Conservative Zone – A little more than a week ago, the news headlines were dominated by stories of hatred, violence, racial divides, protests, and death. After Hurricane Harvey made landfall bringing with it an onslaught of rain devastating Southern Texas, the narrative began changing for the better.
Admittedly, since the devastation of property and loss of life with this storm is real, there is still communication about heartache and loss. However, throughout the news coverage showing the storm’s after-effects, there is a great deal of focus on the good going on in Houston. Average Americans are working tirelessly to get to stranded residents in need of assistance. This, not displays of hatred like in Charlottesville, is what represents real America.
But how long will all of this last?
Americans Take the Tragedy into Their Own Hands
When a tragedy like Hurricane Harvey hits the country, Americans respond in the best of ways. It doesn’t matter what color a person is or where they live, life is the only thing that matters. First responders, although some of them are also dealing with the loss of their own property, are still going out time and time again in an effort to bring people to safety. Other Americans are coming from states away to be of help to the people of Texas. There is no racial or economic divide among rising flood waters, there is only the desire for dry land.
Help is Coming from States Away
The so called “Cajun Navy,” which is a ragtag group of regular citizens serving the role of good Samaritans made their way to Texas to be of help. This group began after they banned together to save thousands of victims after Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans and surrounding areas. Joey Haines, a member of the Cajun Navy said the following about this group:
“There’s no telling how many are already over there (Texas), basically everybody who’s wanting to go help out is either going or is already there.”
The group is made up of a bunch of guys with shallow draft duck hunting boats, airboats, kayaks, pirogues, and anything and everything that can float in shallow water.
Haines believes there are likely hundreds of members in their group, most of which are from southern Louisiana, hence the group’s name. They have put their lives on pause to make their way to Texas to help in whatever way they can.
Local Media Steps Up
Not only is help coming from groups like the Cajun Navy, but also from reporters who happen to be in the midst of the devastation. These men and women are reacting to the devastation they see around them, and lending a hand when they can.
One reporter, Brandi Smith, along with her cameraman Mario Sandoval are credited with saving a trucker’s life while on air. While reporting on the storm, they saw a trucker trapped within the cap of his vehicle with water rising quickly all around him. They flagged down a Harris County Sheriff’s Office truck that happened to be pulling a boat in order to get the man much-needed help.
“I cannot imagine how terrifying it would be to be in that place right now,” Smith said. “Put yourself in that place: your car is filling up with water. Help is on the way, he is incredibly lucky.”
Public Figures Raise Awareness
Seeing praise for celebrities is a rarity on this site, but credit goes where credit is due.
Musician Chris Young and comedian Kevin Hart are just two celebrities who have given money towards the relief effort. Hart announced he was donating $25,000, and challenged a few of his famous friends to do the same.
Other celebrities are tweeting out links to the Red Cross trying to encourage donations. JJ Watt, a member of the NFL’s Houston’s Texans is starting a massive fundraiser for the cause, hoping to garner donations upwards of $1.5 million.
“We’re trying to raise as much as we can because we know that these recovery efforts are going to be massive,.” Watt told Good Morning America.
The point being, even those in Hollywood and wealthy athletes who often seem far removed from the care’s of the world are joining in the cause to help Houston and surrounding areas.
Although it’s unfortunate it took a natural disaster, the American spirit is on full display all around the Texas areas affected by unprecedented flooding. But let’s make one thing clear: after the dust has settled, America will without a doubt return to business as usual. The progressives in the media will continue twisting every headline into an ultimatum on the president, and
Republicans will again have their backs against a wall when trying to push any policy at all.
While tragic in nature, events like Hurricane Harvey offer a rare moment of solace wherein America can act like America. Hopefully, Houston can help break the cycle, and remind the country that we are all ultimately on the same side.
SF Source Conservative Zone Aug 2017