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NO COMPLACENCY
AND APATHY	!
The Daily Herald:	j
In recent months there have been numerous reports in the news media of the growing problem of complacency and apathy on the part of the amer-ican citizen. After reading almost daily of these incidents I was beginning to believe that; the only person I could depend on in an emergency would be me; and if I couldn’t help myself, heaven help me because no one else was going to.
In the wake of the catastrophe that fell upon the coast on that Sunday in August it has become increasingly apparent to me that people around here do not know the meaning of those two words—complacency and apathy—and knowing this makes me even more proud to be a resident of the area.
There are many untold heroes as a result of this disaster. I know of a Gulfport doctor who immediately went to the aid of those in need even though his own home had extensive damage. He did the same thing two years ago when a tornado passed through the area. A local insurance adjuster was busy at work the very next day and on Labor Day helping people recover from their loss even though he and his family had suffered heavy loss.
A group of nurses came from Pensacola, brought their own supplies, and worked for days never complaining about how tired or exhausted they were. Numerous friends and total strangers from surrounding areas brought in all types of supplies in every conveyance imaginable. Some food and drug stores gave away their
j merchandise.
| After power and communica-! tions had gone out here we; were able to stay in contact jwith the outside world with transistor radios. You don’t iknow how reassuring it was to be able to hear WWL out of New Orleans. I could go on mentioning examples like this, but they are too numerous. I’ll just say to those not mentioned, we will always be grateful.
If you were here the Monday after the storm and saw the unbelievable destruction and were; here the following Monday and saw the results of the monumental cleanup that had been accomplished, then you know what I am trying to say in this letter.
I am sure you have heard of the words charity, kindness, bravery, compassion, brotherly love, Christianity, neighborliness, etc. What you see happen-: ing in the communities around) here is what it is all about. j If I ever have to go through: something like this again, then 1 want to be right here, because I know what people will do for one another here.
Nope! I’m afraid we just don’t know what complacency and apathy are.
GULFPORT RESIDENT Gulfport, Miss.