Natural disasters and major emergencies have always brought out the very best and worst in people. More so than parades and celebrations of joyous events, tragedies seem to energize people into action one way or another.
The people of the east coast of the United States over the last few years have seen some snow storms that were the worst in recorded history. Thousands of people leaped into action, heroes, who reached out to stranded people in their communities to make sure shut-ins and the elderly were all right. They helped to free stranded motorists and got women and children, who were unable to navigate the sudden snowfall, safely to their homes. People with nothing to gain but the sense that helping those who needed their help was recognition enough. Human decency and character manifested out of need.
Then there were villains in the same blizzard. Looters, robbers and vandals, knowing that the police were immobilized, took advantage of the situation in ways that showed us the darkness of human nature at its worst.
Equally, Hurricane Katrina brought out the heroes and villains as well. People left their safe havens where ever they were to find stranded folks and brought them to safety. Heroes whose names we will never know, simply doing the right thing. And the unimaginable to those of us who are evolved higher than mere animals, rape squads preying on helpless women stranded in their homes at the mercy of these cretins. Villains whose darkest nature emerged simply because opportunity presented itself.
Our project, Changes for New Hope, has seen both heroes and villains in the emergencies we face everyday. Perhaps not as dramatic as a hurricane or blizzard, we still face the daily insidious situation of impoverishment, coupled with anemia, malnutrition, parasitic microorganisms, and unimaginable living conditions. Seeing it on television infomercials is one thing, but we are here living among them, meeting the families, seeing what they are enduring with no way out of the destitution and despair. We have used our resources to try to bring them to square one. Just enough to get them out of the desperation mentality and give them a chance to make it on their own. The children are far more vulnerable. They rely on parents to care for them. When that is not happening, we step in to do what we can to help. Vitamins, clothing, school materials, blankets, self esteem and development classes, art projects and recreation, for example. Our dedicated volunteers are heroes, our sponsors and supporters are also heroes. Every person that has as much as sent a postcard with a message of hope and love, is a hero.
I am amazed however, at the villains that the emergency in the Andes also brings out. People who would never imagine neglecting their own children, hear about these children, thousands that could be helped with mere pocket change, and look away as though that will make it go away. Apathy is not a neutral emotion, especially to those children who are cold in the Andean nights, hungry and wearing clothing that we would have discarded long before. Apathy is the mark of villains. When we share our message, our project and our need for support for these children, there are a myriad of responses. Silence that shouts to us that people simply don't care. Excuses and other reasons that illustrate that same apathy in more creative ways. And sometimes villainy takes on the form of aggressive responses. "When was the last time a Peruvian helped me?" was one response,"How many children are you helping here in Ohio?" was another. I am appalled by those, whose tenants of their faith, doesn't just suggest but demands, that they help the poor and particularly the children in need. Yet, they ignore such divine instruction. Instead, discretionary income is spent in bars, lottery tickets, the newest igadget, theme parks, yet another pair of shoes, more of this and some of that. "They aren't my kids, Jim, so you are on your own". Good luck, I will pray for you and a box full of 'atta boys' doesn't make it any easier.
What has happened to our sense of human decency and character that was so well illustrated during other emergencies much closer to home? How can it be so easy to allow children, perhaps not your children or even children that you will ever meet, live without a fair chance to have even the most basic supplies needed for survival? Have we actually de-volved back to a more primal animalistic existence where no one else matters but ourselves? When did selfish interests replace the human spirit of love, compassion and caring?
It has become more evident with each passing year that Changes for New Hope will continue to help hundreds of children, thousands if we possibly can. It is also evident that our efforts are minimalized by the lack of heroes that can keep us going, but prefer to ignore our distress signals , even if the help is only a card with a message of love.
We are one humanity, we are all connected by one human spirit that binds us together as one race and one people. To care, to share and to experience the act of compassion is what makes us fully alive, fully human and energizes us to a beautiful life. Whether you help our project, or prefer to touch a project closer to home, or even to focus on being a better parent or spouse, it is a move toward evolving, the morphing into what each of us, as human beings were always intended to be, whether or not there was an emergency.
I have written in other blogs that words are powerful, words are power. I hope that the reaction to these words which you are feeling right now ignites a positive reaction and you are moved to a response and perhaps, the most vulnerable of our human family will have a fighting chance for survival.