A Hard Rain

It has been almost 5 years since we have been hearing the horror stories of Hurricane Katrina. And the stories continue. Hundreds of thousands of individuals and organizations have traveled to points south to assist in the clean up and restoration of New Orleans and many other Gulf Coast communities. It still ain’t right and we continue to hear about it.

In 2008 there were storms and floods in the Midwest that devastated many farming states very much on par with the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. It surely made the national news and for a few days and weeks our citizenry chipped in and came to their rescue, once again. Not a word since. I guess they’re okay.

This past weekend Nashville and other communities in Tennessee and portions of surrounding states experienced a flood of Biblical proportions. Word is that rain of this magnitude has not fallen on this town for at least 500 years. We are a disaster. Some national news coverage has ensued, but very little. I’ve been in the streets, on the ground and in the community for the past 4 days. I’ve met no one who has come here from beyond the confines of our closest Tennessee counties. We are on our own and still no coverage of significance is being broadcast beyond the region.

So, what’s this all about? The event of Hurricane Katrina and the horrible aftermath that ruined that city are emblazoned in our memories. And, apparently, we need to be reminded often. But what of those Midwest farmers and we hillbillies in Tennessee: what is it about us that merits so little respect from the national media and so little concern from our fellow citizens?

These are political storms. These are very political storms, indeed. And I’ll tell you – ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.’