Nature: human & otherwise

A week after Hurricane Sandy hit the tri-state area and changed (read: ruined) many lives forever; I think this is an appropriately sappy post.

I have seen two opposite ends of the human nature spectrum in the last week.

So many of my friends opened their homes, lives & wallets to help those in need. Any of my friends who lost power, water and etc. were automatically welcomed with open arms. I had yet to experience such warmth and honest deep caring from humans until this storm. And for that (among many other things) I am very grateful. I thank all my friends for existing to begin with, for being alive, and for thankfully surviving this storm with minimal physical (& emotional) damage.

On the other hand Brooklyn experienced all the worst of people that tragedies tend to bring out. We had looters. We had people dressed in Con-Ed & Verizon uniforms going around and robbing homes at gun point. We had people pulling guns at each other over gasoline. It was disgusting. I even heard of someone robbing a donation center at gun point. The level of morality that these people clearly have is below that of Hitler’s.

My mother brought up an interesting point saying that things like that would never happen in the Soviet Union. In times of crises, if someone was stealing from someone else or looting.. the criminal would simply be shot. The mere threat of being shot deterred people from trying these things. Although I’m a huge proponent of every individual’s right to life… I do generally find it a subhuman action to steal from others… who possibly have less… at times like this. I don’t think shooting people would be a good way to prevent these things, but I do believe there should be some sort of greater punishment for someone stealing from a donation center during a state of emergency.

I would like to encourage everyone to help. The best way to help is to volunteer your time. Go to a donation site. Help sort things out and distribute them. Go to Rockaway or Gerritsen Beach or Sea Gate with some gloves and rubber boots and help people clean up. Gather some friends… go find some C & D batteries and flashlights and bring them to your local church. If you can’t do any of the above than PLEASE donate. At a minimum, please text REDCROSS to 90999.

Also, if you can imagine there are many animals that have been separated from their owners as well as homeless animals. If you can foster a cat or dog for a few weeks, the ASPCA would greatly appreciate it.

If you are reading this you are better off than many people.