My Backpack, Your Suitcase

Years ago I heard something I have never forgotten: each one of us is expected to carry our own backpack but to help others carry their suitcases.

As the USA, "the country best prepared to deal with such a disaster," deals with the seemingly impossible task of "fixing" Louisiana's and Mississippi's ravaged coastline, attempting to carry its own backpack, here comes the UN to help carry our suitcase.

"The sheer size of this emergency makes it possible that we can supplement the American response with supplies from other countries, or with experience we have gained in other relief operations," U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said.

Not that we should be thankful for disasters (?) but so often we don't even think of anything but our own backpacks without them. God save us from ourselves! God help us carry the world's suitcase, one person/disaster at a time!