Puerto Rico: The Disputed Numbers.

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     I have always said that being open to learning different perspectives are of value. After a new perspective is learned, what we choose to do with the perspective really depends on the person who learns the new perspectives, and the decision to act, not act, or simply think of the ideas as useful for personal development, and increasing awareness. This is what I thought when I was thinking about the response of the Trump Administration with regards to the numbers dispute, death tolls associated with hurricane Maria that struck Puerto Rico. While I am sure that death tolls are predicted as accurate from Puerto Rican officials / Mayor, I also wonder why the argument surrounding the death toll matters now, in the midst of hurricane Florence. Where there are now preparations / evacuations, and presidential weather information right in the White House. I'm guessing numbers do matter, the timing can also be thought of as a mechanism to reveal comparisons / contrasts, to preparedness, and the response to emergencies. For example: It is known that some residents are still waiting for assistance after the striking of hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Even in Houston, Texas where the poorest of the poor are the slowest to receive assistance, after hurricane Harvey. But we can think and wonder about the responses from a systemic point of view, or the race of majority populations, in the island of Puerto Rico that is located in the Caribbean, and is also US territory. Were individuals / communities ignored on purpose because of their "race"? It could be argued as such. We can also add another perspective. Was the response ethical? Is it ethical to leave human beings to suffer, stranded, alone, knowing that families, communities could have survived, but were left to die?

     In my opinion ethics do matter as to how a Government responds to humanitarian crisis within a nation, and also at the international level. In this case the national level, which includes Puerto Rico. Was the Government response ethical? This is a question worth exploring, to further understand / investigate the internal biases that exist within a nation such as: race, ethnicity, socio / economic class. We can also relate this question to the forced closure of the Palestinian Liberation Organization in Washington. Was it ethical to shut down voices that are working for the desire for peace and diplomacy, internally, internationally in the middle -east?

     Here we can connect the question of ethics, with the idea of power and control. While we preach freedom, democracy, equality, we also have to realize the many restrictions that are derived from Government control, that exercise control, and also limit freedoms. One could also argue how far a Government should be allowed to stretch power and control within a nation, especially if decision violate human rights, and the ethical treatment of voices, who desire to improve the human condition. 

     While a Government seeks to protect and secure a nation, protection and security can also be viewed as excuses for invisible discrimination, to enforce internal biases, and to look after the interests of the Government. 

     As we take the time to think about the examples that I have written here, we are also called to question the morals and values of a nation. One cannot uphold morals, values, and then purposely enforce unequal treatments of minority populations. Here we are called to deeply reflect. Morals and vales are not just things that you decide to uphold when you feel like it. They are put in place so that they are achieved across all the playing fields. 

Further Reading:
NY Times: A Year After Hurricane Harvey, Houston’s Poorest Neighborhoods Are Slowest to Recover

NY Times: As a New Hurricane Roars In, Trump Quarrels Over the Last One

Palestinian Officials: U.S. Closing PLO Mission Is 'Vicious Blackmail'

As I write these thoughts, we continue to pray for all those on the path of Hurricane Florence. My thoughts to share with love & kindness!!

These thoughts were originally hand written on September 13th, 2018.
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