Chopping Cedar While the Poor Die

Cocktails on the Porch
Barry was busy mixing French Horns, unusually good cocktails he made with Chambord and vodka. On the side, he was also preparing a pitcher of non-alcoholic drinks. He likes having all of his bases covered. Out here, there are no city lights to dim the beauty of a sky full of stars, which were just beginning to appear and twinkle as the gang began arriving. Still comfortable enough to gather on the porch, we did, and enjoyed the warmth of the smaller braziers Max had helped us get going. The teenagers rarely sit out here with us, preferring to go in to the great room and talk about their day.

A.J. asked a very simple question. In the so-called Third World, how do governments take care of their people at the time of horrendous natural disasters? Every one of us assumed that A.J. was about to accuse those countries of barbaric acts of unconscionable disregard for their people. But instead, he shocked us by informing us how promptly those countries move to evacuate people when needed, and how quickly they move to improve the lives of their natural disaster tragedies' victims. He began by telling us that in 1985, the Ansokia Valley in Ethiopia was a barren dust bowl, and now it is a drought-proof oasis. Also in 1985, Mexico City sustained horrendous damage and loss of life in an earthquake, yet within minutes the government, the military and the citizenry mobilized to save all those who could still be saved.

Input from Alex
Because of Alex's deep interest in the world we live in, he joined A.J. in telling us about other natural disasters where the governments of the countries where they occurred did not turn a blind eye to the victims. For example, the drought in Afar, Ethiopia; the devastating earthquake in Bam; the earthquake in Gujurat, India; and together, Alex and A.J. enumerated natural disasters of the minute, where instantly, governments have mobilized to evacuate all those in imminent danger: typhoon Damrey hitting Vietnam; typhoon Hongwang, passing through Taiwan and imminently heading for China, where immediately the government evacuated 200,000 people from their boats in China's eastern province of Fujian; in Palo Campana, El Salvador, their largest volcano has erupted, and thousands have fled and within moments the government had evacuated 4000 people; today, tropical storm Stan is expected to hit the Baja Peninsula close to Cabo San Lucas, and the Mexican Army wasted no time in evacuating 1000 people.

Oh, Alex and A.J. said, in the other natural disasters, hurricanes Katrina and Rita, in dastardly behavior you would expect of a backward Third World country, the government did nothing, leaving people without financial resources to fend for themselves. For days, the government seemed paralyzed, unable to help its citizenry. Rather Haitian and Papa Doc, don't you think?

I don't think anybody sitting on the porch tonight will ever deride a Third World country again. Though they will think of a smarmy guy who kept on "chopping cedar and clearing brush" and eating cake on vacation while people drowned, starved, and became dehydrated. An Arabian Horse Show fly appointed to take charge of national disasters? Talk about offal that would choke a buzzard!

Dinner Gong!
I'm glad the kids don't all decide at the same time that it's their turn to bang on the dinner gong. It would drive the adults bonkers. Somehow, they work it out on their own, and blessedly, we just have one person working the gong at a time. Nevertheless, it's a welcome sound. Dinner, when you work all day on a farm, is always welcome. Dinner with your friends and neighbors is pure bliss.

Kim and Barry Serve up Wonders
Tapas aren't just popular in cosmopolitan urban areas, even out here in the country we're learning about them and beginning to enjoy them as starters for our dinners. Tonight Kim and Barry served us Piquillo peppers filled with Shrimp and Diverse Wild Mushrooms from Art and Terry's organic produce farm, as well as Grilled Antipasto, consisting of an enormous variety of vegetables. Barry used one of our favorite extra-virgin olive oils, Monini. Barry and Kim served us a slightly chilled Tío Pepe Fino Sherry with these two appetizers, as the Spaniards do. Barry used one of the large outdoor grills to prepare some delicious Grilled Swordfish and paired it with a Wild Horse Central Coast Chardonnay.

In those little wire baskets we have dozens of, he and Kim grilled a variety of onions, scallions, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms. They served small dollops of watermelon sorbet, and then brought out, to our disbelief, another great course, Grilled Quail Stuffed with Figs. They wisely paired it with a Jade Mountain Contra Costa County Mourvèdre, and the plates were served with only some of Kim's fantastic Basmati rice and simply poached carrots. Lastly, they served small bowls of a rustic Tuscan salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers. Our usual favorite, the Monini extra-virgin olive oil is what they used. Paired with a Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc) from Sonoma County, this little salad was a nice fnish to the serious part of dinner, but we were also promised a nice dessert.

Liz, on Disasters and Washington
Liz, just before we left to re-join the teenagers, told us something Senator J. William Fulbright said on February 2, 1954: "Nature - pitiless in a pitiless universe - is certainly not concerned with the survival of Americans or, for that matter, of any of the two billion people now inhabiting this earth. Hence, our destiny, with the aid of God, remains in our own hands." But, Liz said, those hands have to be compassionate, humane, and competent. Doesn't sound like anybody in command in Washington right now, does it? When she closes her eyes, Liz said, she can hear the cries of all the people who suffered unspeakable horror during Katrina and Rita, and she could also hear the buzz of the cedar-cutting chainsaw. And the smacking of the lips as the Bush's and the Cheney's munched on cake.

Dessert with the Teenagers
Charlotte and Kim worked on the dessert part of our meal, which we shared back in the great room with the teenagers. Their Pecan, Maple Syrup and Chestnut tarts were flawless. With Max's special-blend espresso, how can you end a dinner on a better note? Well, sharing your dessert with the younger generation is one way, an excellent way. Perhaps too many families don't share those precious moments with kids today, but here on our farms, we think Democratic families do share precious moments together.

Summary:
Are Third World responses to the unimaginable plight of victims of natural disasters hard to swallow? Or not? How can countries sit back and let nature take its course and injure, maim, kill and dispossess its citizens? How can governments sit back and let their citizenry suffer unspeakably in the eye of a natural disaster?

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
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Reprinted from The Grindstaff Chronicles Newsletter which is published in the USA by farmers, ranchers, and neighbors.

It is intended to share the thoughts and lifestyle of people who work hard, like to relax and enjoy life, and are often dismayed by news, politics, and the events of the day that defy common sense.
http://www.GrindstaffChronicles.com
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