h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi, Courtney:

I appreciate your reprint of the article from Canada
about all the things America has done for people
in trouble everywhere. As the grandson of a man
from Nova Scotia, I am only too aware of the valuable
assistance that Boston provided after the explosion
and fire in Halifax early in the 20th century. Upon
hearing of the disaster, Boston sent a train full
of medical supplies and personnel, who organized
the relief effort and very likely helped save a lot
of lives.

The shoe was on the other foot on Sept 11, 2001.
Someone has pointed out that Canada was a good
neighbor, finding room for at least 20,000 travellers
who were unable to land at American airports.
Another good friend was Israel, who offered to help
with intelligence and anti-terrorism efforts. Israel,
it has been noted, does not suffer from hijacked
aircraft, so they must be doing something right,
something we mightbe able to learn from.

I cannot think of another American disaster that
approaches the scale of the one on Sept. 12.
Maybe the New Madrid earthquake in Missouri
almost 200 years ago? Few people lived there
at the time. The epochal floods in Iowa, Minnesoat,
and the Dakotas a few summers ago, when the
Mississippli crested at 49 feet in Saint Louis?
Plenty of people were displaced from their homes,
but I don't think the death rate was as spectacular
as the one this month.

More than 6,000 people died in Galveston, Texas
in a hurricane almost a hundred years ago. The
Sept. 11 atrocities may surpass even that body count.
Plus, none of these natural disasters had anywhere
near the effect on our country's economy that
the Sept. 11 events are likely to have. The federal
government has already committed to spending
about 40 billion dollars for relief, and for airline
bailouts. The stock market had its worst week since
1933 after Sept. 11. People have stopped making
discretionary purchases, flying, and attending large
public events where there might be terrorists with bombs.
The ripples are still spreading. I for one would be
in favor of accepting help, if I needed it (which,
fortunately, I don't.)

Nice meeting you, Courtney.

Hi Paul nice to meet you too. I agree the Canadians did a wonderful thing to help us out during all the chaos. There have been a few disasters here in America but most have been Mother Nature reminding us that she has the final word in everything. The Oaklahoma Bombing was on the same scale as the WTC but aside from that I can't think of anything else. Things are starting to get back to as normal as can be it will take time but it will get there.