While I appreciate the sentiments and the efforts of those who gave their spring break in New Orleans, I was somewhat disappointed with the presentation of both pieces in the Chronicle ("True service lies in sacrifice," "Students help rebuild New Orleans from ruins," March 20).
Having spent my break on the Duke Chapel Mission trip to Honduras, I too felt the moving effects of helping out people who are seemingly helpless. However, the language of both articles I feel ignored the world and assumed Katrina as the only disaster of the last twenty years, including a quote that stated Katrina as the worst natural disaster of "recent memory." I would hope Duke as a whole does not make the ignorant mistake of ignoring either Hurricane Mitch (due to which I saw current-day effects despite eight years of attempted recovery) or the deadly tsunami in late December of 2004-both of which killed more than Katrina. Both articles are critical of the U.S. government's response: While fair, this does not paint the full picture. Honduras (like many others after Mitch and the tsunami) has provided little or no help simply because it has no money, infrastructure, or material assets to provide help.
I am not saying New Orleans (and Mississippi and Alabama and the other cities of Louisiana that were not mentioned) should be down played or ignored. I am simply stating the the memories, prayers and actions of our Duke Community need to go out to more than just a single city victimized by a single disaster. I applaud the efforts of those who spent their time in New Orleans and everywhere else in the world, and I highly encourage every student at Duke to follow the advice of Bowes by giving your time and efforts to those who are less fortunate.
Reid Simpson
Trinity '08
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