We are Tennessee

I will forewarn you that this post is filled with frustration and anger. This is not a pleasant topic. Some of you have heard, maybe a little bit, about the flooding in Middle Tennessee. Nashville and the surrounding area received record amounts of rainfall last weekend and now a lot of Metro Nashville is underwater. Close to 30 people have died and billions of dollars in damage has occurred. Many Nashville landmarks like the Grand Ole Opryhouse, the Opryland Hotel, and the Country Music Hall of Fame are flooded. But with a botched terrorist attack in Times Square and a oil slick inching its way to the Gulf Coast the Nashville flooding as taken a backseat to other news stories. Where is Brian Williams? Where is Al Roker? Do the flooded waters of the Cumberland not merit your attention?

I do not complain because I want to see Nashville and Tennessee on TV, certainly not under these circumstances. But money comes with attention and Nashville needs donations. People need water. People need shelter. People need the basics of life. Without national attention, the amount of money coming in to the Nashville Red Cross and other organizations decreases. I know, as blogger Patten Fuqua put it, that "It may not be as terror-sexy as a failed car bomb or as eco-sexy as an oil spill, but that’s no reason to be ignored." America, we need your help.

Since Hurricane Katrina, there have been floods in Iowa, North Dakota, Georgia, and other places. Thousands of people have lost their jobs and billions of dollars of damage was done. Where were the telethons? Where was Oprah? Where was Brad Pitt? You know another thing you didn't hear about in those areas was looting and crime. People did not take advantage of the situation, but they reached out to their neighbors.

Make no mistake, we can take care of ourselves and we can pick ourselves up if need be. But we helped New Orleans after Katrina and we helped Southeast Asia after the tsunami and we helped Haiti after the earthquake and now we are asking for help. Please donate to the Red Cross or to Hands On Nashville. Also, pass the word along via Facebook, Twitter, and the Blogosphere. Tennessee needs your help and we will not forget.