Pay Attention!

Two weeks into our Katrina efforts the question was asked "how long do you think this will go on?" The discussion was interesting. The question was intended to prompt our thinking to long term help instead of just crisis response. What it prompted was a realization that our society has a very short attention span.

Our attention stays on something as long as nothing distracts us, or until we get bored with the subject. The media, which so often focuses our attention on specific issues, can have tremendous influence on what we see as a need. Katrina was the lead story for many weeks, and Rita's arrival may have even extended that timeline.

One of the ongoing challenges in this effort is the fact that people are beginning to tire of the hurricane news stories. The media depends on sales- so if the customer is ready to move on, then they move on.
That is how they survive in the marketplace, and I understand. What I would like to change is the mindset that news equals need.

There are thousands of people still living the nightmare of destruction. For many of them, there is no end in sight. There are huge numbers of people that "FEMA and friends" have not made contact with. They wait hour by hour for some signs of help to arrive. It doesn't.

Even in our community, where so many have done so much, the number of people offering to help has radically declined. Most are back to life as usual - dealing with the stresses and concerns that existed before the storms.

Let's find ways to remind each other of the ongoing efforts for those in need. Let's encourage donations and workteams to make it into the Gulf Coast. Let's not have people wondering why no one is paying attention anymore.