Where I am was affected greatly by the derecho. I had never heard that term before. According to weather.com it is an inland hurricane. According to the National Weather Service, we experienced winds of 81mph with heavy rain and hail. Unfortunately, there were 3 deaths in the area. Damage is still being added up. The most immediate impact was lost of power. Some, like my daughter, are not expecting restoration for 5-7 days. Some, like myself, were in the dark only a matter of hours. And we are a mere quarter mile apart.

It was a great opportunity for people to help others. That it was not as devastating as a tornado or an actual hurricane may have embolden people to act like asses and make their bat shit brethren proud.  Comments to newspaper articles (why they allow them I’ll never know), (anti)social media, and some news shows included things like the repair people are sitting on their hands so they can soak up the premium time by delaying repairs until the weekend, and there’s plenty of electricity, they just don’t want to turn it on. Honestly, if some people weren’t halfwits they’d be no wits.

You wouldn’t know it by the preponderance of ignorance and stupidity, but apparently people are meant to be social animals, working toward the good of the species. Love is generally considered the innate virtue while apathy and outright hatred are learned qualities. It is no wonder Mr. Rogers encouraged people to “look for the helpers” when they were in trouble, helping being so terribly out of fashion that is doesn’t simply flow from people.

Yesterday’s Uplift post Born Helpers explored some amazing acts of self sacrifice and love for mankind carried out in of all places, a prisoners of war camp. It is a remarkable and moving tribute to the helpers. You really should read it.