerned that we don't need any help with managing our taxes. The citizens of Olive have paid whatever the assessment regardless of where the [total] taxes came from. Some families have the ability to manage their meager resources much better than a more affluent family. Should the "well-to-do" pick the "indigent's" pockets?
To be sure there is politics at work here. There is politics in businesses and politics in the church(s). School boards and community boards are springboards to "real world" politics or generating a list of clients. There may be a conflict of interest in the behavior of more than one OCSD board member here.
Oh yes! There is another option when voice voting. I might have voted "present" this year when the Large Parcel vote was presented at the OCSD board meeting. And I would like to know who [by name] brought up Large Parcel. This issue did not have to be voted on. Just like your teeth; ignore them and they'll go away.
However, the Large Parcel Act has to be rectified or eliminated. Senator Bonacic is due for political pasture for his misleading and disingenuousness with those [including me] in written correspondence and other means. Assymn. Kevin Kahill is an enigma wrapped in a mystery. He speaks with "forked" tongue, out of both sides of his mouth. He learned that when he lost and went back to the "drawing board". He did at least advise that Large Parcel does not have to be recognized, much less voted on. Senator Larkin doesn't get a pass either. LP has his fingerprints all over it; now states that it wasn't meant to include reservoirs. OK Sen. Larkin; it's traditional for the perpetrator to correct his errors. Need help in introducing an ammendment to LP? Call me or eMail me. You have my number and eMail address. I hereby volunteer to manage the ammendment on the floor of the Senate/Assembly or at least "jump start" it.
Glenn T. Anderson
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
Do you know how the draft is setup? Well, It's ready to induct right now.
The disaster in the Gulf could provide the need for a draft. If not now, there will be more chances down the road. As a draftee myself, I prefer the draft as more egalitarian than the backdoor draft and the poverty draft we now have. But a military draft today would be much different than the one that got me into Vietnam.
Within a few days of Congressional and then Presidential declaration, the Pentagon draws a lottery of all the days in the current year. Those turning 20 in that year will be the first group eligible to receive the "Greeting" letter, which begins (form SS250), "THIS IS YOUR ORDER TO REPORT FOR AND SUBMIT TO EXAMINATION AND INDUCTION INTO THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES. BY DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE BEEN CLASSIFIED 1-A (AVAILABLE FOR UNRESTRICTED MILITARY SERVICE) AND ARE DIRECTED TO REPORT..." The location is given and your induction into the
Army is now 10 days away. Depending upon the number of soldiers requested, 21 year olds would be next.
The letter goes on to explain how to get there, what to bring and what will happen if you don't show up - 5yrs prison and/or $250,000 fine max. It also mentions that you have until your induction date - 10 days! - to file for reclassification or postponement. Except for physical or mental
reasons, reclassification means Conscientious Objection and alternative service. College deferment? There are no deferments. If you're a senior you can finish the year.
All young people should consider this scenario carefully and plan for your response. Canada will extradite you. A C.O. claim made with only a few days of thought and no documentation will not be successful. If you want to work on qualifying for Conscientious Objection you need to begin putting your case together now. Google "Conscientious Objection" or email enlist4peace@yahoo.com. You have a lifetime of choices.
David Bruner
Kingston, NY

Dear Editor,
Has Bush lost the ability to lead? Questions like these become relevant in relating Katrina to the whole: did President Bush and senior Administration management show awareness of the received wisdom of the experts...were they "on their brief", as we say? Was the Administration on top of events or playing catch-up? Did the first steps taken by the Administration help or hurt? If "hurt", did those first actions show good judgment, but suffer bad luck?
Once problems arose, how quickly did the President respond, and did that response reflect reality or wish? Did senior Administration officials react to problems with flexibility? Did they recognize problems or deny them?
No doubt you can come up with many such questions. But in the end, adding it all up, here's the big one: can it be said that a foreign government, an ally, or a major multinational corporate interest, based on Katrina (and how it fits into a continuum of performance) should have faith in the decision-making capacity and practical performance capability of the US Government and the Bush Administration?
Chris Nelson
Brooklyn, NY

Dear Editor,
The recent announcement of Charlie Shaw's retirement creates an important vacancy at the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency, one that should be filled with great care to assure a sound solid waste management future for Ulster County. The County Legislators must insist that the Agency board undertake a comprehensive search to fill this important position before the year is out.
The credentials for the Executive Director must include someone with excellent personnel and fiscal management skills, who can work well with a variety of people and is a competent and articulate spokesperson. Above all, the person should be honest, highly credible, and have great integrity.
The goal of the Agency, established by its enabling legislation and articulated in its first twenty year plan, is to deliver a safe, reliable, cost-effective and environmentally-sound system that promotes maximum waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and safe management of household hazardous waste. The current system of local transfer stations and a centralized recycling processing facility is an important step in this direction. However, exporting our garbage to western NY consumes huge amounts of fuel, which is subsidized by taxpayer dollars. The price of oil - a non-renewable and highly polluting resource - will only continue to escalate. The solid waste management plan for the next twenty years should therefore revisit the siting of a county-wide landfill in a location that is acceptable to all. It will take a uniquely skilled person to create the collaborative and inclusive process necessary to accomplish this and develop funding to assure its success. The next RRA Director will need to oversee the development of the system that will be in place for the next twenty years or more. The only way to find someone capable of undertaking this challenge is to perform a professional search now for the most competent person available.
The people of Ulster County deserve nothing less.
Manna Jo Greene,
former UCRRA Recycling
Coordinator/Educator
Emilie Hauser,
former UCRRA Waste Reduction,
Hazardous Waste and Recycling Coordinator
Rosendale, NY

Dear Editor,
Grades 9 -12 students and their parents should know about Opt/Out forms, available from your school or on line at www.leavemychildalone.org. This form must be returned to your school office by SEPTEMBER 9 or the school will send all the information they have on the student’s record to the military as required by the No Child Left Behind Act. Even so a student may receive unsolicited phone calls, mailings and offers of gifts from recruiters who have gotten the information elsewhere. The National Education Association, an organization of 2.7 million teachers has taken an official stand opposing this transfer of private student information to military recruiters without explicit written permission from parents.
Parents especially should also be aware that the Army is paying a big name advertising firm – Leo Burnett – more than a billion dollars for recruitment advertising, primarily television commercials (four commercials aired 4000 times) aimed at influencing parents to encourage their children to enlist, ‘help them find their strength’ and with the Army recruiter as a ‘big brother’ benevolently chipping in for college. The military also uses video games that are a sanitized, Tom Clancy version of war that teach our youth that war is a game and fighting is fun, good for you.
The reality is different. Almost 2000 soldiers dead in Iraq, 13000 with serious injuries and more contaminated by toxic chemicals and depleted uranium which produces birth defects in their as yet unborn children. 57% of military personnel receive no educational benefit and only 5% receive the maximum benefit. Promised areas of training are frequently changed because of ‘military need.’ According to the Veterans Administration veterans earn less than their peers who did not serve, make up 1/3 of homeless men and 20% of the prison population.
Prospective enlistees - you have hard questions to ask yourselves and you should always take someone with you when you speak to recruiters. And please do not forget, we must all remember the enormous emotional and spiritual damage in seeing comrades killed and in killing and maiming civilians, destroying their homes and lifelines. Some good websites are www.afsc.org (click on Youth and Militarism), www.veteransforpeace.org, and the above www.leavemychildalone.org.
Good luck young ones and best wishes,
Elaine Hencke
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
Rabies is alive and well in New York State and Ulster County is not immune. News travels fast, and many folks may be aware that a rabid fox recently attacked a dog that was minding his own business in his own back yard.
In fact, last year there were 118 bats, 264 raccoons, 104 skunks, 24 grey fox, 5 red fox, 5 woodchucks, 3 while tail deer, and 1 otter with confirmed rabies in the wildlife population of NYS. Rabies in the domestic population included 19 cats, 2 bovines and 1 dog. The previous year one black bear from Orange County and a pet guinea pig from Madison County made the list. See where I’m going?
It is imperative that we vaccinate our pets against rabies. We live in an area where it is not unlikely that our pets will come into contact with wildlife. Our pets then are exposed to our neighbors, our children, and ourselves. The cost of post exposure treatment for even possible contact with a rabid animal is $1,000. New Yorker’s spent over two million dollars last year for this treatment! The Health Department recommends that even without evidence of a bite, if there was a possibility that contact occurred, treatment is in order. This would include a sleeping person awakening to find a bat in the room, a bat in the room with an unattended child or mentally disabled or intoxicated person. Be safe and be responsible . . . vaccinate your pets and avoid contact with wildlife.
Joanne Rowley
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
Tired of letting anger consume me, I decided I would spend my Labor Day in action. Though folks around here consider Stamford, NY a Republican stronghold with little hope of political discourse, I decided to do a non-scientific survey/protest and see for myself. I was surprised with the results. With a hand made sign (from a $.49 piece of poster board) I walked down Main Street (respecting each billowing flag) from one end of the village to the other again and again for several hours. The sign simply read “Impeach Bush Now” on the front and “Save Our Democracy” on the back. Though I was a bit concerned for my safety, being alone, my fear subsided when the first three of the hundreds of cars that passed, honked and waved in support. Others turned their eyes away. I got two “f-you’s” and one “get a haircut”, and all three were delivered from white men on Harleys. On the total insanity side, two couples (whose intelligence I won’t judge) suggested “blowing up all of Iraq.” Other than that the thumbs-up, hoots and hollers and honks were very frequent. One concerned young man actually volunteered to carry my sign for a bit while I took a short break in the shade. Others asked if I had more signs. Two people took my photo, and several made U-turns just to tell me how proud they were of my courage. I tell you this because I can no longer support silence and apathy. The time to act is now and each of us needs to know that there are others out there, like us who are sick and tired of being duped and abused by the powers that be. Yes, I have blisters and a pounding headache, but knowing I am not alone has sparked a glimmer of hope. Too much is at stake to hold our tongues now! Speak out, please.
David J. Turan
USAF Veteran
Stamford, NY

Dear Editor,
I’d like to inform my neighbors of the events, in sequence, that occurred in New Orleans. It was difficult to observe, but it’s important for anyone that reads this to understand exactly how our government used our taxes to handle the recent emergency.
Fri. 8/26 - Hurricane warnings that Katrina was heading towards New Orleans are issued.
Sat. 8/27 - Mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin calls for volunteer evacuation of the city.
Sun. 8/28 – Mayor Nagin orders mandatory evacuation and the people with the means to evacuate hit the highways. The poor and mostly black were told to go to the Superdome.
Mon. 8/29 - Katrina Hits – the roof of the Superdome begins to give way, but appears a safer place to be than in houses that were flooded up to the rooftops.
Tues.8/30 - Bush delivered his speech on Medicare. (I’m leaving out the golf game, because I couldn’t find a reliable source on that one). Condi Rice was in New York at a Broadway play and shopping at Ferragamo. On that same day, Gov.of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco said that “the President has been helpful to Louisiana and Mississippi but it was not necessary for the President to come down to helicopter ride over the state.” Governor Haley Barber said he told the President not to come to Mississippi for the helicopter flyover.
Wed., 8/31 – The horrendous destruction left by Hurricane Katrina worsens as floodwaters continue to rise in New Orleans, prompting Gov. Blanco to order a complete evacuation of the city and to ask for a statewide day of prayer.
Thurs., Sept. 1st, Gov. Blanco said she has asked the White House to send more people to help with evacuations and rescues, thereby freeing up National Guardsmen to stop looters. Governor Blanco ordered “Shoot to Kill” orders and made them public, to further her personal war against the looters, who were guilty of breaking into stores to get food and water for starving women and their babies.
That same day, Mayor Nagin issued a desperate plea to help his people. Michael Brown, Director of FEMA, said on CNN that the high death toll would be “attributable a lot to people who did not heed the advance warnings,” and Michael Chertoff, in charge of Homeland Security (God save us), placed blame on the victims for not leaving. On NBC he declared: “Some people chose not to obey that order. That was a mistake on their part.”
Fri. Sept. 2 - Mayor Nagin blew his top and demanded to know where the help was. Later on, troops were deployed and help finally was on the way to the poor and destitute of the city of New Orleans.
On Saturday, the 3rd, help was indeed in New Orleans, under the impressive leadership of General Honore, who had the common sense to order his soldiers and the police to turn their arms down, instead of up. Prior to that, the Governor and FEMA were more concerned about looters than they were about sick and starving victims. As anyone who has an IQ of over l00 would know, “Violence begets violence”. All that was needed to get the city under control was intelligence and leadership and the rescue mission was underway.
Bush said in his weekly radio address: “”Our priorities are clear,” the president said. “We will complete the evacuation as quickly and safely as possible. We will not let criminals prey on the vulnerable and we will not allow bureaucracy to get in the way of saving lives.”
Have I made myself perfectly clear? It seems that citizens, when called upon to open up their wallets in times of emergencies, know how to do that, but what we fail to do is to hold our elected, (or selected) representatives accountable. Can we begin to take some time to pay attention and take action? I hope so.
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
As I write this letter the water continues to rise in the historic city of New Orleans, and our hearts go out to the people whose homes and lives are being washed away. With the death toll rising at an alarming rate it seems that all we can do at this point is watch the destruction unfold.
At the time I write this we have no idea how much worse the situation will get and how many more lives will be lost.
The best we can do, as a nation, is to donate money, send needed supplies and give support to the refugees of this terrible disaster.
The tsunami-like effects of Hurricane Katrina has been made worse by the failure of the levees that were designed to prevent this kind of disaster. The devastation in Mississippi is overwhelming to say the least, but as I hear the news about Biloxi it seems some of the reports had been focusing on the monetary loss of $500,000.00 a day to the state coffers due to the destruction of the casinos located right on the shores of the gulf coast.
I wonder if the powers-that-be assured the residents of New Orleans that the levees and massive pumps would not only protect the city from this kind of flooding but allow low-lying areas to be developed. The levees were an engineering marvel, but the bottom line is that they failed and the unthinkable has occurred and many lives were lost.
I wonder if the politicians and developers in Mississippi who put their states financial security in the success of the casinos assured their citizens that this would be a windfall for them. Now the state that became dependent on the casino income is left with nothing.
I think about the processes and public hearings that allowed these choices to be made, resulting in destruction, death, and financial ruin. I wonder what resistance was raised in regard to the environmental and economic impact that this development would have. Were the citizens sold a bill of goods convincing them that man could control the elements?
We in Shandaken are reminded of our own devastating floods which pale in comparison to what is happening to Katrina’s aftermath. But there are parallels that can be drawn and lessons to be learned about how we proceed in the planning of our own community to minimize effects of the natural disasters that we are vulnerable to here.
I think about the public hearing processes that have been held in the past couple of years which seem to have fallen on deaf ears. Ears that only hear words of expansion, development and financial windfalls, without regard to those who warn of environmental degradation which can allow natural disaster to be exponentially worse due to major altercation of our mountains and streams.
Imagine our past floods that we have had if it had rained just another 24 or 48 hours, or if the snow pack were even deeper. Now imagine if a major development were built on our mountains, which have clear cut areas large enough for golf courses and parking lots allowing that much more run off into our already swollen streams.
Do the assurances that we have heard at our own public hearings echo the assurances that the people of New Orleans and Biloxi heard?
They are waist deep now in those assurances.
Shandaken and the Catskills need to make choices that can minimize, not maximize the scope of a disaster.
Those choices mean choosing leaders in our government who have the foresight to plan and grow but also have the ability to weigh the negative effects that some development can bring.
We as citizens must make that choice.
Bruce Barry
Chichester, NY

Dear Editor,
On August 31, Camp Casey, in Crawford Texas, the encampment established by Cindy Sheehan and thousands of other military families, veterans and friends of peace disbanded but did not end. Three busloads took off for a three-week tour to bring their message, their stories and their passion to communities throughout the country. The plan was to have a northern, southern and central tour, meeting in Washington DC on September 24 for a huge anti war rally. After spending almost a month in the hot and dusty ditches of Crawford, these courageous folks continue, determined to tell their stories and inspire others to stand with them and speak out for peace.
When Hurricane Katrina hit, the Southern tour bus responded immediately. The bus which had carried Cindy Sheehan from California originally, left the tour to bring direct relief to the community of Covington, Louisiana. They have set up “Camp Casey Covington” in a Middle School in town. Supplies are pouring in from Crawford Peace House and supporters of Cindy Sheehan around the country. They are currently providing the only communications for the town with a satellite dish and their computers. Several National Guardsman who were at Camp Casey and part of the tour have been deployed for hurricane relief. And so the people of Camp Casey are showing with their words and their actions that we need our troops home now.
This, says Military Families Speak Out, is what the National Guard should be doing, not fighting a war which was unnecessary and only endangers our country further. Unfortunately, 35 percent of Louisiana’s and 40 percent of Mississippi’s National Guard are in Iraq along with much needed heavy equipment and supplies and not available to help in this country’s worst natural disaster.
It is clear that we need our resources and our people power here, to deal with crises like Katrina and to address the overwhelming poverty and disparity of wealth that we have been watching on TV all week.
The Northern arm of the tour was to be in Albany on September 14, with a noon rally at the State House.
Several Gold Star Families for Peace, members of Military Families Speak Out and veterans are part of that tour. If you can, come to Albany, support this tour, meet the families and share their hope that enough voices raised can change the course of history. And come to Washington on September 24. One Gold Star Mother told me, if by her speaking out against the war she can prevent another mother from loosing her child, then there will be some meaning in her own son’s death. Let’s help make that a reality.
Sue Rosenberg
Saugerties , NY
Dear Editor.
If you have pets whom you love, you must be deeply concerned about the thousands of pets people in the wake of Hurricane Katrina were forced to abandon. North Shore Animal League has been doing a heroic job sending vans to New Orleans to rescue, foster and adopt these pets. Many are being held for their owners. North Shore has a no-kill policy and has an excellent reputation. They need money for vans, cages, veterinarians and they need homes to foster or adopt lovely dogs and cats. If you want to help go to: http://www.nsalamerica.org or send a check to North Shore Animal League America 25 Davis Ave., Port Washington, N.Y. 11050. We want to thank you for caring.
Diana Bryan and Bob Pearl
Blue Mountain, NY
Dear Editor,
In the catastrophic wake of Hurricane Katrina, America is no longer the same, and should never be the same again. Watching the news and hearing the chilling firsthand accounts of people who were trapped in this tragedy, how can one not be affected? All of a sudden, our country has been faced with a calamity we cannot keep at arm’s length - the sort that, up till now, only happened to people in far-off Asia, Africa or Latin America.
One could say plenty regarding our government’s response (or lack thereof), and about how many more lives could have been saved if those in power had been more on the ball. But this is not the time to point fingers: we have been struck, unprepared, by a mammoth refugee crisis, widespread lawlessness, martial law and a degree of public panic practically unknown in the United States.
Not surprisingly, the news media is obsessed with the economic consequences of Katrina: the skyrocketing cost of gas, the instability of the real estate market, and the weakening of the dollar, to name just a few. As usual, it seems that the financial and material aspects of the disaster are of paramount importance. For many people, the biggest question seems to be, “How long will it be before the price of gas goes down again, and I can return to ‘life as usual’?”
Very few people seem to be asking what sort of a spiritual impact this disaster will have on our consciences and on our collective soul. Will it lead to a spiritual renewal and a new era of justice and love?
Over the past week I found myself thinking of the Old Testament story of Nineveh, and of Jonah, whom God sent to preach repentance there. At first Jonah refused, but when he finally obeyed, the people of the city listened to him and proclaimed a fast - everyone put on sackcloth, including the king. When God saw the change of heart that had occurred among the people, he changed his mind about the calamity he had threatened to bring on them, and showed them mercy. This story ought to speak to us now, in the wake of Katrina. We too should be on our knees, asking God to change our hearts and show us mercy.
Over the last century, America has, for the most part, been immune to disaster on its own shores. Wars, famines and epidemics that have killed millions of people in the Third World have had no lasting effect on us. American soldiers were killed or wounded in action, but the vast majority of us were never in harm’s way.
We have made an idol of our invincibility and our status as an economic giant and a military superpower. We have made an idol of our high standard of living, and our supposed closeness to God.
Until last week, when Katrina blew in, we thought we could handle any and every crisis that came along. But in five short days, some of our most cherished ideals - take “government for the people,” for instance - have been exposed as illusions. To the despairing and the dying in New Orleans - and thus to everyone - all our glorious American achievements mean absolutely nothing.
This should not depress us. It is a chance for us as a country to learn that suffering can bring us closer to each other. Most other nations have suffered war, famine, diseases and natural disasters. It has humbled them, and now it is our turn. That is good, because we are not as big and strong as we have made ourselves out to be.
Americans have long been known as a nation of generous do-gooders. But it is easy to be generous when one has plenty of money and food. Now, in the aftermath of Katrina, we are finding that our safety nets have gaping holes. The big infrastructures we believed in seem to be collapsing around us. We are floundering.
If we took this warning seriously, we could find out what role we really ought to play in today’s world. If we were ready to admit that we need the help of other nations and cultures, we might find out that all people around the globe are really one family. Tremendous things could happen if we used this opportunity to rediscover the significance of all human beings. So let us not miss this chance to band together in solidarity with those who are suffering.
Johann Christoph Arnold, pastor Bruderhof Communities
Rifton, NY