200 miles on the ground…with devastation to the heartland. We all have been negligent over the last 50 years, kicking the political climate-change can down the road, enjoying our over indulgence with selfish disregard to the future. What a sad and tragic legacy we leave…and it continues… irresponsibly and stupidly.
Irregardless of what others might say, I have the folks in the affected areas in my thoughts and prayers, and I hope that they have the best Christmas that they can have considering the tragedy they had. At least my family back there is safe, thank God.
Apparently God is very much displeased with things like voter suppression initiatives and anti-abortion laws. “Red” states be warned. lf you have a better explanation for Divine Wrath, I’d like to hear it.
Thoughts and prayers cause the state governments should’ve been prepared for this but give it the same treatment as every other crisis….they’ll just beg for federal taxpayer assistance.
A word about faith from your favorite (I hope) atheist.
Christmas is a time of joy and hope and goodness. Even for many of us who do not share the Christian faith. It is a time to remember that there is strength in faith and strength in friendship and strength in community. Time to renew all that makes us happy, joyous and free.
Sometimes Christmas can be a time of burden and loss and pain. Sometimes we allow ourselves to slip towards the negative, to revisit ills and wrongs, to feel sorry for ourselves. I have watched my brothers and sisters occasionally doubt their faith and lose touch with their higher power, whatever that may be.
If you are in a dark place right now I urge you to seek out and strengthen your relationship with your higher power. I have watched so many do just that in times of pain and need. I KNOW it will work for you.
For me, music has power. Even music that extolls the faith I do not share. These recordings move me and lift my spirit. Some of the very best inspirational music is generated through the faithful praising and thanking their higher power. Expressions so strong that they move this atheist to tears of joy.
I hope they do the same for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRzI8y-EJJ0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cP26ndrmtg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRP8d7hhpoQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7baFMmSv4k
Even in the darkest times I know that your faith will give you the strength to make it through the loss and the destruction.
@ @Rad-ish: Regardless of the cause of the tornado problem (and yes, I do believe that climate change is making it worse), what should people do about it… in the short run?
Move out of “tornado alley”? But it seems that the “alley” itself is moving, and we can’t reliably predict how. Besides, our “economy” would never allow that much land to remain “empty”.
Replace all the houses with concrete structures so massive that even the worst tornado can’t smash them? (What was the construction of the candle factory?) Don’t forget to make space to bring cars — and trucks — in off “the street”. Oh, and heavy steel shutters for all windows and doors, so that the pressure differences won’t blow them out and then suck all of folks’ belongings — and maybe themselves — out into the funnel.
Or just shrug our shoulders when something like this destroys almost an entire town, with the houses and personal mementos of the people who lived there, and even some of the people themselves? It’s one thing for a government to provide relief to rebuild a house or two, but an entire town? I can hear the screams, if anybody suggests it.
The fact is that few people have taken seriously the destruction that even a “small” tornado can cause, much less that it could possibly happen to them. (In the 1960s, I did know someone whose house was untouched by a tornado that totally destroyed the house next door.)
Radish the wordsmith over 2 years ago
They all deny global warming.
hoot1 over 2 years ago
200 miles on the ground…with devastation to the heartland. We all have been negligent over the last 50 years, kicking the political climate-change can down the road, enjoying our over indulgence with selfish disregard to the future. What a sad and tragic legacy we leave…and it continues… irresponsibly and stupidly.
Diane Lee Premium Member over 2 years ago
Well, you might say Christmas came early. There were packages all over Edwardsville. Usually, you have to use Fedex to get stuff delivered that badly.
B 8671 over 2 years ago
Irregardless of what others might say, I have the folks in the affected areas in my thoughts and prayers, and I hope that they have the best Christmas that they can have considering the tragedy they had. At least my family back there is safe, thank God.
Rich Douglas over 2 years ago
Try voting for politicians who don’t deny climate change.
Ontman over 2 years ago
When the evangelicals start blaming all and sundry for the carnage?
AndrewSihler over 2 years ago
Apparently God is very much displeased with things like voter suppression initiatives and anti-abortion laws. “Red” states be warned. lf you have a better explanation for Divine Wrath, I’d like to hear it.
ndblackirish97 over 2 years ago
Thoughts and prayers cause the state governments should’ve been prepared for this but give it the same treatment as every other crisis….they’ll just beg for federal taxpayer assistance.
Radish the wordsmith over 2 years ago
Remember when greedy partisan republican Trump wanted to withhold fire money from Calif cause they didn’t vote for him?
Andylit Premium Member over 2 years ago
A word about faith from your favorite (I hope) atheist.
Christmas is a time of joy and hope and goodness. Even for many of us who do not share the Christian faith. It is a time to remember that there is strength in faith and strength in friendship and strength in community. Time to renew all that makes us happy, joyous and free.
Sometimes Christmas can be a time of burden and loss and pain. Sometimes we allow ourselves to slip towards the negative, to revisit ills and wrongs, to feel sorry for ourselves. I have watched my brothers and sisters occasionally doubt their faith and lose touch with their higher power, whatever that may be.
If you are in a dark place right now I urge you to seek out and strengthen your relationship with your higher power. I have watched so many do just that in times of pain and need. I KNOW it will work for you.
For me, music has power. Even music that extolls the faith I do not share. These recordings move me and lift my spirit. Some of the very best inspirational music is generated through the faithful praising and thanking their higher power. Expressions so strong that they move this atheist to tears of joy.
I hope they do the same for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRzI8y-EJJ0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cP26ndrmtg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRP8d7hhpoQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7baFMmSv4k
Even in the darkest times I know that your faith will give you the strength to make it through the loss and the destruction.
Eclectic Wanderer over 2 years ago
Faith doesn’t stop Plutogenic Disasters; regulations and environmental laws do.
MFRXIM Premium Member over 2 years ago
“Don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need.” In memory of a friend who lived by this quote.
gammaguy over 2 years ago
@ @Rad-ish: Regardless of the cause of the tornado problem (and yes, I do believe that climate change is making it worse), what should people do about it… in the short run?
Move out of “tornado alley”? But it seems that the “alley” itself is moving, and we can’t reliably predict how. Besides, our “economy” would never allow that much land to remain “empty”.
Replace all the houses with concrete structures so massive that even the worst tornado can’t smash them? (What was the construction of the candle factory?) Don’t forget to make space to bring cars — and trucks — in off “the street”. Oh, and heavy steel shutters for all windows and doors, so that the pressure differences won’t blow them out and then suck all of folks’ belongings — and maybe themselves — out into the funnel.
Or just shrug our shoulders when something like this destroys almost an entire town, with the houses and personal mementos of the people who lived there, and even some of the people themselves? It’s one thing for a government to provide relief to rebuild a house or two, but an entire town? I can hear the screams, if anybody suggests it.
The fact is that few people have taken seriously the destruction that even a “small” tornado can cause, much less that it could possibly happen to them. (In the 1960s, I did know someone whose house was untouched by a tornado that totally destroyed the house next door.)