http://notesfromoffcenter.disqus.com/Life from the view of a pragmatist Christian and educator.enWed, 07 May 2008 20:58:54 -0000http://notes-from-offcenter.com/2008/05/07/count-your-blessings/#comment-1539960For the whining part the reference was really to the politicians who were placing blame in New Orleans. The residents did basically what they were told.<br><br>I wasn't sure to call it Myanmar or Burma either. Burma it is!dtatuskoWed, 07 May 2008 20:58:54 -0000http://notes-from-offcenter.com/2008/05/07/count-your-blessings/#comment-1539959I have a classmate from Burma (note he refuses to acknowledge Myanmar). He graduates next Thursday, but I think its unknown IF he can get home let alone what he will go home to. What a disaster. I don't understand how (if reports are true) that the junta would not alert citizens of the nature of the coming storm and then continue to demand humanitarian aide workers apply for visa's before being allowed to provide help to the 1million homeless people. The country was already lacking in so many basic resources. I agree with you that the nature of the devestation is far beyond anything that we have ever experienced in this country and they do need our prayers at a minimum.<br><br>However, please be careful when you make comments like "Following Katrina we heard more ....... more whining than was appropriate or helpful. Yet there we sat as the richest nation in the world completely able to help ourselves in the midst of such disaster." I think that we need more loud voices making people aware of the lack of response still in the poorest neighborhoods in New Orleans. Almost three years later, there are still thousands of people homeless. Just four months ago, our parish supported a sheet drive so that a sister church could provide something other than garbage bags for their neighbors to sleep on. They are still operating an illegal shelter in their church as there was still no resources available to begin reconstruction in their neighborhood. <br><br>You are absolutely correct when you say that we are completely capable of helping ourselves. Too bad we're so selective on where and how quickly we do apply those resources.LisaWed, 07 May 2008 15:46:39 -0000