Are we selfish?

[sfwx]

As I'm sitting here this morning, hoping that Jeanne falls apart, I stopped to think about all the people already affected by this storm as well as others this year. We seldom talk about how lives are ruined and the deaths that occur in all of the island nations. Jeanne has been battering Hispaniola for a long time and has no doubt caused serious flooding. We participate in polls talking about the possibility of Jeanne being a fish when in fact it has already affected land and if it survives, will affect the Bahamas. I'm not pointing any fingers because I'm just as guilty. I just think we all can be more considerate of the human lives being affected by these storms other than ours here in the CONUS.......

Eric

[charleston_hugo_veteran]

I agree, BUT this board is designed to discuss weather! All of the people affected by this weather are in or thoughts and prayers. If we did nothing but talk about ruined lifes then this wouldnt be a weather board!

[GalvestonDuck]

I feel guilty when I think about all the primary coastal CONUS hurricane targets -- from TX all along the Gulf Coast to FL and then up the east coast from FL to VA -- and I realize every one of them has been hit either directly or indirectly this season EXCEPT for us. Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida again and again and again and again, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana -- have all been hit by a hurricane, a tropical storm, or had the severe threat of being hit and had to evacuate (Louisiana). And poor Florida....geez! THREE majors? Gotta be a record? Does it count, even if the eye didn't make landfall there? Sure as heck ought to.

And I know, the NE states get 'canes once in a while too. But not as often. Mostly, if we get hit, it's the SE or GOM states.

And it's not over yet...but I'm praying hard for December to get here soon.

[Terry]

I hear ya, sfwx. Some on this board live outside the US, own property there, and/or travel to these non-US places frequently. I do get concerned when I read posts that seem to disregard landfall in the Bahamas, DR, etc. However, most people are naturally most concerned about their homes and towns, especially this year with multiple threats.

This is a tropical weather board, but we do need to be sensitive to the impact on lives both in the US and our Caribbean, and beyond impacted by the tropical events.

[Lebowsky]

I think it is human nature to hope that disaster will strike someone other than yourself, your family and your friends.

Ideally all the hurricanes would be fish and nobody would be harmed, but realistically if you live in hurricane alley you are going to be overjoyed if the storm goes somewhere else.

[msbee]

what a great thread!
thank you!
It's what I react to so many times on this board.
It's like the islands are meaningless sometimes.

Of course, people are concerned primarily about how a storm impacts them, but you do have quite a few islanders posting on here and some posters need to be more sensitive sometimes to the concerns of those of us in the islands.

I guess it's what minorities every where feel like.

[Anonymous]

I think this is a excellent thread and all the post have sound positive points. Yesterday I read a thread regarding Jeanne that was as suggested typical here & how it would effect no one. A little further down was a person located in Puerto Rico who posted how digusted they were about the person being"Insensitive" about Islander's.

When you see what Jeanne has done to Puerto Rico you know that is every bit as severe with extended flooding as Ivan to AL. Yet we do seem selfish. I have to agree it may not be on purpose, & if the majority of the board members lived in Grand Caymen then there would likely be much more topic on Grand Caymen & nearby Jamica then MS or AL.

While discussion of the weather is what the board is about, the end result is where the storms will go and who will get clobbered. To me thats important during the season. The discussion on the dynamics of the storms can wait until Dec or Feb.

I have yet to see one thing on the news regarding western Cuba who most certainly was clobbered worse than the US from a poweful Ivan.

Take Care,

Mike

[Lebowsky]

When people post from one of the islands there is a good response, because then you feel like you have a friend somebody there.

The internet is great because it allows you to make friends with people you would never otherwise have a chance to meet.

[crazycajuncane]

Just think of the Jamaica thread. I think we had over 500 replies to it.

EVERYONE seemed concerned. Sometimes we do lose track of the islands, but I prayed and prayed that Jamaica would get spared.

I feel bad as well, but we do care. Much love to all the Islands out there

[Guest]

1.The use of the word "fish" is the most idiotic word in relation to a storm that I have ever heard.& its that much more pathetic when it is used even though the storm has been affecting land for days & probably has wiped out a village or 2.

2.People....This is planet Earth,there are storms that form on this planet as well as other types of disasters..These phenomenoms have occured since this planet 1st came together billions of years ago & will continue until there is no more planet for it to continue on.Those of you that have chosen to live in the paths of these events & yet feel inconvenienced & or are shocked by these natural occurances need to pack a large suitcase,book a ticket on the International Space Station,enjoy the view & stay off the planet because these storms are not going anywhere anytime soon.

3.If you are shocked by what has happened this year this is just the tip of the iceberg..You havent seen nothing yet.The BIG ONE has not hit yet.Wait till a Gilbert strength & size hurricane is knocking @ the door of a Miami,Tampa,Houston or New Orleans.This will happen next year,in 3 years or in 10 years but it will happen.

Be strong & stop wimpering around like a bunch of lost puppies because you are going to need that strength & optimism in the years to come...

Or get out of harms way.

[caribepr]

Well, as usual on this subject, I agree ditto with msbee, but have seen much more compassion this year for those outside conus - the thread on jamaica was beautiful and I really liked reading and almost feeling an awakening among some who were listening to the broadcast. And the constant concern for Luis et al warms me up a lot.
Today friends who had their boat wrecked got back from Grenada to a soggy Culebra, and no doubt there will be some damp partying going on, with whispers about Karl not doing what he is supposed to do. We're just glad to all be here.
Sometimes it does seem selfish to us *out here* the way we sometimes don't seem to exist to the states people, but sometimes it just reminds me of exactly why I live here:) Cheers to Storm2K, all the good work done here, for all of us.

[stormie_skies]

Excellent point and one that needed to be made IMO.

What really gets my goat more than anything is when I find people cheering when a storm detours over foreign land. Its one thing to be relieved when you find out that your family and proerty are no longer at risk from a storm - thats natural, and I think all of us understand that, no matter where we live. Its quite another to express positive sentiments about something that causes the suffering of others, regardless of where they live (or the politics of the nation they live in).

I understand that its silly to suggest that we spend all of our time mourning the hardships of others - thats not what this forum is here for. But we should always remember that there are families being affected by these storms on all landmasses, families who deserve our respect and our best wishes, too.

[elvinp]

I too salute all of you on this thread. During the past 5 weeks I have had the opportunity to talk to people about the latest storm. Somehow, certainly not earned like some of you, I am seen as a "expert" on these matters. But like you, I always hear people wishing or praying these storms to go somewhere else. I always try to remind them that if they go somewhere else, then you are wishing destruction and misery on another group of human beings who are just as important as any of us. Worse are people thanking God because their prayers have been answered and the storm did not impact their lives. These people must think an Almighty God would turn a storm to affect another group of his beings because you prayed to be saved from the storm. Hopefully we would pray or wish that if the storm hits us, God will have mercy on us and keep us safe, but not praying that it will hit someone else. I feel better now. Thanks for the opportunity. Elvin