Two Week Review

Delia Cara -

This is your 2nd week on the job - hopefully you are not sick, but are you already on vacation? We know that the F&V job is a lot of hard work, it's hard work... at least our F&V president thinks so. So we respect your absence - whether leisurely or otherwise - as we have so patiently endured over the last 4 months.

But you might want to get back out there ASAP, as we see the whole Faith & Values angle becoming... so yesterday. Yes, Delia, the last 3 weeks of Katrina have kinda brought back the idea of spirituality to how it should be: spiritually and quietly. When religion is being forced down your throat, your reaction is to reject it. When FEMA relies on the F&V base to bail it out, not only are you outraged, you begin to question this unholy alliance between Church and State: "FEMA was so intent on relying on a faith-based group that it neglected to look at the state map: it initially contacted Catholic Charities in Oklahoma City, 123 miles away from where the storm victims were being housed. FEMA also shipped hurricane survivors to a youth camp for Southern Baptists in a remote corner of the state, a site described by the faithful as "the most prayed place." Meanwhile in Tulsa, because Catholic Charities lacked the necessary personnel for the assignment, local fire departments were enlisted to help in doing the job. While firefighters are trained to do many things, they don't know how to help victims of natural disaster start a new life.

This lack of expertise made the resulting failures entirely predictable. Because the wrong organization was placed in charge, there was no effective long-term plan for the survivors. Consequently, no one knows for sure how many people were brought to Camp Gruber or where they've gone to. Check out the Tulsa Catholic Charities' Web site and you'll read instead about the bishop's visit and the "active pastoral presence" at the camp." (From The SF Chronicle, by David L. Kirp, professor of public policy at UC Berkeley)

Well, if you've been sick, please get well; if you really are on vacation, please enjoy the rest of it. We REALLY know that being the F&V girl is hard work. We would be happy to see you whenever: well-rested, tanned, buffed, and spiritually and physically rejuvenated.

Love,
Your Admiration Society