I hate to say this, but until Katrina literally overwhelmed the bulwarks against nature, we pretty much gave little credence to the power of Mother Nature. (As that old commercial: "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature!) We'd forgotten the power of wind and water - (I'm trying to find the line from the Tao).

We wowed at the destructiveness of the Christmas Tsunami, but that was a world a way. Now, after Katrina and the Cedar, Iowa and hence Mississippi floods, we again respect water.

So, for this time, people will respect the power. Since Gustav downgraded, rather than upgrades as Katrina did, will people conveniently forget for the next one?

Sent by susan | 2:17 PM ET | 09-01-2008

here's that passage from the Tao to which I referred. it's the Ursula LeGuin translation:

8. Easy by nature

True goodness
is like water.
Water is good
for everything.
It doesn't compete.

It goes right
to the low loathsome places,
and so finds the way.

For a house,
the good thing is level ground.
In thinking,
depth is good.
The good of giving is magnanimity;
of speaking, honesty;
a government, order.
The good of work is skill,
and of action, timing.

No competition,
so no blame.

Sent by susan | 2:21 PM ET | 09-01-2008

I wonder how the folks in Florida feel, knowing that so much media, faith, and political attention is being paid to New Orleans and Louisiana with an impending storm. Meanwhile, they're still cleaning up from Faye and expect more, weekly.

Sent by Bill Fenstermaker | 2:22 PM ET | 09-01-2008

I also wonder if the "Jerry's Kids" telethon will suffer from lack of attention this year.

Sent by Bill Fenstermaker | 2:24 PM ET | 09-01-2008

A caller mentioned the newspaper-stuffed levies. Here's a link to some investigation on that.
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl042408tpleveepaper.98095b74.html

Sent by Karl Braun | 2:57 PM ET | 09-01-2008

bush's term is ending on sorry note

Sent by Hudson Pitts | 3:42 PM ET | 09-01-2008