my occasional musings on life, love, art, perfume ... what else is there?

9.07.2005

Thank You from All of Us

Last week I commented on Urban Chick's blog: "I sincerely hope we are not asking poor nations to help us at this time ... for our own sense of nationhood. We have been the ones who came to help in different, more noble times ... I hope we have not come to the point of being supplicants to an international community who for the most part, and some with good reason, seem to detest us. For our own good, we need to have more pride than that."

But ...

I cry easily and often, but this information from MSNBC this morning again brought me to tears: m
ore than 60 nations have reached out to help New Orleans ... and America.

From Germany, 25 tons of food rations and more on the way.

Mexico (EDIT): A convoy of 45 vehicles and 196 soldiers of the Mexico Army, including military specialists, doctors, nurses and engineers carrying water treatment plants, mobile kitchens, food and blankets arrived today to help refugee operations in San Antonio, Texas; this is the first Mexican military unit to operate on U.S. soil since 1846.

From France, Red Cross workers flew to Baton Rouge to join in the relief effort.

Afghanistan pledged a hundred thousand dollars.

Singaporeans are now flying rescue helicopters over New Orleans.

Sri Lanka, who took so much of the brunt of the tsunami, offered $25,000 to the Red Cross (I hope we didn't take it).

As much as we are grateful for the tangibles, I think we can be even more grateful to not be alone, to be a member of a community of nations. Not the rescuer this time, but the one being helped.

Thank you.



Today's fragrance, continued: Roses break my heart. Because we're usually so temperate, they can bloom year round in Seattle. So you'll round a corner in February and see a rosebud. A gray, cold, wet day and you see a shivering promise of summer warmth. This scent by clearing -- pour une saison -- is a bit like that. It would be wonderful to have around this winter, a reminder that summer returns and it will be warm again. Pepper heat verging on sweetness. And ginger, hot but sweet. Those are the secrets of this scent: hot, hot, hot, folded tightly within rose petals. One more secret, the sweet dry hint of chamomile in its broom note. When you don't expect it and will need it most: sweet heat. For a season.

6 Comments:

Blogger Bela said...

Elsewhere on the Net, some of your fellow countrymen/women are finding it very difficult to accept the fact that you had to ask for help. You're very gracious.

You're welcome! We owe you lots. It's only fair... :-)

1:32 PM

 
Blogger Kyahgirl said...

Of course the US should take the help that is offered! That is what 'community' and connection are about. And, in terms of giving to help those less fortunate, everyone should pay and feels better to pay, even if it is a pittance. You honour people when you let them help you.

We might not have so many problems in this world if people/countries didn't believe their own bull shit about being invincible.
(please don't take this as an offensive against your post M. Its just a raw nerve I have)
xox
L

2:08 PM

 
Blogger mireille said...

well, if we're ever to learn we're not invincible, we should have learned it last week. xoxo

2:18 PM

 
Blogger Lila said...

Great post. Well, as much as I can sometimes get mad at the USA, we are often generous with places in need. It is very touching that these places are being generous with us in our time of need, in spite of disagreements over Iraq and whatever else.

2:25 PM

 
Blogger cjblue said...

Thank you for a lovely post. Very moving and it's nice to know that others have been moved by our past good deeds to respond in kind.

On my way home tonight, I was thinking I've never been less proud to be an American than I am right now. This post is a reminder that we do have a lot to be proud of. Impeccable timing, my dear.
XOXO

8:30 PM

 
Blogger ~M~ said...

It's amazing the amount of love in this world. It's just sad that we don't see it until something horrible happens.

10:59 AM

 

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