When We Don't Have to Play the Blame Game

Such natural disasters as hurricanes, volcanoes and the recent horrific tornadoes serve as reminders that, for all our progress, there are things in the world that we remain powerless to prevent, control, and in many cases, even predict with enough notice to do any good.

Tragic as these things can be, they also teach us that there are still disasters for which it is impossible to assign anyone the blame. People pick up, help each other, mourn their losses and try to rebuild, but without the inquiry that seems to attend nearly everything else, which is "Whose fault was this? Who messed up? Who forgot to check the pipe, inspect the brakes, enforce the rules, close the door, put out the fire? What new laws should we pass? Which political enemy can we lay this on?" In most natural disasters, the questions instead become, "What is needed? How can I help? Where should we deliver this? Who has been hurt?" While those questions are equally important no matter what the cause, natural or otherwise, such natural events give us the opportunity to respond with the extended helping hand without the pointed finger of blame. Our common humanity becomes the whole focus, as our common enemy is a natural force beyond our influence instead of one another, and we seek to advance the condition of the victims instead of looking to pillory someone for a real, perceived or invented failure.

All that said, I still fear someone will soon call upon Congress to do the responsible thing and immediately outlaw hurricanes, volcanoes and tornadoes, and conduct hearings into why the government consistently fails to prevent them.