Dealing with Tragedy

After hearing or reading anything about New Orleans, or really any disaster, I often feel guilty for feeling disconnected from the tragedy. I feel that I should be more affected because so many lives are destroyed and consequently find myself trying to make a connection to the tragedy. For example, two months before September 11th I had been in New York for a school trip. I bought my mom a picture of the Twin Towers and had stood under the building listening to our guide tell us about the last terrorist attack on the tower. Well when September 11th occurred I ended up telling everyone I talked to about how I had just been there. I guess I felt that if I had a connection with the area I could some how share in other people's grief. I don't know if this makes any sense, but maybe it will to someone.

On another note, I think the tragedy in New Orleans will be much harder emotionally than 9/11 because there is no one to transfer our pain to. After 9/11 everyone could push away the stabbing pain by concentrating on fighting the terrorists. We hung flags and planned how to protect ourselves from a future disaster. By hating the terrorists we kept ourselves from having to deal with the tremendous loss for a short time. However, in New Orleans there is no faceless terrorist to turn our attention to. We are left with a sadness that can not be pushed away. It must be dealt with now, whether we want to or not.

Please keep everyone touched by this disaster in your prayers.