Billboards Avoiding a Catastrophe

Strangely enough, IM away messages & profiles are the T-shirts, banners, and de facto modus of self expression for much of my generation. It was predictable to see relevant messages when the Terps or Sox were winning their leagues. It was understandable to find comments when birthdays arose, holidays came around, or electoral candidates debated. But it’s scary to me: why in the 100 or so of my friends I see online is there no reference to the catastrophe that is New Orleans?

I’m having trouble working right now. Maybe it’s because I’ve been to New Orleans, I know people there who I can’t reach, I’ve seen the history & culture of one of our country’s most unique locations. I don’t know why it’s so real to me. It’s just hard for me to fathom that one’s family could be anywhere, that the most basic supplies might not be accessible, that the life one’s created might lose so many tangible and intangible parts of its foundation.

I look at myself here, even in College Park. I have friends that come and friends that go, but I’ve been here a while now. I’ve invested myself in this community, in a house, in the local culture. It’s not just the people. It’s not just the objects. It’s the interplay that I’m proud of, that makes life so worthwhile, at times predictable, and often comfortable. Then I try to imagine losing all of that. Not having a ready supply of water. And in the United States of all places.

But that’s just the beginning. The papers are full of articles about the warnings our country has chosen to ignore, in particular with regard to the bowl that is New Orleans and our dwindling & precarious oil supply. Sure, it’s only natural to worry when our status quo is shaken. But when will the rest of the “back-burner” priorities come to the fore? Do we need such potent catastrophes for us to realize the Pandora’s box that awaits?

I guess I’m just feeling what the papers are telling–so many different emotions, so many questions and curiosities about the various prognostications. My heart goes out to those in the Gulf Region. There’s no panacea for what’s happening, and I’ll never truly comprehend the events, but I just hope everyone’s okay there today…and that the next generation can enjoy life in the same ways that we have.