Don't mess with Texas

The United States is a big, big place. So big that when an virtually "unpresidented" natural disaster was brutally hitting its second largest state over the weekend, many of us in the other 49 states sat transfixed, and watched the live coverage.

Up to 50 inches of rain might fall in Houston, the nation's fourth largest city, by the time Hurricane Harvey gets the heck out of here this week (after overstaying its welcome by quite a bit). I'm writing this on Sunday evening, and as of now the death toll stands at 5, but with the worst really yet to come, who knows the total of deaths, property damage, and business losses?

Two thoughts keep bouncing around, and let's get the less enchanting out first. In 2012, when New York and northern New Jersey were poleaxed by Superstorm Sandy, it took three months to get federal aid to the area because it was argued over and opposed by people like John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, mediocre senators from...guess where?  Texas! Where they talked of secession and forming their own nation full of people wearing Stetson hats and spurs, and even wilder stuff on the men! And guess who just about broke their necks on Saturday, howling for federal funding to be sent to Texas posthaste to repair the damage of the damned Harvey? 

The sun doesn't shine on the same dog's behind every day, and when it's turn to be fortunate, it's only the right thing to share and help a neighbor.  Because you just never know when it's going to be your turn.

But wash your mind with this.  People from all over the country are in east Texas, or on their way, to provide medical assistance, drop off supplies or aid in the search and rescue operations. When the call went out Sunday for people with boats to come to certain flooded locations to help get stranded Houstonians to higher ground, a veritable flotilla came floating up. And a chain of grocery/pharmacy supermarkets called HEB got a convoy on the road at once to help where held was needed.

That's the America we knew. Too bad it often takes a horrible turn to make it reappear, but maybe if we all act right, it will stick around.