Well we made it. I grew up in the Tampa Bay area (Clearwater, FL), starting in June of 1962 and I have lived in Orlando FL now since 1989. Thankfully, Irma ended up not being the super strong category 5 we saw pounding the Caribbean Islands when it came inland over SW Florida yesterday, but it was still by far the scariest of them all that I've ever been a witness too. I have been through many Hurricanes during that time frame and can honestly say that Irma was the worst. Maybe it's because of all the social media platforms available nowadays, news outlets on TV, online, etc. The hysteria that surrounded the build up to this storm was unnerving to say the least.
Water was scooped up like it was the end of the world. All the stores were out of water. Gasoline was scarce and where it was able to be found, some desperate people were threatening other people in line with weapons to get to that gas. Seriously. People were evacuating in droves even though they were miles and miles away from any potential storm surge. (Which is what you need to evacuate from, not wind. You run from water but seek shelter and hide from wind)
However, I saw many sides of humanity that were quite alarming during this storm. I myself was verbally assaulted at a convenient store cashier check out line because a patron of color, (who was in line when I walked in, left his place in line to go to find something else inside the store,) took exception to me as I took his place in line he vacated. "It's okay man you can take over my spot in line. I understand it's white privilege, so go ahead." I explained that I saw him leave the line to go back into the store for something else so that's why I stepped into line where he was. So I offered him back the spot he said I took from him and he refused my gesture. "No man go ahead, it's cool, you're white, I'm black. I get it." So I turned towards the cashier and she was shaking her head in disbelief. I stepped up to the register and paid for my fuel while he still kept muttering on about white this, trump that, etc.
I turned and left and we went on our separate ways. But I was shaken and alarmed that this is the reality of the world we now live in. People are losing touch with any sort of giving and sharing. It's all take, take, take. I stayed calm and tried to make amends to what he perceived was wrong, but he was uncooperative and had his own commentary to share about that which I feel was unfounded.
Well anyway, sorry for my rant but while there have been wonderful acts of human kindness and cooperation with the recent "Harvey" disaster in Houston Texas, there is an unmistakable rise in selfishness, intolerance, racism and senseless division in mankind that is rising to the surface. I fear for our future as a society as more and more leaders turn a blind eye to hatred and intolerance and even stoke the fires. It's out there on both sides and I pray and hope that good will prevail. But I have my doubts anymore.
Brad