As an atheist, naturalist, humanist or whatever, who deconverted from religion some years ago I still find myself observing humanity (and non-human fellow creatures) with new eyes. This disaster is only one of many around the world, of course, but in every one of them it is inspiring to see what we are: local Queenslanders are shown on TV announcing their group identity: “We are Queenslanders, we help each other . . .”, but then someone is traveling interstate to help and declares: “We are Australians, we give each other a helping hand . . . ” And when it’s international, we identify with each other at the broadest humanity level.
Brisbane flood volunteers turned away
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/16/3113939.htm?
Clean-up volunteers have been turned away in Brisbane after an overwhelming response to calls for help.
Today queues of willing hands stretched for more than a kilometre at assembly points across the city. . . . .
About 12,500 people joined the council-run clean-up operation yesterday. (ABC: Tim Leslie) Continue reading “Isn’t this wonderful”