Moral dilemma that took about ten seconds to resolve [View all]

[DFW]

A friend of mine is from a very backward (to us coastal folks) part of Tennessee on the Missouri border. He is a rare bird in those parts. He is a solid Democrat who got his ass handed to him when he ran for Congress. He is a devout Christian, which I can't even fathom, being more of the George Carlin school of thinking on the subject. Friendly irreconcilable differences, call it. My friend truly believes the whole thing, tax, title and license. I believe in George Carlin, though I do not pray to Joe Pesci.

However, my friend in Tennessee is genuine, the absolute real thing. Compassionate, caring, and exuding a friendship that just radiates authenticity.

So, when I got his message that his home town of Dresden, Tennessee was demolished, with people left with nothing but the shards of the contents of what used to be their homes, I responded--immediately and substantially. I don't buy the "there, but for the grace of God, go I" line. My version is a simple, "wow, that could have been me!" And when you look at this photo he sent, you do NOT want that to have been you:



There were plenty of other towns that got demolished, too. LOTS of them. The difference here is that my friend and his extended family all live here, and he asked his friends, of which I am one, for help. If it had been my family, he would been one of the first to ask what he could do, and then do it to the extent that it was in his power. I can, and will, do no less.