Today I read an article in the Boston Globe. It asked the question whether the Katrina Disaster qualified as a "uniquely southern" event. You can read the article here--Boston Globe: Southern Exposure.
I know we in the funeral profession will have little say in the grand matters of reconstruction along the gulf coast. Nevertheless, I think it important to put a few words out there. You never know who's reading or who is listening, so let me throw in my ten cents.
Every natural disaster has unique regional characteristics. Perhaps those tin roofed shacks in the rural areas repulse our northern senses and perhaps they should. At the same time, what SHOULD be done about those aspects of southern culture that disturb the elites in other parts of the country? Should we try to remake this region in our own image or should that culture, and it's diverse (and in many ways divergent) and independent nature have the right to reclaim the land and the place on its own terms?
I find myself torn. Would I love in my heart to raise those dirt poor people to some higher level? Yes, of course I would. Yet how do you DO that? How do you transform those lives and those living conditions in a soul-satisfying way? It can be much too easy to corral these folks into fancy new government developments, force feed them on government subsidies and leave them worse off in terms of heart and soul quality of life. For many, it ain't much but what they have is theirs and the product of generations of settled determination. What shall we do with that?
In the end, this is a VERY Southern disaster and it will take lots of listening and thoughtful soul-searched planning to keep the heart of the south intact as all these outsiders try to help. Let us help and help generously. At the same time, let us allow that people make choices and that sometimes those choices are indeed good enough for them and who are we to say otherwise.
BT
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