06-12-2008, 04:27 PM
It's funny how the world demonstrates the lessons we all need to learn.
Eastern Iowa is awash in spring flooding. Communities are threatened and communities have responded. People of all stripes stand in swift current muddy water sandbagging to save their way of life. Banker, nurse, mechanic and high schooler all working together, equal to the effort. Strong backs and strong hearts. No notice of position or status, just common effort for the general good.
Western Iowa gets hit by tornados. The tragedy at the Little Sioux Boy Scout Camp last night is heartbreaking. A leadership program literally ripped apart. 50 injured. 4 dead. But watching interviews on The Today Show this morning, I was brought to tears by the reactions of some of those Scouts. Young boys became men in seconds. Without thought to personal safety, some threw themselves over buddies to protect them from the killer storm. Others looked around after the chaos to find friends dead or badly injured, one with his head split open and bleeding a river of blood. Panic? Terror? Certainly. But then, in the best tradition of "Be Prepared", they began to recover and give assistance to their fellows.
We've seen the best of America this week in Iowa. Clinton's political ploys, Obama's soaring rhetoric and McCain's verbal bumbling all pale against real life on the Great Plains. I hope we all take a moment to consider who we are, what we can accomplish and what's really important. The real Heroes in America turn out to be us, if we step up to the challenge.
Joe: "Is this Heaven?"
Ray: "No, it's Iowa."
Eastern Iowa is awash in spring flooding. Communities are threatened and communities have responded. People of all stripes stand in swift current muddy water sandbagging to save their way of life. Banker, nurse, mechanic and high schooler all working together, equal to the effort. Strong backs and strong hearts. No notice of position or status, just common effort for the general good.
Western Iowa gets hit by tornados. The tragedy at the Little Sioux Boy Scout Camp last night is heartbreaking. A leadership program literally ripped apart. 50 injured. 4 dead. But watching interviews on The Today Show this morning, I was brought to tears by the reactions of some of those Scouts. Young boys became men in seconds. Without thought to personal safety, some threw themselves over buddies to protect them from the killer storm. Others looked around after the chaos to find friends dead or badly injured, one with his head split open and bleeding a river of blood. Panic? Terror? Certainly. But then, in the best tradition of "Be Prepared", they began to recover and give assistance to their fellows.
We've seen the best of America this week in Iowa. Clinton's political ploys, Obama's soaring rhetoric and McCain's verbal bumbling all pale against real life on the Great Plains. I hope we all take a moment to consider who we are, what we can accomplish and what's really important. The real Heroes in America turn out to be us, if we step up to the challenge.
Joe: "Is this Heaven?"
Ray: "No, it's Iowa."