Las Vegas and Puerto Rico are places of catastrophic tragedy in recent days. News from around the world reflects widespread suffering and devastation as well. The Rohingya people know firsthand. Terrorist and lone wolf attacks in the US and Europe are directed toward soft targets in large urban areas, but natural disasters strike the rural as well.
City people kind of know that crowded places make them more vulnerable. Soldiers are taught to spread out when on patrol through enemy areas. Shooters seek publicity above all else. The more deaths, the better for advertising political causes and grievances. Individual shooters are quickly catapulted into international attention.
Puerto Rican preppers were prepared for the hurricane. They saw it coming, but the media doesn’t want to acknowledge their existence. Victims are more newsworthy, perhaps aided here and there by cherry-picked heroes. President Trump had to point out the obvious: caravans of relief trucks can’t drive to ocean islands.
There was plenty of warning from recent hurricanes. They knew that power would be out, with food and water in short supply. Too bad, because we all know that growing and stockpiling fruits and vegetables is easy in such a fertile, rainy paradise.
Besides, Latin Americans seem closer to their Christian roots, remembering the doomsday preoccupation in the both the Old and New Testaments. Life was short and dangerous back then. Preparing for entrance into heaven was more than just a fanciful idea. Daily Bible study brings people closer to a survival world, one without electricity and its fragile network of consumerism and endless pleasures.
City people can prepare for mass shootings by not congregating in big sports stadiums and entertainment palaces. It’s just a matter of time. All people can take commonsense steps to stockpile some foods, grow their own fruits and vegetables, and arm themselves defensively. Bad times have always been just around the corner.
Today’s local newspaper had this comment by a reader: “Monday’s front page showed pictures of people lounging and relaxing in Puerto Rico while waiting for outsiders to come and rebuild their community. I have lived through hurricanes, floods and tornadoes in my 74 years, and as soon as the storm passed neighbors would be busy rebuilding, not waiting for others to do our rebuilding.”