What about the damage to their souls?

I have been reading a lot lately about hurricane Katrina and the damage it has wreaked in New Orleans. I have tried to put up an emotional shield. I have tried to tell myself that these things happen and that there is nothing we can do. I really did try to separate myself from the sorrow and devastation doled out in spades by this cruel force of nature...

But then I heard about the looting in the streets, about people just going mad and stealing guns, shooting people, tipping rescue boats. With sickness building in my stomach I read about people being mugged and raped in the superdome, where they were supposed to have found some sort of safe haven...

I am overcome with sadness at the rapid degeneration of the human spirit at in the face of so much suffering. What sort of damage has been unleased upon these peoples souls? What sort of lives have they led that created so much savagery and hatred in them? What turned these people into montsters controlled by the most horrid aspects of human nature? Were these tendancies laying dormant deep down inside? What sort of evils has this hurricane unleashed upon the richest nation in the world? Would things have been different if aid had come sooner?

I don't know...I can't even imagine the horror that the innocent victims of the storms are living right now....I will be honest with you...I don't want to imagine...I WANT to sit in my nice cushy office and go home to my nice cushy house and live my nice happy life...I am so thankful for EVERYTHING that I have. I feel so crushingly sad for all those people suffering...but still maintain the guilty sense of relief that I am so so so lucky to be me. I honestly don't think that I possess the strengh to survive grief of that magnitude.

Here is an article I read about the hurricane that especially moved me:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-observe2sep02,1,609722.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

I would like to take a moment to reflect on how grateful I am for everything positive I have in my life...

Some of the things I have always believed are:
it is NEVER EVER EVER okie to take anything for granted...to take every opportunity I am offered to appreciate kindness and beauty in those around me. Resist the urge to lash out in anger. Try to heal, not hurt, whenever you can. Foster kindness and love. Don't take anything personally. Don't judge other people just live your life the best you can.

I love you my friends...old and new...I wish you all the happiness you can handle.

Anna