“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; ‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answered Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 25: 40-46: Nelson, Thomas (2009-02-18). Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV)
Moore, Oklahoma was shattered by the EF5 tornado of May 20, 2013. The storm roared through leaving thirty-six dead, ten of them children. The path of destruction is indescribable, each time I look at the pictures I want to weep; whether it is of homes or of people, my eyes fill with tears for the loss.
The actions of teachers in the two schools directly in the path of this monster storm were the actions of heroes. There can be no other word for them, once again teachers step up and show us their mettle. Once again, teachers throw themselves into harm’s way to protect the children they were entrusted to educate. So many of us deride teachers, these evil public servants these terrible leeches of the public teat the reason why so many of our communities are broke, right. Yet here they go again placing themselves in position to protect the children in their care. I am in awe. Perhaps it is time we stop blaming those who commit themselves to educating our children and start looking at the real problem, the system itself.
Now to what is really annoying me, yes this is another one of those. Let me say this up front. The politics of Oklahoma is to the right, way, way, way to the right. Most of those who live in Oklahoma tend to be gun toting, Bible thumping, flag waving, Limbaugh loving Right Wing nut cases. Sorry, but based on the voting history of Oklahoma, this is the only conclusion possible.
The entire Executive branch of Oklahoma is filled with Republicans led by their Governor Mary Fallin, a Gay Bashing – Family Values politician with a voting record that makes me cringe.
The State House of Representatives has 101 members, 71 are Republicans, 30 are Democrats. Just a tad unevenly balanced don’t you think?
The Oklahoma Senate has 48 members, 32 Republicans and 16 Democrats; again with that imbalance. No need for filibuster rules around Oklahoma.
If you follow national politics at all, you know whom Oklahoma sends to Washington and what their position on Disaster relief has been in the past, for Hurricane Sandy and for funding FEMA. Thats right the wonderfully compassionate Senator’s Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn and the perfectly empathetic Representatives Markwayne Mullin, James Lankford and Jim Bridenstine. That’s right, these stellar examples of humanity all felt those on the East Coast devastated by a natural disaster who had lost everything should simply lift themselves up by their boot straps and get to stepping by God.
Inhofe and Coburn
Now though, well now the boots are on the other feet and shit is piling up. It isn’t the same don’t you know, get the relief rolling in dammit (except for Coburn who is simply an Azzhat and doesn’t care who suffers).
Watching social media, even as early as the hours after the storm, even before the bodies had been counted before we knew children had been lost. Already there were fingers pointing, I shook my head in shame and anger at these fingers. Already those on the Left were wagging their fingers and flapping their lips, shaming the Oklahoma contingent, with their votes on Sandy and claiming they didn’t deserve relief, they didn’t deserve support. What? Are you crazy or just stupid? Maybe what you are instead is heartless.
I named the Azzhats for a reason. I even said I disagree with the politics of Oklahoma for a reason. The reason is this, I can disagree with you, with your politics and still recognize you as my brother, as my sister as my neighbor. I can still hurt for you in your loss. I do not want harm to come your way. My heart breaks, literally shatters for the devastation these families are suffering right now. We should all be looking on the pictures in Moore, thinking of the loss and considering how we can help. Whether it is $5.00 to Red Cross, or demanding our Representatives in Washington vote for aid, we should do it and do it now.
Sometimes it isn’t politics and shouldn’t be. This is at the end of the day America and we are Americans, all of us, every last stinking one of us. Whether Red, Blue or f’ng Purple we sink or swim together. Isn’t it time we start acting like it?
QBG_Tilted Tiara 
Well past time, my friend. Well past time.
I agree, well past time. As much of a political animal as I am I am sickened by this.
We are all the same people at our base; we all want to be happy. Thank-you for a post that is about so much more than politics. x
Natures fury isn’t political, we sometimes might want to think so but the facts are the facts. Tornado Alley is just that, a part of the nation that is subject to tornados. We need to remember humanity with compassion.
I liked your positive statement in conclusion. Unity in diversity is so important if a nation is to survive.
Ian, I kept it at the national level but honestly if we are going to survive, on this planet, we have to come together. This ongoing aggression towards each other for our perceived differences is idiotic. The destruction of the planet for wealth, which we can’t take with us is idiotic. Unity, is vital under all circumstances.
Beautifully said. As usual. Thanks.
Not sure how beautiful, I think my potty mouth somewhat came out. Thank you though for seeing beyond that to what lies beneath.
Well said Valentine.
Thanks Loon
Right as usual, Val… compassion is what makes us human.
Like you I was struck by the heroism of the teachers yet again. What wonderful people go into teaching so that every time there is a disaster involving children, their teachers put their lives on the line to save and to comfort the children. Their heroism, love, and sheer goodness, are so inspiring…
The reactions here were terrible Valerie and made me just cringe. You are so right, compassion is the key. I keep looking for it and hoping for it. I also keep hoping we, as a people will recognize this is what keeps us whole and complete, but every single time it seems to slip from view.
We’re all vulnerable to Mother Nature. Those in positions of power believe in themselves so much, they think they’re untouchable.
This is true Totsy, they do. But people are just people and we should never seek to make those who are vulnerable pay the price.
Yea, I read about those 2 clowns in the news. All those freedom-loving patriots – including here in Texas – hate the federal government, but want the money it offers when disaster strikes.
They are really no different from many others, it is simply now the disaster has struck home so now it is different. My issue though is different, always has been. I don’t care about them, yes they were without compassion in their vote; I don’t care. We don’t have to emulate them, we should not emulate them nor should we seek to punish their state. We should rise above their bad behavior.
Terrible. Devastating. Horrible. Why do politics have to enter into everything? One of your commenters mentioned this tragedy shows how vulnerable we ALL are. . .
There isn’t any of us who are not in some way vulnerable these days. I don’t know what the answer is anymore, politics seems to be in everything but we allow this. I think it is time, in every nation the people make a change.
My thoughts and prayers are with all those that have lost loved ones; we as you know have had our own tragedy in the UK this week but obviously not on the same scale as Oklahoma and yet again politics has taken centre stage
Everything it seems is political, no matter the scale or the tragedy. I am so tired of it. I have been following what happened in the UK, terrible.
I pray that his mother and wife didn’t see that horrific and graphic video
It’s very true. No matter who we are – what race, sexual orientation, social status, it just doesn’t matter in the big scheme of things. We are all equal and should be treated so.
Exactly right, but more than this we must return to the idea we are a nation that is concerned with our fellow human beings. Concerned no matter what. I was so sickened by what I saw and continue to see in social media, I just don’t know what to think of my fellow American, we seem to be getting worse.
** I can disagree with you, with your politics and still recognize you as my brother, as my sister as my neighbor**
Beautifullysaid, Val.
Xxxxxx
Thanks Kim, I so need to see some good in people.
Absolutely. Damn it I am tired of people looking the other way. And tired of politicians targeting teachers and first responders for budget cutting.
I agree Elyse, we need to stop demonizing the best of us the hero’s among us. We need to stop making everything about politics, somethings simply aren’t politics they are simply about human beings.
What is surfacing in these ever more common disasters Val is that is showing us how vulnerable we all are.. But more than that its showing us that we HAVE to start and Unite together, Our lives have become so fraught as we each get so caught up within our material lives. Communities no longer pull together as we distrust and no longer know our neighbours.. These events show us what is really important in life… Something we forget … LIFE is precious.. and I hope as we evolve we bring back that caring streak we left behind in favour of our pursuits of the material, as we open up our hearts in love and compassion to our brothers and sisters everywhere around the world who are suffering…
Excellent post. Love Sue x
Thanks Sue, and thank you for your comments as well. You said it beautifully.
I said so many of these exact things this morning to my husband, and had to stop, choked with tears. I heard so many angry, blaming people. People saying the schools were’t built correctly, it was their fault. Heartless.
I showed the before/after photos to my kids this morning. Nothing with the hurt and crying people, but the satellite images of entire neighborhoods leveled. We all took a moment this morning to be grateful for our last day of school parties today, and that all our friends and neighbors are here with us. I showed them how many driveways, how many streets were in those photos. I had them think it that were our town, look that would be this friend, that friend, her grandma, your teacher – all their houses gone. It was my 4 yr old that said, and some of those houses the people were inside, so the people are gone too, right?
Right. Exactly. So much loss. I just wanted a moment for us all to be grateful for each other and feel connected to these others and let our prayers help if nothing else does.
Thank you for this post. I needed to know others actually care more about politics and agendas and still have hearts.
It is a terrible lesson to learn, but hopefully one that teaches compassion and empathy one it seems we are sorely lacking these days.
I hope you are doing okay today. Summer is upon us, time to rejuvenate.
Amen.
Indeed
Yeah. Amen.