Bonding In Times of Disaster
By Raja Abou Reslan, Staff Writer

Beirut, Lebanon - During the last week of August, 2005, Hurricane Katrina took a sudden and surprising new course towards the Gulf Coast of the United States, literally drowning the city of New Orleans, Louisiana and parts of Mississippi… Thousands have been left stranded and an unknown number have been left dead. For there to be thousands of refugees in the United States, the only superpower left in the world, is a shock. It is a shame that evacuations and relief missions did not start earlier and were not the most efficient when they did.

It’s at times like these that human emotions take over, leading people to make donations and send aid from several countries, whether they are allies or enemies of the United States. Enemies like Iran and Cuba have pledged medical aid and food to the victims, despite the fact that both countries have few or no diplomatic relations with the US. Another example of bonding in times of disaster is the case of the tsunami that struck Southeast Asia in December 2004, leaving thousands dead and the vital tourist economy crippled. In the first hours of the aftermath of the disaster, the assistance sent was in the form of small aid packages by the more wealthy countries. However, as the damage estimates and the death toll began to rise, money began to rush in by the millions of dollars from around the world through governments, aid organizations and ordinary people.

From the devastating earthquakes in Iran to the monsoons in China and Japan, it is impossible not to notice the sheer attention given to these events, the areas affected and the victims. Furthermore, it is impossible not to see that when these events happen, politics, and diplomatic tensions are, if only for a little while, put on hold while people from all over the world rush to offer their services and support to the people affected. Some might argue that the reason for this enthusiastic reaction is strictly for political aims and goals. This might have a shred of truth, but regardless of whether it is true or not, it is undeniable that aid does get to the victims, and provides them with their desperate needs of food, clean water, clothes and shelter.

Some believe that the United States deserved what it got because of its foreign policy and actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, but when it comes down to the look of despair in the eyes of three year old children devastated by the storm and with no remaining family, I doubt the most fanatic anti-American hardliners could ignore the feelings of pity and sympathy swelling up inside of them, just as the average American would feel for victims of earthquakes in Iran and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Has our modern and capitalistic world gone so far that we need a disaster to feel emotions towards our fellow human being?

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