Sleeping didn't come easy this week. I couldn't help but feel guilty about proceeding with my normal, comfortable daily routine, while at the exact same moment thousands of Americans' lives were left in surreal chaos.
The horrific (is there an uglier word?) images of Hurricane Katrina's fury will forever stay vividly ingrained in my memory. And with the four-year remembrance of 9/11 approaching, the reality of human vulnerability to uncontrollable forces has never seemed so frightening to me.
The aftermath of 9/11, the worst terrorist attack against America, reached down and ripped out the buried patriotism in people across the nation. Americans united for one goal — finding the evil.
When the worst natural disaster on the home front occurred, two simultaneous yet polar reactions resulted: a compassionate relief effort and a divided political climate.
The generous relief effort for Katrina, from donations to survivor accommodations, shows how in the face of tragedy people pull together in respect and compassion for human life. I literally think I've seen ways to donate everywhere. It's incredible.
Unfortunately, all the unity relief brings is accompanied by a divided nation on many fronts from a heated racial debate to a scrutinizing eye on the government's competency.
I can't help but notice a strong liberal versus conservative reaction on those topics. A recent Gallup Poll from USA Today rated the President's reaction as follows: 42 percent great, 42 percent neutral and 35 percent bad.
Can't the entire nation stop arguing, uncover the errors and make sure it never happens again? The levees are being rebuilt and order restored.
The next few weeks, especially with the commemoration of 9/11 this weekend, should make remembrance and moving forward the number one priorities.
To be perfectly honest, the news coverage since the presidential elections has sickened me. Our nation has never in my lifetime seemed so divided. It's liberals versus conservatives and rarely does anyone stop for a moment to find the middle ground.
I'm tired of seeing a news media industry full of negative reports. I just feel overwhelmed with sadness.
Life is plagued with horrors; war, natural disasters and suffering takes place every day somewhere in the world. But at the same time, for everything bad, isn't something truly wonderful occurring?
For every sad image and story that makes you realize how fragile life is, shouldn't there be one highlighting all the good around the world?
This column was difficult to write. I can anticipate my critic's response. I know that crucial questions need intense analysis and time to sort things out in order to better serve the nation. However, when a tragedy occurs on a personal or worldwide scale it makes me reflect on the harshness of life and appreciate it more. The controversial political debate comes second.
It doesn't matter where you live in the country or where you land on the political spectrum. In the end, Katrina and 9/11 gave us a brutal reality check on how quickly life can be ripped away.
This viewpoint was published in The Marquette Tribune on September 8, 2005.