Oil Spill Craziness
I have been wondering, "Where is all the rage and craziness over the oil spill coming from?" I refer to President Obama's angry pressuring last week of BP's Tony Hayward for faster claim service when a system was already in place and a day later Congress' verbal bludgeoning of Hayward for what? that he couldn't answer their technical questions? Ridiculous! When this overstressed businessman took a sorely-needed day off a day later, he was verbally hammered by Gulf citizens for doing so. Have we as a society gone mad?
Newsweek (June 21 issue) tells us where some of this craziness is coming from. Fareed Zakaria, one of the brightest and best minds every to put fingers to keyboard, identifies current widespread media frenzy on this issue, with reporters looking for anger on President Obama's part that is not there and action that is not his to take. Good Morning America's reaction to the spill is to count tarballs on the Gulf's beaches daily. Sharon Begley, same Newsweek issue, tells how a desperate Louisiana's Governor Jindal has ignored reasonable research and intelligent, wise decision-making in favor of "doing something now (anything!)" in putting up a sandy berm system of dubious worth and ability to protect his state's coastline from the oil.
Where is the logic, common sense, and understanding? In these days of irrational panic, clear heads with informed minds are badly needed. It is obvious many of us Americans don't know how to handle grace under pressure. We are a nation of proud, independent do-it-yourselfers who hate being dependent on other people, or in this case, people of other nations. This is a time to be reasonable and understanding, to do what we can and let BP do what it can when it can, and leave the rest to God. A tragedy has occurred and we must live with the consequences.
It's also time to show a spirit of forgiveness, cooperation, and even appreciation towards BP for its honorable attempts to "make things right" over an incident that, though carelessness was involved, was essentially an accident. This was not a terrorist act. No one wanted or planned it, so let's react accordingly. BP as a company is hurting over this, too, as will as its investors in England--a nation that has long been our friend. So much could be done so much faster, if our leaders , the media, and our injured people would turn around the craziness and respond in this manner.
What do you think, readers? Do you think the anger is justified? I'd love to hear from some of you, especially those who disagree with me.
Looking from here for kinder, better action,
Margaret
NOTE: Next week I will be changing to a new schedule of posting--Tuesdays and Fridays. So look for me next on Tuesday, June 29th.
Newsweek (June 21 issue) tells us where some of this craziness is coming from. Fareed Zakaria, one of the brightest and best minds every to put fingers to keyboard, identifies current widespread media frenzy on this issue, with reporters looking for anger on President Obama's part that is not there and action that is not his to take. Good Morning America's reaction to the spill is to count tarballs on the Gulf's beaches daily. Sharon Begley, same Newsweek issue, tells how a desperate Louisiana's Governor Jindal has ignored reasonable research and intelligent, wise decision-making in favor of "doing something now (anything!)" in putting up a sandy berm system of dubious worth and ability to protect his state's coastline from the oil.
Where is the logic, common sense, and understanding? In these days of irrational panic, clear heads with informed minds are badly needed. It is obvious many of us Americans don't know how to handle grace under pressure. We are a nation of proud, independent do-it-yourselfers who hate being dependent on other people, or in this case, people of other nations. This is a time to be reasonable and understanding, to do what we can and let BP do what it can when it can, and leave the rest to God. A tragedy has occurred and we must live with the consequences.
It's also time to show a spirit of forgiveness, cooperation, and even appreciation towards BP for its honorable attempts to "make things right" over an incident that, though carelessness was involved, was essentially an accident. This was not a terrorist act. No one wanted or planned it, so let's react accordingly. BP as a company is hurting over this, too, as will as its investors in England--a nation that has long been our friend. So much could be done so much faster, if our leaders , the media, and our injured people would turn around the craziness and respond in this manner.
What do you think, readers? Do you think the anger is justified? I'd love to hear from some of you, especially those who disagree with me.
Looking from here for kinder, better action,
Margaret
NOTE: Next week I will be changing to a new schedule of posting--Tuesdays and Fridays. So look for me next on Tuesday, June 29th.
