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| Modern Day Good Samaritans--Red Cross??!!
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Today I am reflecting on what a Modern Day Good Samaritan would resemble. Red Cross is held up as a shining example of what disaster relief means. Just judge for yourself......
Yesterday was the one month anniversary of the tornado that destroyed our farm. We were out working on our farm disaster again this weekend, burning tree limbs this time. We were at it all day, and we probably are only 1/3 done with that job. Hot work on a hot day. What we actually need is somebody... a young and ambitious person... who will climb up into the cedar trees and trim some of the branches that seem to be hanging by only a thread. I'm thinking as much damage as there is to some of the trees they probably will die as a result of the trauma.
I think Juan, our temporary hired help, has finally gotten down to the ground level in tearing apart boards from the barn roof, and he has taken most of the tin off the larger slabs of barn roof. There is still tin in the trees. We have hauled away two trailer loads and at least six pickup loads of scrap wood. At the end of each day we work out there, no matter how tired we are, we load up another load of wood to haul away. The reason for hauling it away is that there are nails in everything. If we burned it on the spot we wouldn't dare to drive in those pens (or what WILL be pens again after they are rebuilt), or we would be guaranteed a flat tire, and maybe more. There’s nothing that immobilizes doing cattle work as much as a flat tire, not to mention two, three or four! And that cell phone probably is in a dead spot at that exact moment, too!
As it is, we will have to drag a magnet across all of the west lot and in front of the barn to pick up as many nails as we can. With Juan tearing everything apart we can sort through the wood piles. We decide what is completely useless and what could be recycled into either repairing what is left or making into signs, benches or birdhouses. That way we can recoup a small fraction of the cost of clean up with products we market through www.oldczechcountry.com and our downtown Oberlin, KS store, Old Czech Country Antiques & Primitives. Now we are starting to have stacks of wood around. Shingles and splintered crap are slowly but gradually disappearing.
I'm just feeling gripey today because I returned from Dollar General Store on the lunch hour, and at check out they asked if I would like to make a donation to the Red Cross for the Midwest Disaster Relief. I told them I am making my own donation to the Midwest Disaster Relief, every day, at our own tornado disaster that happened on May 22. I know they ask that in general of everybody, but you can bet your bottom dollar that Red Cross won't show their face here with food and drink while WE clean up. I have to plan ahead for that and provide all of it myself.
The Salina Journal out of Salina, KS has been carrying some sort of story about Chapman, KS every day since their tornado happened. The local Oberlin Herald has done its little civic duty in our community by carrying ONE story on the eight tornadoes that happened in Decatur County on May 22. After that we're supposed to go away and be on our own, apparently. I can't believe that there are still people in Oberlin, small rural village with 1800 population, who do not know, nor do they seem to care, that there are people in our county whose property was completely destroyed a month ago. That includes the largest percentage of the people that I work with! Life just is going on as usual. Reminds me a lot of the Good Samaritan story, but there doesn't even seem to BE a Good Samaritan nowadays.
I would update that scriptural story about the Good Samaritan with new characters….our story would have the storm chasers that get some sort of vicarious thrill about getting in the way of storm watchers. When something disastrous DOES happen, the storm chasers publicize their chases and probably get paid for the footage. One of the pious storm chasers emailed me that “it must have been the will of God” for the tornado to damage our farm so extensively. But contribute help in any way? Heaven forbid!!
Then our story would have the Gawkers, carloads of them, who come to watch us work at cleaning up. But lend a hand? They thank their lucky stars this didn't happen to them, then they wring their hands and insist they are simply too busy to help in any way at all.
Next our story would have the 'Look Away, Joes'. If they ignore it, they fervently believe it will simply go away, and nothing will have to be done. Thank God THAT is taken care of!
And last, the Honorable Helper, who in our case is paid by the hour......not by FEMA, not by any disaster relief organization, but by us. And we do NOT, by any stretch of the imagination, have deep pockets. And who provides food and sustenance for the Honorable Helper? Certainly NOT the Red Cross. They are too busy counting the bucks that they still have on account for the Oklahoma City bombing, the 9-11 disaster and Hurricane Katrina when the hearts of the nation were deeply touched into giving to relieve the burdens of those caught in the throes of some disaster.
What a great country we live in, with wide open skies, generous hearts, helpful hands.....but first, you have to live in the right place, otherwise, you don't count.
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Posted by KSGal on 2008-06-23 16:21:03 | Rating: | Views: 116
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I hear you, San Diego County has had two major wildfires in the last five years. Thousands of homes destroyed.
A few people killed, a few too many. We lost everything in 2003, Red Cross handed out sandwiches, water bottles, and hotel vouchers. we took none of that. We took care of ourselves.
Those by the way were being donated on the spot, by the local businesses, where do the huge money donations go? Well, our county supervisor at the time, was a fire victim. She investigated and revealed that the local Red Cross administrator recieved a $400.000 yearly salary. That is one person,and that is for the year 2000, so it is an old statistic. Makes ya feel so good to get out there and work for red cross for free don't it?
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Posted by circe
on 2008-06-23 17:20:36
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That kind of money would keep us going for TEN years!! I know California's wages and salaries must be considerably higher than Kansas wages and salaries, but, gracious.... How can the muckity mucks justify taking such a large chunk of money out of what is supposed to go to a charitable cause? Nationwide, what would ALL of the Red Cross administers cut out of the pie first, before a victim saw a single dime???
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Posted by KSGal
on 2008-06-23 17:42:57
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I've never had to deal with the redcross thank GOD.
I have heard they were little help to anyone. I also know the salvation army did a number on my mother when I was younger.
I'm very unsure about giving any of these places money. Not that I have any to give right now. (My husband is layedoff and I'm painting to try and keep us up and running.)
I can't even imagine what you must be going through every day! I feel so bad for you and wish I had a way there (and wasn't needed here) to lend a hand. I don't know I would be of great help but I'd surely pitch in where ever I could. I pray God blesses you and lifts your hearts! Praying and wishing you all the strength you need to carry on.
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Posted by anotherdaze
on 2008-06-24 09:27:51
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