[meteorite-list] Greensburg Kansas Anniversary

From: MeteorHntr at aol.com <MeteorHntr_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 19:06:02 EDT
Message-ID: <ce5.2f6a8a05.354e49da_at_aol.com>

Dave,

Thanks for the comments.

I think what makes this extra tough is that there is no real "right" way to
rebuild.

Mike mentioned the money being spent in the war in Iraq, and how it could
rebuild Greensburg in a few minutes. His comment is true as a political
statement.

However, some might argue that building a town back to the way it was, even
IF our country had the money AND desire to do so, would not be a smart thing.

Most of the challenges that Greensburg is facing is due to people and
businesses taking many tens of millions of dollars worth of insurance money, FEMA
funds and charity, and leaving Greensburg to rebuild their lives and
businesses elsewhere.

Simply spending government money to rebuild everyone's house and all the
businesses exactly like they were before the tornado (including all the For Sale
signs that were in people's yards that got blown away) probably is not the
best solution. If it was the best solution, that would have been the easy
thing to do, and it probably would have been done.

Events happen in every city in the world, every day, to give citizens reason
to consider making personal choices. Greensburg just had a particular event
happen one year ago to everyone all at the same time.

It is easy to want to have compassion on a city. But the City of Greensburg
is not a person, it is a corporation.

Is it really bad if someone takes their insurance money, then moves to
Kansas City and lives "happily ever after?" Well, the politically correct answer
 might be "No. It would be better for them to be required to stay in
Greensburg rebuild and live miserably ever after." At least that way it would LOOK
like Greensburg successfully rebuilt.

I have heard that a movie theater company is going to build a 500 seat state
of the art movie theater in Greensburg. Now, that is a private donation to
the community. Wonderful. But had it been tax payer funds being spent, some
might argue that a public library or a better school, or fire trucks or a
Museum to House their 1,000 pound meteorite, would be a more wise place to
spend the same funds.

So again, there is not a simple "correct" answer that can be provided. With
1,400 residents, there are probably 1,400 different decisions, and
undoubtedly, there will be some good ones made and some bad ones made along the way by
individuals. The sum of these independent decisions will help paint the
picture of what Greensburg will look like in the future.

Steve #1




In a message dated 5/3/2008 5:05:48 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
david.carothers at verizon.net writes:
Steve,

Thank you very much for taking the time to provide such a deeply personal,
heart-felt, and insightful reply. I went through a wide range of emotions
while reading your post. On one extreme, feeling happy and proud for the
people staying to rebuild Greensburg and on the other end of the spectrum,
sad at the historical and cultural losses incurred by the populace. Your
post is a great testamonial to the town and people of Greensburg.

I for one will continue to keep the town and inhabitants of Greensburg in my
prayers.

Regards,

Dave
d



**************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family
favorites at AOL Food.
(http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)
Received on Sat 03 May 2008 07:06:02 PM PDT