Let Them Weep

I was ashamed to be a conservative after reading this today:

"There simply aren't enough grief counselors to help these people," said Michael Hyatt, CEO of TN Publishing, today as he announced plans to donate $50,000 and 100,000 copies of the world's bestselling grief and recovery handbook to victims of Katrina.

Hundreds of grief counselors in Houston and other cities hosting the more than 250,000 Katrina refugees have already volunteered to provide free counseling services. But there are simply more needs than can be met by the volunteers.

Not everyone is happy with Hyatt's plan. His blog was deluged with angry comments from conservatives hostile to the idea of grief counseling. Here's a sampling:

100,000 counseling books. That is the most asinine thing I have heard in years (and I've heard a few) You are fool of the first order. You sending books to people who need food, water, medicine, blankets, clothes and shelter. I shake my head in wonder and dismay.

Grieving manuals !!!! Unbelievable...... In my eyes you are a moron! Unbelievable.... there are people DYING and babies and old people suffering indignities beyond any comprehension and you send them BOOKS - aaaaggggghhhhh - America IS nuts - no doubt about it.

If I were starving, thirsty, homeless, and in need of medicine, and someone handed me a counseling manual, I would spit in their face. This is the most ridiculous, useless, self-serving thing I've ever heard, and anyone who gives money to this cause is going to hell.

Yeah, sure, grief books, you f***in Moron!!! In order to support this liberal ideology that got these poor people in this situation. One of the posters here got it right, these people are about to die - GOT IT???

Actually, I made this up. Parts of it, at least. And I'm not ashamed to be conservative. Michael Hyatt is CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers and he decided to donate $50,000 and 100,000 Bibles to victims of Katrina after reading that refugees in some shelters were requesting them. These comments were posted to Michael Hyatt's blog today, but referred to Bibles rather than grief counseling books. (Thanks to Bob Krumm via James Taranto.)

A short while before, I had received an email update from pcarelief.org which contained this from Richard Bailey, paster of Plains Presbyterian Church in Zachary, Louisiana:

When I stood up to lead the worship service Sunday I looked out at our shelter "guests" and choked up. It was tough to go on. So much hurt and pain. Our Pastor, Woody Markert, preached from Lamentations 3. It was a powerful, yet comforting message. Filled with hope in the Lord. [Read Lamentations 1:1-2 and weep for New Orleans]. We then served Communion. I needed it. What encouragement and strength the Lord provided through this his Sacrament. Pray for us. We are tired.

Lamentations 1:1-2:

How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! She is become as a widow, that was great among the nations! She that was a princess among the provinces is become tributary!

She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; Among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they are become her enemies.

The commenters' words hold nothing of significance but the spores of beasthood and anarchy.