Expectations of Aid
This past summer, after two powerful hurricanes (Harvey and Irma) made landfall and wreaked havoc on the continental US, Hurricane Maria was spotted out in the Atlantic Ocean. The predictions of her power and potential damage began to be forecasted well before she hit Puerto Rico. Warnings were issued. Plans of relief were formed. Thanks to the technology we have, and in response to the effects of the previous storms, evacuations were issued. Preparations were made as the storm approached.
Though she was a Category 5 hurricane when she hit Dominica, Maria was reduced to a Category 4 hurricane when she hit the island of Puerto Rico. As the news of her devastation upon this island began to trickle in, the damage was extensive and catastrophic. Because communication and power were completely wiped out, we only caught a glimpse of the fallout of her strong winds and heavy rains initially. However, as more information was gleaned, we discovered that the effects of the storm were overwhelming and widespread across the island.
The mayor of San Juan took to the airwaves and made a heartfelt plea for help from the United States. Her actual quote was, “If anybody out there is listening to us, we are dying” (Hernández). Her plea was not hyperbole. The aid that was being sent was not being properly dispersed, and in her opinion the federal government was not responding quickly enough or with enough supplies. As the mayor of the capital city of the commonwealth, her perception of the situation should carry a lot more weight than those of us who were observing the limited footage of the devastation from the sterile safety of our homes or from the White House.
In keeping with his predictable and oft-criticized mode of communication, President Trump used Twitter as his outlet for declaring his perception of the situation. Initially, his tweets were your standard prayers and thoughts comments which get circulated after an event such as Hurricane Maria and other tragedies or disasters. He then chose to focus on Puerto Rico’s “broken infrastructure and massive debt” (Trump) amidst his other tweets regarding the effects of the storm. He then moved on, to no one’s surprise, to use this social media outlet to express his disdain for the expectation of aid coming from the people of Puerto Rico to our (their) government. He followed up by criticizing the leadership (primarily Mayor Cruz) and then declared the people of Puerto Rico “. . . want everything to be done for them . . .” (Trump 2).
Here in the US, we pride ourselves on our response to tragic situations. Over the years, we have established and been known for a culture of care and assistance both here and abroad. So when we hear our commander and chief belittle our own citizens for their realistic expectation of care, what does that say about the importance that we place upon them? Some quickly jumped to his defense, but most were appalled at his lack of sympathy for those in dire need of our aid.
The question could be asked, what are the expectations upon the United States of those affected by natural disasters who find themselves in need? Are their expectations of aid realistic?
I remember distinctly churches and individuals raising millions of dollars to send to resources and people to Indonesia following the devastating tsunami of 2004. The United States government pledged $950 million to aid in the face of this horrific calamity, while the citizens of the U.S. gave an additional $566 million (Motter). The United States has always been generous in her response to humanitarian needs around the globe. Though Hurricane Maria did not amass the same destruction and loss of life as the tsunami did, I use it as an example of the expectation that we as Americans live and thrive in a culture of care. When there is a desperate need, we respond.
We have been blessed beyond comprehension with resources that dwarf those around the globe. So is it a fair expectation that those who are blessed with much should be willing to share with those who do not? What is interesting is that in our current political and religious climate, many conservatives who would declare that their lives and choices are founded on Judeo / Christian values tend to lean more toward the unbiblical mantra that God helps those who help themselves. But the truth of the matter is that God’s view of responsibility falls on those to whom much has been bestowed. “. . . to whom much was given, of him much will be required” (Luke 12:48 ESV). The expectation that we who have much bear a responsibility to respond with generosity in the face of calamity and great need.
In another place, Jesus told those He counted as “righteous” that when He was hungry and thirsty and a stranger, that they responded and met His needs with generosity. (Matt 25:35–36). Those to whom He was speaking were confused and asked when they had done these things. They did not remember helping Jesus in this manner. His reply to them is a powerful statement which dictates the actions of many of His followers. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these . . . you did it to me’” (verse 40 ESV). He followed up these words with a parable of those who neglected “the least of these” by declaring that they are guilty of neglecting Christ Himself. As followers of Christ, our hearts are touched with compassion when we see people who cannot help themselves. Rather than turning away and sheltering ourselves from devastation and pain, we should be turning toward it with arms (and wallets) opened wide.
The fact that Jesus identified Himself with those who others looked down upon was a theme and tone of His life on this earth. His life and ministry were marked by close interaction with the outcast and overlooked, not those who had their lives together. Brokenness and sickness marked many to whom He ministered. His heart of compassion was moved toward those who the religious leaders of His day avoided like the plague (or leprosy). Those who could not help themselves found themselves smack-dab in the center of God’s help. One of the strongest accusations thrown at Jesus was that He dined with sinners (Luke 5:30). His response to their charges was ““Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (verse 31 ESV). He was moved with compassion for those in need, and He responded in love.
In the centuries following these words, as cultures and societies ebbed and flowed, one constant remained — Christ followers have cared for the poor and marginalized. Ministries and non-profits have been established in Jesus’ name over the years. Do they perfectly represent Christ and His mission? Of course not, since they are being run by fallible human beings. But at their core, many of these Christian ministries that step into dangerous and desperate situations do so because they would say the love of Christ compels them. American Christians should be known for our generous and gracious response to situations like the one our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico are facing. So it is shocking and frustrating to read the tweets put out by our President. This is not who we are.
When hurricanes Harvey and Irma hit Texas and Florida, the aid and recourses were allotted and distributed without any harsh judgment of the expectation of the residents of these states. So why the severe response to the inhabitants of Puerto Rico? Why did our President not jump at the desperate cry for help when his own citizens were overwhelmed and in distress because of a Category 4 hurricane? Not only did our Commander-in-Chief not rise to the occasion to show care and compassion in the face of death and calamity, he chose to belittle and criticize those who were actually in the front lines doing the hard work.
Am I surprised by Donald Trump’s response? Sadly, I am not. However, what has surprised and saddened me is how some evangelical Christians in this country have defended him in this instance and in others. If this were an isolated incident, there might be some space to give him the benefit of the doubt and wonder if he was not receiving proper information. But with his track history of faux macho persona, his response to the people of Puerto Rico is inexcusable and indefensible.
As Christians, our response to those in need should be swift and generous, and our reaction to those who criticize those in need should be immediate and just. With the accessibility of social media, our awareness has increased. It is harder and harder to turn a blind eye to the hurting, and to turn a deaf ear to those who belittle those in need. To whom much is given, much is required.
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Hernández, Arelis R., et al. “San Juan Mayor Slams Trump Administration Comments on Puerto Rico Hurricane Response.” The Washington Post, 30 Sept. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/09/29/san-juan-mayor-slams-trump-administration-comments-on-puerto-rico-hurricane-response/?utm_term=.051c0692bb2f.
Motter, Jeff. “American Exceptionalism and the Rhetoric of Humanitarian Militarism: The Case of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami Relief Effort.” Communication Studies, vol. 61, no. 5, Nov/Dec2010, pp. 507–525. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/10510974.2010.514834.
Trump, Donald. “Texas & Florida are doing great but Puerto Rico, which was already suffering from broken infrastructure & massive debt, is in deep trouble..” 25 Sept. 2017, 8:45 p.m. Tweet.
Trump, Donald. “…want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort. 10,000 Federal workers now on Island doing a fantastic job.” 30 Sept. 2017, 4:29 a.m. Tweet.
