Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area

10 degrees out and there was a devastating fire in our town of 297 people. Four departments from 5 towns, and the lines kept freezing up, the firetrucks blocked the downtown as they pumped water from the river into their tankers. The whole outdoors stank of smoke in town. Thankfully, no one was hurt. A nice family, the lady a retired teacher, her daughter and son in law, and children, lost everything. The general store stayed open all night, they usually close at 8 30 in winter, they kept making food and kept the coffee on, and the food was free for the fire fighters and family. Within one hour of hearing, 50 other people were on line and organizing for clothing and shelter, money, etc. This is America as I want it. No one asked whose side was on whose side or who voted for whom. Everyone thinking about how terrible this was and was able to relate. If we can relate over tragedy, we can relate over freedom and common sense. I cherished my warm bed and house last night, and the snow falls today, to quote James Joyce, the snow falls on the graveyards and the living. In the end, we do practice loving our neighbor, and we do that without thinking too hard about it, this is what makes us civilized and favorable to our Lord Jesus Christ. They have a big family, so they will not be out in the cold, family all over the region. This response is what makes me proud as an American, the reflex that is as natural as blinking, to come together when someone else is in trouble, we do not need some false doctrine pushed on us to be compassionate, we are that by nature, by our history of joined struggle to declare a new Nation free of tyranny, to be there as soon as chaos and destruction happen. Our reflex happened because the family was what we call "good people". Now, if that drug house burned down in the village, there would be another response. No one would be mourning for too long though if anyone other than the firemen got hurt. There would be no gathering and sharing and charity, unless there were children. This does not mean that we are hypocrites, it just means that if you want a compassionate response, its best that you are a good citizen that people think fondly of. I do not wish destruction or death or tragedy on anyone, I believe that is sinful. On the other hand, you do reap what you sow. Its a sad loss, it was a pretty little log home with wonderful gardens that the couple landscaped and grew for 30 years, but they have their lives and health, and hopefully fire insurance, in the end, they will be okay.