Qualcomm vs Katrina - how people are dealing with the fire crisis

by Jim Cathcart

San Diego, October 24, 2007
Fires have devastated the area and hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes and businesses. This is the worst natural disaster in San Diego's history and much of Southern California is experiencing a similar crisis.

Depending on where in Southern California you live this may be the worst crisis you have had to face. It is certainly worse than the earthquakes and mudslides of recent memory. And, when it is your home or property that is devastated, then the tragedy is at its worst.

Here is a link to the Reuters story on the fires today, and
here is another link to the Resources Available to Help Fire Victims.
Both of these are available from Roger Hedgecock's website. Roger is a national talk show host and former Mayor of San Diego.



Now let's look at what the people are doing in response to this crisis.
Qualcomm Stadium, known for hosting both the SuperBowl and the World Series in recent years, has been made available as the largest of the evacuation centers in the area.
Thousands of evacuees have come there for food, shelter and safety.
Volunteers are abundant. People have come to help distribute supplies, communicate information, serve food, and just be available to help. Businesses have donated goods, government agencies have provided supplies and security personnel.
And the crowded stadium and the acres of packed parking lot are...happy.

Happy? How can people in such a tragedy be happy?
Granted they are not gleeful but neither are they angry and rebellious. They are making the best of a horrible situation. They recognize that everyone who can help is attempting to do so and the fires and wind are beyond anyone's control. Naturally, there are individual exceptions but the general situation is very positive.

Check out this link to ABC News' report on the atmosphere at the venue.
Musicians are performing for the folks, therapists are providing massages, and the community is taking care of its own.

This is not our Federal Government saving us from a tragedy. It is Americans doing what they do. We are helping each other and doing our best to take care of ourselves. We are not waiting for someone to rescue us. We do not demand to be served or even saved. We are just coping and cooperating. That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is America!

Now, contrast this with what happened after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. They had chaos, anger, crime, looting and resources languishing from lack of use. They saw virtually no volunteering from among the victims and thousands of people sat and waited to be rescued without trying to help each other. Again, sure there were individual exceptions but the general situation was very negative.

Why? Was it FEMA? Was it the White House? Was it the Louisiana State Government? No.
The difference in the two scenarios reveals a much deeper origin. The origin was a victim mindset. New Orleans was filled with low income residents who had allowed themselves to become dependent on entitlements. They didn't take initiative, because until the storm hit, they didn't have to. Their mentality was one of being a receiver not a giver.

People say "we allowed them to become that way!" I say, don't be absurd. "We" didn't do anything to cause that. This is America; a country where education is available to everyone, even non-citizens in many cases. This is a place where people are eager to help ambitious and appreciative people who want to lift themselves up. We have agencies, foundations, scholarships, benefactors and teachers who would happily spend extra time helping someone who wanted to grow and improve.

What caused the victim mentality in New Orleans was individuals accepting their "fate" and giving up before even trying. It was parents not holding their children responsible for their choices. It was grandparents not insisting that their offspring go to church or synagogue to develop their faith and integrity. It was teachers allowing kids to leave school before they learned essential skills. It was neighbors not caring about each other or looking after their common interests. And it's not only New Orleans where areas like this are found. These breeding grounds of attitudinal cancer are all around us.

When we allow ourselves to relax our grip on the development of each new generation. When we ignore the importance of a strong belief system. When we deny the importance of others in our lives...we all suffer.

Alexis de Toqueville once said of America that our strength lies in our ability to spontaneously organize around a need and cooperate to solve it. He was right. As a free society we have the ability to choose what we do and who we do it for. But when we start thinking that it is all about us, then we ignore the strength available to us through others.

I need you. And you need me. Nobody makes it through this life alone...even if they try. Culture means common beliefs and interests. It means that we must honor the dignity of others and build integrity in ourselves. If I stop trying to improve then I have cheated all the potential recipients of my good works. If you start thinking only of yourself then sooner or later the world will stop thinking of you.

Qualcomm Stadium or the SuperDome in New Orleans: every day you are choosing the path that leads to one or the other. Please choose the path of responsibility and self improvement. All of us need what you can contribute to the world. And we will thank you generously as you contribute it.