For weeks now I've watched with astonishment as New Orleans residents attempt to survive the carnage of Hurricane Katrina - and I include in this carnage the aftermath of human depravity.
Stories of survival, heroics and compassion have been overshadowed by stories of gangs of maniacs roaming the streets terrorizing already traumatized residents, of SWAT teams protecting property rather than saving people from rooftops, and of the government abandoning its own people for days on end.
I imagine that being in that situation is enough to make you turn your back on humanity. In fact, why not take up arms and become the aggressor before you're victimized?
But all that bitterness and despair lightens - even if just a little - when I read about the rescue efforts of the band of Canadians that went to that dangerous place to save those abandoned in the wreckage.
But I couldn't help being touched almost to tears when I read a quote from a Louisiana resident saying she will "never forget the compassion expressed by Canadians" who travelled to the devastated state to help out. It gives me hope that just as evil spreads, so does goodness. I'm convinced that in the event of a disaster here in Canada, American residents would offer their help too, no matter where our governments' relations stood.
I'm relieved to know that no matter what kind of rhetoric greedy, self-righteous or paranoid groups spread about issues such as cattle, softwood lumber, gay marriage, marijuana, terrorism, increasingly stringent border regulations and any number of other threats - legitimate or not - to the U.S. and Canada, there still exists individuals who don't hesitate to help when a crisis arises.
And it's those individuals who define altruism; whose actions are beyond the achievement of glory. Following 9/11, President Bush neglected to thank Canada in the long list of countries he acknowledged during the crisis, but I'm sure this meant nothing to the population of Gander, Nfld., or to the thousands of stranded travellers forced to land in the town immediately following the 9/11 attacks. This time Bush has thanked Canada, but that doesn't carry much weight when compared to the impact the Newfoundlanders had on their guests back in 2001. One airline attendant was stunned upon returning to the plane after three days in Gander. Remarks like hers are what give me hope.
"It was mind-boggling," she wrote. "The passengers had totally bonded and they were calling each other by their first names, exchanging phone numbers and addresses. Then a strange thing happened. One of our business-class passengers stated that he would like to do something in return for those good folks. He asked for donations of any amount from his fellow travelers to provide a scholarship for high school student(s) to help them go to college. Donations totaled about $20,000 CDN. Why, all of this? Just because some people in far away places were kind to some strangers, who happened to literally drop in among them? Why not?"
