On Thursday the 12^th of October Buffalo was hit by a snow storm. As the flakes fell so did the tree branches, knocking down many power lines. By the dawn of Friday morning many roads were impassable and 350,000+ people were left without power. It was a bad storm to say the least.

It was actually not that bad of a deal for me, having spent the last two years away, and living for a couple of month’s without electricity myself. It was just like being in the Swazi winter, except for the snow of course. I was intrigued by so many of the media and a number of talk radio calls that referred to this storm as a disaster, and used terminology like "horrific," "war zone," and "devastion." I kept telling people that this is not a disaster, as they do not have their cable to watch the bills game on Sunday. They’re not too good anyways this year. (However, we might have a disaster on our hands if we cannot watch the undefeated Buffalo Sabres for a long period of time).

Through most of my powerless day’s adventure, I spent a bunch of time quietly laughing at spoiled American's complaints, and trying hard myself to make others laugh and have a good time. It was cool how it forced some people to come together. On the first morning after the snow fell, my friend Casey and myself donned hard hats, a clip board, and my digital camera and walked around "looking official." Meaning: taking pictures, shoveling snow for old ladies driveways, moving branches out of the street, telling people “everythings gonna be all right,” kissing babies and asking them to remember me come election time. It was so fun. Peoplewere driving by giving us the thumbs upand honking their approval.

This past Sunday morning, I went to the only open store in my town, (a McDonald's)to get some coffee for my parents. While I was waiting in line I had a guy start talking to me about how bad everything is, andasking what is anybody doing to help us. Then he told meour situation was like being in Beruit, Lebanon. I was trying very hard not to laugh in his face and had to walk away from him.

Please don’t take me for an insensitive jerk. I am not indifferent to American people and their pain. As of today, the 19th of October, it is estimated that 12 people lost their life due to this storm. That is terrible. The loss of any human life in any context is a terrible thing.

The reason I am writing this article is because I get upset when Americans lose their cable TV, an inconvenience at most, and call that suffering. Most American’s know little, if any, of suffering.

As of today the snow has long melted away and some people still do not have power (7 days now), cable TV, and internet. Many people though are back to work, school, and the luxurious life of heat and premium cable or satellite sports bliss. Buffalo’s situation is in no way on the level of Katrina, Beirut Lebanon, or half of what’s happening around the world on a daily basis.

Disaster or not I hope this past week made a lot of people realize how blessed they truly are. America, you are highly blessed…and spoiled. And when you go without power for 6 days out of a year and still have plenty to eat and drink I hope that you realize that there are many in the world without the comfort of electricity for 365 days a year, and barley have anything to put in their bellies any of those days let alone in a time crisis. So next time we lose power and shout “devastation!” from the rooftops and “Where the heck is FEMA, and what are they doing for us?” I hope we have enough grace to realize we don’t have it that bad. In so many places in the world “devastation” is a true daily reality, and FEMA (with all it’s inadequacies) is only a pipe dream, whose services would be greatly appreciated.

I guess it is true that during a crisis people come together and it can really bring out the best in people. But in this past week, in some instances, I have seen the worst. Complaining, selfishness, looting, to name a few. Millions of dollars have already been pledged to get Buffalo back up on its feet, and yet it’s so hard to get someone to give $10.00 to fund relief work in the country with the world’s highest HIV/AIDS rate. That’s so sad. May God have mercy on our red, white, and blue selfish souls.

Please feel free to comment and challenge anything said n this blog. I really welco your input. Thank you.