The Good Samaritans

I listened to This American Life yesterday with my dad (it was actually last week's episode). Ira Glass did long interviews in New Orleans with several survivors of Hurricane Katrina. One of the interviews was of Denise Moore, who rode out the hurricane in her home, walked to a nearby hospital where the rest of her family was after the storm ended, and then was taken with her family to the convention center. She told of the horrendous conditions that the refugees endured in the center. Then, when she was asked about the truthfulness of rumors circulating that women in the convention center were raped and that many people had been murdered, she told a very interesting tale. She said that many local young thugs and gangsters had brought weapons into the convention center, and were standing near the most vulnerable people, making sure that they weren't molested. These thugs were also out "looting" food, water, clothes, and anything else that was needed. They took care of people in the convention center while politicians flew over, looking hopeless and helpless and while the Gretna police were determined to keep black people from seeking refuge in their city.

Her story reminds me of another story which I'm sure most of you have seen somewhere or another. [slightly modified for a more contemporary audience]

25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: "Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?"

26 Jesus replied, "What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?"

27 The man answered, " `You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, `Love your neighbor as yourself.' "

28 "Right!" Jesus told him. "Do this and you will live!"

29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 Jesus replied with an illustration: "A large group of people was living together in an arena after being attacked by a hurricane. It stripped them of their clothes and money, beat them up, and left them half dead beside the road.

31 "By chance an important leader came along; but when he saw them lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed them by. 32 The police also walked over and looked at them lying there, but they also passed by on the other side.

33 "Then some despised thugs came along, and when they saw the refugees, they felt deep pity. 34 Kneeling beside them, the gangsters soothed their wounds with medicine and bandaged them. [...]

36 "Now which of these three groups would you say was a neighbor to the people who were attacked by Katrina?" Jesus asked.

37 The man replied, "Those who showed the people mercy."

Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same."

Robert