Just a reminder that there a lot of good folks among our fellow Americans: 

Coworkers of mine at Philadelphia University here in East Falls have organized a book drive to help replenish the New Orleans library.  It is nothing special; there are many others just like it around the nation.  However, you would be awed how many hundreds of books this small college has amassed in just two weeks.  I am very impressed, and I urge people to give what they can.  For after all, who doesn't have too many books around their house?  I have far too many for my own needs.

I am glad we can do somethng prodcutive for a New Orleans that, six months after Katrina, is still recovering.  Books are such a basic commodity that we all take for granted.  I was happy to part with the two dozen or so paperbacks I dontated.

One thought sticks in my mind, however.  In the aftermath of Katrina, why is New Orleans getting all of the press?  What about Gulfport and Biloxi?  How are those places doing?  How is their recovery progressing and being managed?  The almost complete lack of media coverage on the Alabama and Mississippi gulf coasts troubles me greatly.  I'm not sure if it speaks of bias or simply hyperfocus.  But let's all try to remember that great suffering happened in those places as well and those people deserve our help just as much as New Orleans.  In fact, they might need it more.