The media has reveled in proclaiming and stoking the fires of a divided
America, where racists and the racial divide has never been wider. Really?
Take a look at what really happened when hurricane Harvey hit
Texas. While CNN and MSNBC found
political foils, the rest of the country, beyond the costal elites, did what
Americans do – helped their neighbors.
Let me share a story. My dad and I
had left California to drive to Boston on Monday, August 28th. Our trip took us through Missouri where we
would stop at a Cracker Barrel restaurant just off the freeway for
breakfast. There, our waitress, Marilyn,
came over to take our order. It was
early in the morning and Marilyn, with her dark grey hair and weathered skin,
looked tired as she approached us. We would
greet her with our warm smiles and, with cheer in our voices, a hearty good
morning and asked her how she was.
Marilyn’s demeanor immediately changed to a grin and a glow of thanks for
bringing sunshine in what is routine. She
asked us if we were local. We said that
we were traveling through when she interrupted to ask if we were heading to
Texas. Marilyn said that most folk that were stopping at the restaurant that
were traveling through were heading to Texas to help the people affected by the
hurricane. She continued that she and
her daughter were gathering all the clothes and food they could find to send to
Texas. We spoke a bit more, then Marilyn
hurried off to get us coffee.
Marilyn and all the people “traveling through” are America. No talk of any divide, just compassion. No care who is in trouble, just ready to
help. Marilyn struggles to make a living
yet will, literally, give you the shirt off her back.
It appears we’re all Americans!
