It has been hard to post or knit over the past week with so much of my mind occupied by the victims of Hurricane Katrina. It is no surprise, however, that the knitting community has united in it's effort to do what they can to help the victims of this latest natural and humanitarian disaster. I urge you to click on the button below and donate what you can to the Red Cross Katrina Relief Fund.



The Knitting Wench had an interesting post about the way she has channeled her knitting energy since the hurricane. She has spent the past few days swatching her stash since she doesn't really want to have emotional ties to a FO during this time i.e. a "Hurricane Katrina sweater/scarf/etc.". When I read her post it really help me put a finger on why my knitting and desire to knit has slowed down dramatically over the past two weeks. Perhaps it is an instinctual response to such a tragedy. I experienced similar reactions on 9/11 and after the Tusnami and continue to experience them on the anniversaries of these tragedies. I don't buy in to the administrations statement that "if we don't go on with our lives, the terrorists win". I believe we MUST reflect and allow ourselves to feel the very real pain we all experience when something happens to our family of man. Otherwise history won't allow for changes in the way we respond and react to events that require not only our financial support but our duty to understand why these things happen and how we can prepare for or perhaps even avoid them altogether. Our Commander in Chief may default to denial but it is clear denial is not an effective disater plan but rather a disgrace.

Americans should take pride in the way that they are individually responding to the needs of Hurricane Katrina victims. We should seize this opportunity to demand our government follow suit and as we must continue to advocate for those in need.