Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
After reading through the recent letters to the editor, I can't help but think some of the people reacting to Hurricane Katrina's destruction have lost their minds.
Let me get this straight. According to several submissions to the Times-Union, the destruction of Katrina was apparently sent by God to punish New Orleans for public acts of homosexuality. Am I reading this correctly or did I misinterpret something? I must admit I could have easily missed the point, it's hard to fully digest an opinion with a jaw dropped to the ground.
First of all, I find these aforementioned letters to be the most vile and pathetic attempts to condescend lifestyles not accepted or understood. Does it take a natural disaster for these people to jump on their holier-than-thou soapboxes and place blame on whomever they feel necessary?
This is a time for cooperation, not for ranting and raving about personal opinions and downright hatred towards others. With all of the hurricane relief efforts and attempts to save lives throughout the country, one would think these people could get the point.
We're talking about human beings here. Though not all of them are similar to most of the lifestyles of our local community, I can't begin to understand the cruelty and inhumane comments spewing from certain individuals.
The hurricane affected thousands and thousands of lives. and by no means are all of the victims of the storm homosexuals or whatever other type of "sinner" recently accused of causing the floods.
There have always been natural disasters. There has always been the presence of homosexuality in civilization, and, for that matter, people have never acted perfectly, now have they? Let's be honest, the New Orleans floods isn't going to change this in any way whatsoever.
The disaster of 9-11 also was mentioned in a letter as a focused "sign" of punishment and repentance. But what of the Holy Wars, the black plague, the destruction of Pompeii? Does there always have to be someone held responsible for these events?
Perhaps these writers merely wanted attention from the public for their letters, and if this is the case, then I regret ever giving them the time of day with this column. I just can't help but find these statements to be some of the most disturbing I've recently read, as if there wasn't enough bad news in the last few weeks.
I pity the lack of compassion. I pity the inability to see eye-to-eye with one's own race. I pity the fact that one would actually manipulate the tragedies of a natural disaster simply to try to prove themselves righteous.
The word "monster" might not be the best word, but I can't help that it pops into my head as I read these letters to the editor.
I wish harm on no one, but if these individuals eventually lose everything to a natural disaster or other horrible turn of fortune, perhaps someone else's version of retribution will come to light.
To the writers of these belligerent comments, I ask you stop kicking people while they're down. Is it too much to ask that we help those in need at a time like this?
