UN-American.

You know... I generally reserve this blog for encouragement, and steer clear of political, or even personal things to a degree.
But I really need to get this off my chest.

I am not feeling real fabulous about whats going on in the gulf.
In fact, it really weighs on me.
I really believe that we need to be praying for divine intervention.

Im feeling even less fabulous about some of the activities surrounding the BP spill.
Honestly, I was trying to be "balanced" about BP.
I was even feeling compassion for them.

But considering that they have been threatening reporters with arrest for trying to photograph the gulf coast, threatening to fire any clean up employee caught wearing a respirator in public, trying to coerce locals into signing "release from liability" documents, using financial pressure to keep independent research out, intentionally falsifying equipment test data, ignoring warning signs, and stepping outside safety protocols to meet bottom lines, Im finding it hard to maintain that sentiment.
If estimates are correct, the amount of oil in the gulf, in a surface spill 1/2 an inch thick, would cover approx 1500 square miles. Add dispersant, wind and ocean currents, and physics, and there is a good chance that all of the gulf states, much of the eastern Mexican coastline, the Yucatan peninsula, northern Cuba, some of the east coast, parts of the Atlantic Ocean, and possibly even western Europe will be negatively affected. Not to mention the tremendous and long lasting ecological damage to the gulf ocean ecosystem.
I read that the senator Rand Paul has called Obama's criticism of BP's actions "un-American". I haven't seen the actual quote, and I don't know if it was taken out of context, but if he did say it.....I'm really just speechless.
In all likelihood, in the near future BP will be facing International lawsuits, possible criminal charges, and billions in clean up costs. While I know that this entire situation is symptomatic of a deeper problem in corporate culture, and that in all likelihood, no specific person can be blamed for what happened, the reality is that 2 specific companies and their practices are directly responsible for this catastrophe. In writing this, I realize that I myself am not without guilt in overlooking my responsibilities to the harm of myself and others, and I love mercy. I have no intention of judging the individuals involved. I do think though, that we cannot let this one go un-dealt with.  We cannot afford to let this be white washed away.I really believe that the most "un-American" thing that we could do in this situation would be to overlook the seriousness of it. In the interest of future generations, we should not back off of this , until every impropriety, cut corner, bad policy, PR stunt, and destroyed ecosystem is accounted for.  I  just cant come to terms with explaining to the next generation how we let another injustice slip through our fingers....that those responsible were able to shirk responsibility for this through intrigue, PR, and hiding behind political figures looking to make a name for themselves. This has nothing to do with politics, and everything to do with stewardship.
I am personally going to pray for mercy for BP officials. I cant imagine what it would be like to be in that position. But I am also praying that out of this we as a nation will take steps to make sure than nothing like this ever happens again. And that those responsible would GREATLY fear the consequences from now on.