Thinking of the Gulf Coast

Watching today’s developments – the evacuations of the Texas coast cities and towns, the situation in New Orleans and other hard-hit areas of Louisiana – I think it’s fair to ask that we all take a moment to think of family and friends in the affected zones.

And not just that, but think also of all our neighbors, since when it comes down to it, that’s the essential character of the republic in my mind–we’re neighbors, and we look after each other, and there are disagreements, certainly, but when it comes to times like these, if we’re treating each other as neighbors in need of help, we can make it through anything. Only a few days ago, we were crowing about the Redsksins victory over Dallas, and lording it over anyone from Texas we could find. Today, the people of Texas, and Louisiana, whoever they are, wherever they are, they are in our prayers. I also think something my oldest, Sarah, said to me the other day while we were watching the news during a rare break from the Disney Channel. She got worried about all the kids and babies she saw on the screen, and asked ‘Are they going to be all right?’ I told her, ‘Yes, and since they are our neighbors and friends, even though they live far away, we’re going to do what we can to help them,’ and that seemed to make her feel better. She knows I give blood pretty regularly and that we’ve been contributing to my organization’s Blankets for Babies campaign, but knowing that somehow we’ve instilled some sense of compassion in a four-year old, it was nice to see.