Glenn Stewart Coles, 9251 Yonge Street, Suite 8-924, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, L4C 9T3
Text Box: I have found it difficult to write an inspirational column this week. Despite my belief that the soul is everlasting, and despite my belief that the universe plans everything for the greater good, it is still difficult. Is there anyone who is not touched by the tragedy along the Gulf Coast? Each day we hear stories that shake our souls, of drowning and suffering and floating corpses. We empathize with the thousands who wait for help, and wonder why they must wait. Surely those who have survived the onslaught of nature should not have to go without food or water or sanitary conditions. Then I begin to question my feelings. Why are the results of hurricane Katrina so difficult to bear? Is it because the people and their lives are similar to mine? Is it because I am reminded of our vulnerability, and that we really cannot control our destiny? Why does this disaster have more impact than the 200,000+ who died as a result of the tsunami last Christmas? Are these deaths more important than the 1000 that died in Iraq last week during a stampede? Are these deaths more important than those who died in the London bombings, or those who die daily around the world as a result of starvation or war? The answer is quite simple. The deaths this week have stories attached to them. The intense media coverage of Katrina and its aftermath shows us real people. A young mother holds a dying baby and cries for help. A man sobs as he describes how his wife was swept from his hands. An old women dies in a wheelchair, and people put a blanket over her face so they don’t have to look at her. Each of these tragedies involves individuals, and the stories touch our hearts. I begin to realize that every death is tragic, and every death has a story. Just because the media does not tell us the details does not mean that someone has not suffered. When we read about an entire Indonesian village swept away by a giant wave, it seems surreal. When we hear about a New Orleans policeman who committed suicide after hearing that his wife died, we realize he could be our friend or our neighbor. When death occurs on a large scale, it does not have the same impact as one simple story. Over the next few weeks, we can expect to hear more stories. It is important to feel compassion, and to pray for the souls of those both departed and displaced. It is just as important to recognize that suffering occurs all over the world, and much of it can be stopped. While the force of nature can take a terrible toll, the force of man takes more lives weekly than any natural disaster. Step up and help those in need, but also recognize that there are many untold stories around the world. © Copyright Glenn Stewart Coles, 2005 First Published September 4, 2005

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Katrina and the Waves

 

Why are the results of hurricane Katrina so difficult to bear?