I am in Gulfport, Mississippi. I came here to visit my grandparents. My grandfather went into the hospital a couple of weeks ago. It was looking pretty grim but he's doing much better and is not the topic of this blog post.
In 2005 Hurricane Katrina left an indelible mark on the Gulf Coast. We can all remember the images from New Orleans. The flooded streets, the sleeping bag city in the Super Dome, the post storm looting. Gulfport was also severely damaged by Katrina.
This area, which includes Biloxi and Long Beach, has the wonderful culture of riverboat casinos. The river boat casino was a compromise between the pro gambling lobbyist and the anti gambling lobbyist. In the past the boats had to actually be able to leave the coast. Now however the buildings are just built off of the beach. My family used to go to a casino called "The Grand." The Grand was built on a pier off of the beach in Biloxi. High way 90 runs along the beach, literally a stones throw away from from the surf. Katrina plucked the Grand from its cement moorings and relocated it 100 feet north of 90. This hotel/casino was at least 20 stories tall!
In the end we know what happened as far as our governments support. I'm not here to indict anybody for their failed reactions. We know that this area of the country needed help.
While I was at the hospital I saw an honorary message for a donor, who had donated funds to help rebuild and restore Memorial Hospital in Gulfport. When I think of international aid. I think of it being exported.
"In grateful recognition of the People of Qatar who gave generously to Memorial Hospital after Hurricane Katrina."
The People of Qatar!? Isn't that in the middle east?
Yes, as a matter of fact it is. This tiny country has a population of roughly 1.5 million. They donated millions to the restoration of the hospital. Millions? Millions.
I suppose I'm doing nothing more here than to show how American I am. Sadly I had never thought about the United States receiving help from abroad. It helped me to gain a little more of a sense of the community of the world. Even the big guy needs help sometimes.
I'll post a picture of the message when I figure out how to make it work.
