Anyone else can't stand the helpless feeling?

[Pacifist Patriot]

I would dearly love to be able to drop everything and go help in any way I could. At least when the tsunami hit I was able to send some money to relief organizations. My family is so strapped right now I can't do anything but send prayers and positive thoughts. My heart aches because it is only going to get worse before it gets better.

Residents are hopefully being cared for by the relief efforts underway. But, I've also been considering the trickle-out affects of Hurricane Katrina. I started thinking about all the college kids who were about to start the fall term and now face at least a semester delay. I realize that is nothing compared to losing family, health, livelihood, etc. but it popped in my head anyway.

Interconnectedness. This will affect us all in large and small ways. Even those Freepers who are too narrow-minded to grasp it.

[barbaraann]

1. It's in the hands of the federal government now.

And that makes my feeling of helplessness worse.

[Pacifist Patriot]

6. You're right.

I'm sure that's part of it. I wish I had confidence in their ability to get the job done. But given the recent track record.....

[Inland]

9. And that means an enormous bureaucracy gearing up to

make sure they and the president don't get blamed for anything.

[SteppingRazor]

2. I only got power back yesterday myself...

This all really sucks, I know, but right now, I gotta worry about having no food in the fridge :(

[Pacifist Patriot]

4. Oh boy, I remember that.

I was struck by Jeanne and Frances last year. (Katrina makes them look like thunderstorms by comparison.) I lost all of my food both times. Much of what I lost in Jeanne was the stuff I had just bought because perishables finally made it back into the grocery stores shortly before. Fortunately I wasn't as stocked up as I was with the first storm but still incredibly frustrating. That's what I would love to be able to get to people. Fresh food. But I know it isn't practical. After three weeks of canned and dried food, one bite of fresh lettuce is quite a luxury.

I'm glad your power is restored!

[MnFats]

3. Absolutely. And it is a perfect day here.

a few clouds, temperature in the 70s, nice breeze from the south. And yet I can't stop thinking about those unfortunates standing on roofs, huddling in shakey buildings...waiting for their deliverance.

[Pacifist Patriot]

5. I know I'm being completely irrational, but I cut short a

swim today. I took advantage of my toddler's nap to get in the pool and felt so guilty I got back out. It seemed somehow disrespectful to be out there enjoying the beautiful weather. As I said, I know that's strange but I just felt odd.

[jokerman93]

7. The course of things

I suspect the course of things in this country will eventually touch us all in different ways. Even the clueless, hateful freepers will come asking for help - just as you and I probably will at some point too. The "I got mine" American's are going to have to remember, or realize for the first time perhaps, that none of us stand alone.

I also believe that wherever any of us are living now, opportunities to help on the ground will be "coming to a theater near you" (as they used to say in the movie trailers).

We'll all get our chance at both sides of the equation.

Just my thoughts on it.

[kick-ass-bob]

8. I feel the exact same way.

It makes me want to switch careers.