Painting With Light

“Lake Sixteen Shoreline” © R.L. Herron

I find the picture above to be soothing, and soothing is something I needed this past week.

My heart goes out to the poor people of Haiti, struggling to survive after a devastating earthquake, the worst in 200 years, in the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

Somehow, as satisfying as it has been to hear the outpouring of worldwide concern, my mind keeps going back to one moment.

I found it appalling to hear the comments from the small-minded evangelical bigot who claimed the destruction was somehow deserved, because Haitian people had made a pact with the devil.

I won’t give him, or those who actually listen to this fool, the satisfaction of repeating his name here. He’s not worth it.

This was the same sorry excuse for a human being who claimed Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was heavenly retribution for a sinful New Orleans. It’s also the same asshole (I’m sorry, there is no other word I can use for him) who claimed similar reasons for the 9/11 attacks in New York City.

What Pure Bull****
He would do well to remember the “good book” he professes to follow that says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39).

In his deluded view of caring for his fellow man, he seems to have forgotten this admonition.

I hope everyone, regardless of their faith system, will remember that verse, and allow their empathy and concern for their fellow man to reach out with an offer of support.

Don’t let any such morally corrupt person sway your concern for men, women and children in dire need.

When you do send support, beware of the scammers who prey on concerned people at times like this. Use only legitimate groups you trust, such as the American Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services, or Doctors Without Borders.

This entry was posted on January 17, 2010 at 7:54 pm and is filed under Lifestyle, Non-Fiction Writing, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.