Re: [xmca] Fires in San Diego County

Yes, Andy. A lot of attention is being given to this issue. The way the
fires burned was especially capricious because of
wind conditions. In many clustered communities, one out of 8 houses was left
standing, in another, 7 out of 8. Always the
question of "why me" or "why not me." The need for making meaning of the
meaningless is very strong, even essential,
how ever it is accomplished.

For the first time in a week we took our usual walk early this morning. Our
neighbors from across the street have a grown
daughter with 7 kids. Her husband, whom we have never met, was walking
outside the house. Their house was enirely
destroyed. They live in a odd-seeming community with like minded friends and
relatives, one of whom has 14 children (!!).
ALL of the houses in the apparently kin-based neighborhood in a quasi-rural
area were burned out. He told us that his
family was the lucky one. They had insurance, so they will have a place to
live (other than across the street in the grand parents'
home).

Lots more interesting issues arise in these very sad circumstances including
how it came to be that people lived in places
which were so vulnerable to fire, why were some of those fire set by
arson's, the exclusion of illegal immigrants from shelters,
etc.

Difficult to discuss as a professional, although as a citizen I have my
opinions, lead my good life, and share in the responsibility
for what happens around me.

mike

10/27/07, Andy Blunden <ablunden@mira.net> wrote:
>
> Mike, just watched a story on the box here about "the luckiest man on the
> street" whose two houses were the only ones left standing, while every
> other house was levelled.
> What a stupid story. The random way houses are picked out or left by the
> fire causes very real psychological problems for people who find
> themselves
> living in untouched houses, while they see their neighbours living in a
> tent amidst the ruins of their house for maybe a year or two afterwards,
> wracked by irrational but inescapable feelings of guilt.
> I presume some attention is being given to this problem as well.
> Andy
> At 10:19 PM 24/10/2007 +0900, you wrote:
> >Mike,
> >
> >I can't imagine what the fires are like, I just hope that you are
> >safe and that the conditions change for the better. I hope you will
> >be able to return to your home soon!
> >
> >Mark
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >On Oct 24, 19 Heisei, at 1:45 AM, Mike Cole wrote:
> >
> >>Thanks to the many people who have expressed concern about the
> >>situation
> >>here in San Diego county.
> >>It is an unbelievable conflagration and it is directly threatening
> >>the homes
> >>of several colleagues as well as
> >>my own. We have been forced to leave our home and possessions and
> >>move out.
> >>We are living with friends near the UCSD campus which is not
> >>threatened at
> >>present.
> >>
> >>UCSD is officially closed, but so long as the electricity and internet
> >>connections are working, I suspect that
> >>folks will keep on chatting and we will keep on supporting it.
> >>
> >>mike
> >>_______________________________________________
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> >
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>
> Andy Blunden : http://home.mira.net/~andy/ tel (H) +61 3 9380 9435,
> mobile 0409 358 651
>
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Received on Sat Oct 27 09:03 PDT 2007