Below is a minute from York
(PA) Meeting. They wish to disseminate it to Friends everywhere.
At Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business on 9th
month 4th day 2005, the following minute was approved be sent to Friends
everywhere:
Friends (Quakers) have included in their testimonies,
“speaking truth to power” and “we are all equal in the eyes of God.” We at York
Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends are appalled and angry at
the present administration and Congress for allowing this horrible tragedy to
occur from Hurricane Katrina.
There is no reason why thousands had to die and more will
die. The scope of this disaster could have been lessened had the administration
not disregarded the many published scientific studies forewarning such an
event. It is inexcusable that President Bush designated a political
appointee, Michael Brown, who has no qualifications or experience for the
position, as director of FEMA. There is no justification for criticizing the
Louisiana National Guard for not doing enough when one-third of the guard was
in
We criticized the Russians for inept government personnel in
dealing with the Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor disaster. President Bush, you, your
appointees and the Leaders in Congress have mimicked the Soviets in the way
this horrible occurrence has been dealt with. Who is being inept
now?
The various departments of the Government are equally
responsible for ignoring the warnings that this disaster would happen. Our
legislators awarded money to their pet projects and looked after the welfare of
a select few instead of doing what was really needed for the welfare of all the
people of our great nation to prevent this horror from happening. We are only
beginning to experience the economic, public health, and social ramifications
of this event.
The world can not comprehend how we would let so many
African Americans die when those who are affluent had transportation to
safety As the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world,
there is no reason why we cannot take care of our own citizens.
Our constitution promises...”Life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness”. Are these values not valid to those who were not helped by our
complacent leaders? We pray that those survivors who have lost loved ones
and those whose livelihoods have been destroyed will somehow be helped to
regain that happiness. But one of the first goals of this Congressional
session is the repeal of the estate tax, another example of looking after the
welfare of a select few while ignoring the welfare of all. We the people
who have opened our hearts and pocketbooks to fill the void left by the
government cannot let such a vote go unnoticed and unprotested!
Leada Dietz, Clerk