Lessons from Katrina

Curt Day

There is massive destruction of property, demolition of the infrastructure, and thousands dead in two countries. And according to the Bush Administration, it is the worst of times for one country while it is the beginning of the best of times for another. In America, we have just experienced the most catastrophic natural disaster in our history. In Iraq, we are witnessing the birth of a democracy.

For America, the devastation from Katrina is the worst of times. Yet, the saddest story is about the city that did not receive the brunt of the storm. It is the second time during George Bush’s presidency that thousands of American citizens have died after his administration ignored ominous warnings. Worse than 9-11 when the Bush Administration ignored the threat of Al Qaeda, his Administration cut funds that could have strengthened the levees protecting New Orleans. Would the original funding have reduced the flooding? We will never know. But even if the flooding was the same, the Bush Administration did not do all it could have.

We should also note President Bush’s different messages to the two countries. To America, President Bush is not satisfied with the relief efforts; he declares that we must do whatever we can to rebuild and restore. To Iraq, he reports that they can now vote and are on a short list for a Constitution. Why is it, when in the face of significant destruction to both countries, that Bush delivers different messages? Don’t the Iraqis need more than a Constitution and the right to vote?

In Christian Fundamentalist churches, we are taught to learn from each tragedy. The first temptation for some fundamentalists is to look at Katrina as a divine judgment on sin. But maybe Katrina exposes a different sin than expected: the violation of the 6th Commandment forbidding murder. According to the Fundamentalist point of view, this commandment is not just a prohibition against the taking of human life; this commandment obligates us to do all that we can to protect and preserve life.

There are questions that the Bush Administration must answer regarding both New Orleans and Iraq. For example, how could this administration continually reduce funding for maintaining the levees that protect people in a vulnerable area? And how many died because of the federal government’s response to the storm?

Regarding Iraq, how many Iraqis would be alive if President Bush had waited for confirmation from UN weapons inspectors? How many Iraqis would be alive if President Bush listened to the international community and sought an alternative solution? How many Iraqis will die because of damage to their infrastructure? How many Iraqis will die because we used weapons with depleted uranium?

But President Bush is not alone. Are Americans adding to the strength of storms like Katrina by our own contributions to global warming? In addition, would an ounce of tax-funded prevention be worth more than a pound of contribution supported recovery right now? Were the tax cuts worth it? Reduced tax revenues was a reason why funding for the levees was reduced. Did we do everything to protect and preserve life?

Regarding Iraq, how many Iraqis would be alive if those Americans who supported the war were not caught up in the pride and moral relativity of nationalism? And how many Iraqis would be alive if Americans were willing to sacrifice some sovereignty in order to participate as an equal and cooperative member in the international community?

Before we start another war, we need to take a long, hard look at the faces of Katrina’s victims. This is because their plights serve as premonitions of future war victims. We need to examine the differences and similarities between nature’s fury and our unleashed military wrath on a country. Not only are there deaths from the initial surge of violence, we witness continued casualties from damage to the infrastructure. The difference is that one calamity, in most cases, is preventable.

Fundamentalists might be tempted to ask if Katrina is a judgment from God. But such a question is dangerous. As dangerous as it is to hypothesize about why God allows natural catastrophes, it is even more treacherous to fail to fervently explore how much more we can do to keep the 6th Commandment by finding alternatives to war. The continued failure to do so will ultimately ravage so many that there will be no one left to offer relief.

Curt Day can be reached at cday@prodigy.net