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In this article, Peter writes about the aftermath of the two largest tragedies this year: the New Orleans attack and the Los Angeles Fires.
What is Going on?
What is Going on?
By: Peter Easterwood
By: Peter Easterwood
New year, new me. Still, the world has gone to (for lack of a better word) crud. Earth is, in the least hyperbolic way, imploding, and there seems to be no real end in sight. With constant breaking news after breaking news, it is impossible to keep up with what is going on in America. Two of the largest recent events in the United States are the New Orleans attack and the Los Angeles Fires.
New Orleans attack
New Orleans attack
At around 3:15 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2025, a man drove a truck through a crowd, which led to a shootout with the police. The man would later be identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, although the reasoning behind the attack is unknown. The total number of deaths from the attack was 14 and the total number of injuries was at least 57. One of the deaths accounted for was Jabbar himself, who was killed in the shootout after the attack. Jabbar had a concerning past before the attack. On CBS News, Kierra Fraizer writes, “Jabbar became a more devout Muslim in 2022, and during this time, he began isolating himself from society, according to the FBI. Federal officials have called the attack an act of terrorism, saying that Jabbar was an Army veteran who had declared support for ISIS.” Condolences to all the families affected and, of course, everyone hopes that what occurred is the last we will ever see of any kind of attack.
Photo from: Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles fires
Los Angeles fires
While the New Orleans tragedy has been slowly healing, the West Coast has also dealt with a major tragedy: the Los Angeles fires. Beginning six days after the New Orleans tragedy, Los Angeles, almost suddenly, went up into flames. Four separate fires grew to an insurmountable size: The Eaton Fire, The Hurst Fire, The Auto Fire, and the biggest: the Palisades Fire. We have seen fires like this in California before, with the Great San Francisco Fire of 1906. Weirdly, though, compared to the 1906 fire, the current Los Angeles fire was not started via an earthquake or a natural disaster of any kind. The original cause is still unknown, but the most common root cause is the light amount of consistent rain in the area and bewildering high winds. Via NBC News, a quartet of reporters, Tim Stelloh, Marlene Lenthang, Rebecca Cohen and Phil Helsel write, “Swain pointed to the weather whiplash California has experienced in recent years — lurching between drought and heavy rainfall — and said such swings are a key element of the fire weather gripping the region.” By the week of Jan. 14, two of the four fires were nearly completely contained while the other two Eaton and Palisades were still burning strong.
Photo from: Moniker
Both of these horrifying events have proven a single truth: the world, even at its darkest points, can still shine through. For New Orleans, we have seen companies like the fast food restaurant Raising Canes donate $250,000 to the Greater New Orleans Foundation. In addition, multiple restaurants local to New Orleans have offered support in the form of aid, with fundraisers directed to help the victims of the attack. Clair Lorell for Eater New Orleans (a restaurant guide for New Orleans) writes, “On Monday, January 13, 100 percent of all food and liquor sales at LeBlanc + Smith bars and restaurants (Anna’s, Barrel Proof, Sylvain, and more) will be donated to the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s (GNOF)...”
In Los Angeles, Paris Hilton has raised $800,000 for wildfire relief. In addition, FEMA has begun a $770 payment for all victims of the wildfire, while also opening up FEMA Centers to help anyone in need. The fires are seemingly never-ending, but the continuous support has given hope to all the people affected by the fires. There are more people and organizations out there trying to help. People can help the cause in many ways, from donating non-perishable food items to sending money.
While the year 2025 has shown the people of the United States a horrific side of trials and tribulations, it has also revealed the goodness of the people. There is seemingly an unstoppable amount of negative behavior throughout the internet. That energy should become more positive. In just the first month of 2025, it seems that society has gone through the wringer, but togetherness can help push us forward.
Photo from: Wikimedia Commons
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