Us humans like to blame; it is in our nature. After a natural disaster there is always plenty of blame thrown around, not about the hurricane itself, but about those who respond to it. (or fail to respond.)
George Bush was blamed because he didn't land on his first trip to New Orleans after Katrina and only observed the destruction from the air. Donald Trump didn't make that mistake, he landed and brought the First Lady with him but she was blamed because she boarded Air Force One in high heel shoes. Never mind that is the way she dresses and never mind that she changed into appropriate Hurricane Aftermath footwear en-route to Texas. Her shoes it took up a lot of news coverage.
Then there's Joel Osteen. He was blamed for not opening the church to hurricane victims right away. When the church did open its doors, the outcry was that he only did it because of public pressure. And the fake news is over the top, like the one that Lakewood church wouldn't let anyone in until their tithing records were checked, only allowing the largest contributors in. That is a hoax by the way. Folks should check out the stories before they forward or share them.
So what's up with that? The Blame Game? The willingness to believe the worst about folks? Perhaps it is because when we are confronted with something horrible like the devastation of a hurricane or tornado or earthquake we want to hold some one responsible. We want to make someone pay. Since we all don't stand yelling and shaking a fist at God, the easiest thing to do is to find agencies or persons who don't live up to our standard of care and response--or someone we intensely dislike--and we will give THEM hell.
Another huge hurricane is headed towards some of our citizens, and there is a lot we can do in it's aftermath, pray, donate or serve with hands. Let's save our energy for that because blame is not productive at all.
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| Florida by Tommy Roberts |
