Chainsaws, Pickup Trucks and Charity... but one thing was missing...
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
December 4, 2011 10:14pm CST
When I first started reading about the huge wind storm out in Utah last week, I wondered what the big deal was. Growing up in Kaysville, East wings were pretty common. Even though the winds were over 75mph, we walked home from school, adults did their shopping and ran their errands, people went to work... with the exception of windows boarded, and the clean up of tree limbs and the occasional shed being blown into the neighbors yard it was "business as usual".
But this one was far from "Business as usual". The winds were clocked at over 100mph, instead of finding your neighbor's shed in your backyard, you found the roof of their home. In some neighborhoods almost all the trees are uprooted. Yeah, it's a pretty bad situation.
To make matters worse, the forecast last night warned that Mother Nature wasn't done with her tantrum, another wind storm hit this afternoon.
My brother joked on his Facebook, "What Kaysville lacks in beer, it makes up for in chainsaws and pickup trucks" (this is Utah after all). Church meetings where cancelled, instead of sitting in the churches praying to God for deliverance, the people congregated together to help batten down the hatches for the coming storm.
These are people who have spent the last week doing pretty much the same thing.
What is conspicuously missing here is the lines. The lines of people demanding "Obamamoney" from FEMA. I've read several stories about the storm, and talked to a lot of people living in the area.. so far, no one has heard anything about people demanding anything from anyone. They have just appreciated their neighbors and people coming from areas unaffected by the storm to help out.
People often make fun of Utah for the strange liquor laws, the Mormons and the Western way of life... but I think all Americans can take a lesson from the people. One of charity, love and what it means to be free.
http://www.standard.net/stories/2011/12/02/top-utah-begins-cleaning-mess-wind-storm
3 people like this
7 responses
@sid556 (30953)
• United States
5 Dec 11
I tend to agree with this. What is up with every time there is a natural disaster, everyone expecting the government to jump in and help? I mean, we have always had the Red Cross but as far as I know, that is volunteers. I remember donating food, clothes, household items to help in areas hard-hit in the past. I remember my ex-husband travelling to if memory serves, Florida after a major flood one year and helping to clean up and work to re-build the areas hit the worst. He got paid but not by our government...his boss paid him. Many volunteered just out of the goodness of their heart because that's what you should do.
2 people like this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
5 Dec 11
We're pretty independent here, too, when it comes to government - at least the people I know - but you made me want to move to Utah, wind and all. :)
It's a sad state of affairs when the fact that they DIDN'T whine for help from Uncle Sam makes them different or unusual. I know America needs to take a lesson from them.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
5 Dec 11
Similar comments have been made about people in the Dakotas who were devastated by storms a few years back. There are some people around who still know the meaning of "Love Thy Neighbor" and "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." and "God helps those who help themselves" and "Putting wings to your prayers." All of these are kind of corny and old fashioned, and we would all do better if we could practice these virtues. Local help is so much more effective than Federal help. Our neighbors know what we are going through and how best to help.
1 person likes this
@dodoguy (1292)
• Australia
5 Dec 11
Hi ParaTed2k,
I guess when you get up tomorrow and look outside, you can truthfully say "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto...".
There's a serious message in what you say - we need to get back to the basic priorities of hard work and caring for our neighbors.
Seems to me the world is turning decidedly Fascist, with the big money calling the shots and the little people having less power over their own destiny. Nice to see there are still pockets of sanity out there.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
5 Dec 11
There's a big difference between the people of Utah and those of New Orleans, which is the place I thought of when you mentioned gov't help. Utah was mainly colonized by Mormons who take pride in their independence, their reliance on God and each other and on working together in a crises. Back east people are trained to rely on gov't.
It's all in the attitude people have been raised with. Look at the people of Missouri who weathered the tornado that destroyed their town--no whining there. The floods in Nashville--they fixed most of the stuff themselves with country stars holding benefits and everyone pitching in. It takes a dependence mentality to react with "where is the gov't?" and to produce the helplessness we often see in disaster areas.
One big aspect of Missouri, Nashville and Utah is the presence of God in the communities. He lifts them up and gives them pride and strength.
1 person likes this
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
5 Dec 11
I've only been to Utah once, and that's when I was a kid on a greyhound bus in the 60's. My Mother's father was dying, and we took a bus from California to Wyoming. I remember seeing the Salt Lake, and it was gorgeous, and the Mormon Church lit up at night, it was beautiful. Obama doesn't care about those of us in 'Flyover' country, and I'm glad. He can stay away as far as I'm concerned, lol. He only seems to bring bad luck wherever he goes.
1 person likes this
