Pride is a deadly sin, literally

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Pride heads the list of the seven deadly sins (the others being Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Wrath, Greed, and Sloth). These sins are “deadly” because in common belief, they 1) form the basis of all other sins, and 2) are a one-way ticket to punishment/antonement in the afterlife. However, there is another consequence of Pride, at least with respect to Katrina’s victims: deadly decisions made by a dead-wrong administration. Thousands have died or become gravely ill just because of pride on the part of politicians. Just a day’s delay meant hundreds of lives; in fact, every minute could possibly mean a life.

There is pride in not accepting help (at least not openly) from other nations. I understand if Iran or North Korea would pledge $500 million dollars that the US would have to say no, seeing as how “tainted” that money would be, but Canada? Germany? Australia? Hell, even poverty-ridden El Salvador offered to send in troops. When El Salvador says, “Oh shit, you guys need help,” to the greatest superpower in the world because of its ineptitude, you know you’ve hit rock bottom as a nation.

Pride is George Bush not speaking out against FEMA or Homeland Security, not canceling a speaking engagement to shore up political support for the war on terror the day a killer hurricane hit the gulf coast. Pride is “staying the course,” no matter how many people die or how many people tell you you’re wrong. Pride is thinking that the American way is the best way for the rest of the world, and in so doing, alienated us to the point where we are frankly lucky that other countries still want to help us at all. Pride is politicians being shown the horrors of the storm’s aftermath and the first words out of their mouth is that “things are going well,” or thanking so-and-so, making sure to get a shout out to their homies, because their prepared statements before the camera turned on were more important than what is being asked. Pride is administration officials not saying, “Our department failed,” or admitting their mistakes, or willing to point out certain shortcomings lest it have a negative impact for elections later.

Ghandi had his take on what constituted the deadly sins:

• Wealth without Work
• Pleasure without Conscience
• Science without Humanity
• Knowledge without Character
• Politics without Principle
• Commerce without Morality
• Worship without Sacrifice

Pride need not always be deadly. I feel pride in the relief workers, particularly fellow Texans and the Coast Guard, who were working from the minute they were able to help with the disaster. The policemen who stayed and risked their lives against the lawlessness, even while greiving or not knowing about all of their own families, should feel very proud. For those who have given to relief agencies, for those who have traveled in some cases thousands of miles just to help, one feels proud to count them among their fellow man. The difference is that Pride sees oneself and one’s own agenda as most important; being proud, particularly in these cases, is inescapable when shown self-sacrifice.