World Events

Category 5 Hurricanes in the Gulf - 8/29/2005, 9/24/2005, 10/24/2005

Category 5 hurricanes, with winds faster than 155 mph, are rare with only three hitting the USA in the 20th century and only 23 known to have reached this strength at any time during their lives between 1928 and 2003. - Jack Williams, USA Today

In 2005, we had three category 5 hurricanes plow through the Gulf of Mexico. Katrina, Rita and Wilma all reached category 5 strength at some point of their life cycle. Katrina did the most damage to the United States. New Orleans was completely destroyed. A scripture comes mind that describes what happened very well.

3 Nephi 9:4
Behold, that great city [New Orleans] have I caused to be sunk in the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof to be drowned.

The destruction and devastation were terrible. After the hurricane passed through, the levies that hold lake Pontchartrain back broke and the city was massively flooded. In some neighborhoods only rooftops of houses could be see above the water. The water quickly became polluted and toxic, destroying everything that it saturated. Over 1,000 people where killed, most of them drowned in the flood following the Hurricane.

The aid and assistance was incredible. Individuals and nations sent money and supplies and people to help. The outpouring of human compassion was huge. The complaining and blaming was also huge. Local and federal government officials and agencies where blamed for not responding fast enough and accusations of racism where thrown everywhere.

I personally think that we have too many whiners in our country. Too many people who have lost touch with reality. In real life, terrible things happen. You get up and deal with it. When you are a child, your parents make the bad things go away for you. When you've grown up, you have to make the bad things go away, or you deal with them as they are. We have too many people who think that they are children and that the federal government is their mommy and daddy. So many of us have lost the perspective that it is ok to die and go to heaven; that it is, in fact, a good thing. There have always been catastrophic events and there always will be. Just because we have invented telecommunications, democratic government, and plastic doesn't mean that everyone is guaranteed a luxurious life and a painless death at the age of 102. Too many of us have lost the ability to be grateful that only 1,000 people died instead of 10,000. We should feel happiness for the righteous people who died, sorrow for the wicked people who died and gratitude for all the human kindness displayed.

"Finally, I wish to speak directly to those who came to London today to take life.

I know that you personally do not fear giving up your own life in order to take others - that is why you are so dangerous. But I know you fear that you may fail in your long-term objective to destroy our free society and I can show you why you will fail.

In the days that follow look at our airports, look at our sea ports and look at our railway stations and, even after your cowardly attack, you will see that people from the rest of Britain, people from around the world will arrive in London to become Londoners and to fulfil their dreams and achieve their potential.

They choose to come to London, as so many have come before because they come to be free, they come to live the life they choose, they come to be able to be themselves. They flee you because you tell them how they should live. They don't want that and nothing you do, however many of us you kill, will stop that flight to our city where freedom is strong and where people can live in harmony with one another. Whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail."

I loved that. People will flock to freedom faster than terrorist forces can deter them. For the 50 that were killed in London today, hundreds of thousands will unit in the resolve of freedom.

I read a blog called Baghdad Burning that is written by a woman living in Baghdad. She's quite cynical, but she gives a perspective that I can't get anywhere else. I can imagine what she is going to write about this. Something to the effect that these kind of bombings (and worse) are happing weekly in Baghdad. Why is it that Londoners dying makes such big news?

The answer is of course that the news is generated by what is surprising. It isn't surprising or unexpected that 50 people will be blown up by terrorists in Baghdad. While I am impressed by Britain's resolve to take the blow and fight back, I will be more impressed with Iraqis when the occupation ends and Iraq has a free and democratic government. If the Iraqi people can maintain the patience and the foresight and the endurance to finish the long process, they will have accomplished another great revolution for independence among men. America is doing a lot, but it is the Iraqis who are bleeding more than anyone else right now. It is Iraqis who are without electricity, water, and plumbing. I hope they can continue the sacrifice so that their freedom can be established for their children and then spread to other nations.