The Beauty in the Beast – Unity
It’s been almost a week after Hurricane Harvey, and there are still videos pouring into news outlets showing the worst flooding event in American history for at least the past in1,000 years. Over 47 people have lost their lives and counting, it is a very sad and difficult time for Houston, the surrounding cities, and the people in Louisiana also suffering once again a tragic natural disaster, but something beautiful has been showcased around the world about the proud people of Texas and America. We are Strong! One news anchor said Texas should change it’s motto to, “We got this!” Tears come to my eyes when I see countless videos of selflessness and heroism, people disregarding race, color of skin, political beliefs, and religious affiliations, coming together to save lives.
The nation and the world looked upon Texas, with compassionate eyes once more, and remembers that America and Texans have HUGE hearts and big humanity. #TheBiggerTheBetter isn’t only a Texan motto for material things, but as we all are still seeing in the countless efforts of America with donations, The Cajun Navy, my friends who had boats who all have brave stories of stopping their work to leave and save hundreds lives, my family who handed out thousands of water bottles and sandwiches in Port Aransas, TX, no matter the political and racial issues we have been facing recently with a vengeance, the story has finally shifted to one of humanity, love, unity, and the beauty found within the beast.
Human life chains all across Houston were made to save people (and even pets) from torrential waters: People were stuck in cars, trees, houses, it is the most beautiful thing I can remember since the unity I felt as a nation, on September 11, 2001. Every single American remembers in specifics That day; where they were, what they were feeling, what they were doing, as they watched on live TV as the twin towers were hit. I saw the second tower being hit and was in instant tears and sorrow for the people I saw burning, and jumping out of the building and running from the rubble as the buildings fell.
August 26, 2017, I have another tragedy to remember… My family could not all flee and they were on the coast of Corpus Christi. I thank God they are all alive and well and we suffered little damage. The hard part is yet to come. The immediate efforts of saving lives is deemed as “the easy part,” no matter how uneasy it truly is, we cannot even begin to understand what is yet to come as hundreds of thousands become homeless in what was once a thriving place, now turned to rubble, lakes, toxic environments, and death, but we will not lose hope! Houston has already opened up shop, with the help of the people and the nation.
That same Fox news anchor said, “It seems like Texas represents such a positive unifying force that people [the media] can’t really turn this into a bad thing…The unity speaks for itself. So when you talk about Trump not being warm and fuzzy, the people are like, ‘We got this, we are going to be fine… We don’t need warm and fuzzy, we can do it ourselves,’ so it’s hard for the media to go after them at this point.” I’m happy there is something positive to be said in the midst of people trying to use this tragedy as a power play or for media ratings. The media is always against each other so it’s not new news that they are trying to turn irrelevancies such as what shoes Melania Trump was wearing, which happened to be the most read article online by the NY Times, into bigger news than the nation is continuing to suffer and what is being done about it?
One thing that happened during 9/11 was something I never felt, a quietness, unity, One nation.. In the midst of all the turmoil as of late in America, I have inklings of those feelings again. Although Trump is more polarizing than Bush could ever be, I have to say that I finally saw some humility and kind service he performed in a good way. I may not be the biggest supporter of him and his antics, but you can’t discredit when someone is doing some good deeds like donating a million dollars to different humanity funds. I felt during the unfolding and immediately after that unity of the nation was apparent again as I had felt similarly during 9/11, just perhaps with not as much force. I felt a sense of quiet when things have been extremely hectic in America and world news. I felt again a unifying force over the good works of the people and the president as One Nation, and not multiple parties… Finally! But that will be short lived, negativity is everywhere. I yearn for that echo of peace that we once had, that I can still to this day feel in my bones, but that is increasingly harder to achieve. It’s sad that it happens after such horrific events occur, that should Not be the only reason we can find to have peace. But I’m afraid tragic events remind us all that we are all just People, alive, and need to work together to build a better world.
I appreciated feeling that when Harvey came along. We are all people helping each other, and it was and is beautiful to see. That feeling of hope has once again seeped into my bones that there can be a better future if we all strive to do the right thing, which is not often the easy thing to do. Just do it! I’m incredibly proud of my family, friends, and the everyone who has donated and came over here to help us survive and get back to our thrive. This is the beauty in the beast. I urge everyone to find the beauty in every bad situation so we can learn from mistakes and move forward with positive attitudes and having learned something.
SMLXL
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