I think Sean Penn is an ass, regardless, I ran across this article today. Of note:
"At one point, there were a load of girls on the roof of the hotel saying 'Can you help us?' and the policemen said 'Show us what you've got' and made signs for them to lift their T-shirts. When the girls refused, they said 'Fine' and motored off down the road in their boat."
Damn. That's enough to shake my faith people to the core and unleash my ever present cynicism into an area which I have constantly fought to keep it from. The part of me that believes in humanity.
And yet at the same time I read something like this and how people pulled together and it reaffirms it, yet at the same time doesn't. That people can band together and help eachother in times of crisis is indeed a beautiful thing. That some people can turn away those in need of help without a thought is truly soul crushing. That those in positions of authority whose job it is to protect and serve do it is both soul crushing and truly despicable. I would really love to meet the sherrif who did this:
"Just as dusk set in, a Gretna Sheriff showed up, jumped out of his patrol vehicle, aimed his gun at our faces, screaming, "Get off the fucking freeway". A helicopter arrived and used the wind from its blades to blow away our flimsy structures. As we retreated, the sheriff loaded up his truck with our food and water."
and beat the crap out of him, and I'm not normally a violent man, I hate fights. I feel this is one case where I could make an exception. He took their fucking food and water for christs sake! grrr
"At one point, there were a load of girls on the roof of the hotel saying 'Can you help us?' and the policemen said 'Show us what you've got' and made signs for them to lift their T-shirts. When the girls refused, they said 'Fine' and motored off down the road in their boat."
Damn. That's enough to shake my faith people to the core and unleash my ever present cynicism into an area which I have constantly fought to keep it from. The part of me that believes in humanity.
And yet at the same time I read something like this and how people pulled together and it reaffirms it, yet at the same time doesn't. That people can band together and help eachother in times of crisis is indeed a beautiful thing. That some people can turn away those in need of help without a thought is truly soul crushing. That those in positions of authority whose job it is to protect and serve do it is both soul crushing and truly despicable. I would really love to meet the sherrif who did this:
"Just as dusk set in, a Gretna Sheriff showed up, jumped out of his patrol vehicle, aimed his gun at our faces, screaming, "Get off the fucking freeway". A helicopter arrived and used the wind from its blades to blow away our flimsy structures. As we retreated, the sheriff loaded up his truck with our food and water."
and beat the crap out of him, and I'm not normally a violent man, I hate fights. I feel this is one case where I could make an exception. He took their fucking food and water for christs sake! grrr
I mean, all the bureaucratic mismanagement really doesnt surprise me. Call me a cynic, but thats government at its best. Republicans will hold Democrats responsible and vice versa. Thats essentially their job as the morally and intellectually bankrupted individuals they are. No one rises to power unless they have compromised their beliefs.
What really scares me are the individual acts of greed and callousness. Government can not, will not and really should not be looked toward to save mankind. Individuals helping individuals is what sustains any society.
Its not the fact that people are looting that disturbs me. Its the fact that they are wasting that energy on greed, polishing the brass on the Titanic, when they should be helping their friends, family, neighbors and most importantly, their elders. And that has nothing to do with poverty or race, and everything to do with simple humanity.
And the fact that so many seem to be devoid of that humanity is what makes me worry that we may indeed be on the nature trail to hell.
On the other hand, one act of kindness is more powerful than one hundred acts greed.
Lets hope
Anyway, ranting aside, hope you is good, mman!
I agree wholeheartedly to the rest of it.