My Letter To You

To all my readers and dear friends,

This week our nation has suffered more than anyone could ever imagine. We have felt frightened, vulnerable, angry, scared, frustrated, hope, and so many more feelings that words just can’t adequately describe them. I want to let you all know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. And while removed from these events, I too, have been dealing with them.

My parents own a publishing company. We are working in conjunction with Associated Press to create a pictorial documentary book on this event. Part of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the various funds helping those that have been affected by this event. I have looked at over 45,000 photographs and they have left me very disturbed. I have left the office everyday and driven home in tears. Yet, I have been bolstered by the way the American People have bonded together and have pledged their unity. I think it just goes to prove that while we may be a very diverse nation, we are also a very united nation.

While listening to the news broadcasts over the last couple of days, one report hit home with me that has lead me to write this article. That fact is, the cities affected have been better prepared to deal with these events due to the fact that they had prepared for the Y2K scare. Granted that scare never materialized, yet this shows us that some good has come of from that planning and preparation. Another thing I have heard over the news is that many people living in the immediate areas do not have electricity or gas service. I have not heard about water access. Most of their grocery stores have been closed as well. Let’s hope that they have an emergency preparedness kit and these inconveniences won’t affect them much.

In all of my previous articles I have been guilty of assuming that either long term unemployment or a natural disaster would occur that would cause us to need our kit. NEVER did I EVER give thought to the fact that one might need an emergency preparedness kit because another human being felt compelled to attack other human beings that may have different beliefs, skin color, likes or dislikes from them.

I will never be able to rationalize these events nor will I ever be able to accept the fact that there are many people that feel the way these horrible creatures do. Yet, I feel, all of us, me included, need to be realistic that there will always be people that hate others. We can not let them win. One way we can help in that direction, is to be sure each and every one of us has an emergency preparedness kit. We need to be able to take care of families and ourselves for at least three days no matter what the disaster may be, natural or man made. I also want to encourage you to develop a support network that can be accessed no matter what the situation. By support network I mean a network of friends, neighbors and relatives. You will want people that you feel comfortable with, care about and trust.

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