Power of the elements puts Americans
at mercy of God
September 24, 2005
by Gerard Baker, US Editor

ALONG the Gulf Coast this week, with Hurricane Rita hurtling their way, millions of residents were observing what has now become a seasonal ritual — boarding up homes, packing effects into car boots, joining long traffic jams and, above all, praying.

Mindful of the criticism that followed Hurricane Katrina, President Bush has been a blur of activity — mobilising armed forces, readying supplies. But he was also calling for higher assistance. “We hope and pray that Hurricane Rita will not be a devastating storm,” he said on Thursday.

America is a famously religious country. It is also a country that is famously prone to all manner of natural disasters. It is hard to resist the conclusion that the two facts are somehow related.

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