This article is part of Lead for the World magazine’s Election 2016 Countdown Anthology.
In another week of crowded American news cycles, we had stories and images of presidential campaign shake ups, Olympian swimmer cover ups and a Syrian conflict wake-up call for our political leaders.
Meanwhile, buried below these attention-grabbing headlines, the worst natural disaster since 2012’s Hurricane Sandy was striking the United States. At the time of this writing, the unprecedented flooding in Louisiana has killed 13 people, damaged at least 40,000 homes and 86,500 people have already filed for federal aid.
Pundits and commentators have their theories about why the media was so slow to highlight this catastrophe. From the value of proper “disaster branding” and catching the weekday news cycle to our never-ending battle against disaster fatigue, academics and disaster relief agencies worry that Louisiana’s displaced citizens won’t get the help they need in the months of recovery that await them.
And perhaps more than any other recent natural disaster in America, Louisianans may only be able to rely on the support and sympathy of people who have emotional ties to the state.
Ah, those emotional ties that bind. Try as we might sometimes, we can never completely shake our sense of community. Of belonging, Of tribe.
Tribalism is a strong human desire. We’re social creatures, vibrant in community and depressed when left alone for too long. Even today, far removed from traditional tribal societies like those of the American Indians, a single glimpse of your country’s flag or the first verse of your nation’s anthem invokes immense pride and common purpose.
When disaster strikes
What happens when your countrymen endure a disaster? How connected do you feel to that national tribe, versus the more-everyday tribes of family, organization, ethnic group, political affiliation or community?
In his book Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, Sebastian Junger argues that a person living in a modern city or suburbs can, for the first time in history, go through an entire day - or an entire life - mostly encountering complete strangers. They can be surrounded by others and yet feel deeply, dangerously alone.
Go deep
For more about the importance of tribes, listen to a comprehensive review of ‘Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging‘.
And yet, disasters like this Louisiana flooding will level the playing field between those smaller tribes and remind us of the larger communities we need to lean on or help. As former US Senator for Louisiana Mary Landrieu shared on CNN on Friday August 18th 2016, “Disasters don’t have political boundaries. Water doesn’t know if you’re Republican or Democrat. Water doesn’t know if you’re Black or White or Hispanic.”
Barely a week into the Louisiana disaster, and despite media outlets being slow on the uptake, we’re already seeing aid, food and basic supplies flow into Louisiana’s most affected parishes.
Even Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate Mike Pence visited Louisiana today to bring comfort and attention to the dire situation. Trump also donated an 18-wheeler’s worth of supplies to help with victims’ most immediate needs, joining celebrities like Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga who have donated more than $1 million and AT&T donating $100,000 in disaster aid.
Should leaders put up or show up?
What do you hope to see from your country’s leaders in such a time of crisis? If Donald Trump ignored the Louisiana governor’s advice to not be a distraction or diversion of first-responder resources while disaster relief is still urgent, is Trump merely trying to look “presidential”, or exploiting the disaster as a campaign photo opportunity?
Both President Obama and Hillary Clinton are taking the Louisiana governor’s advice, and will visit the disaster-stricken areas soon. Are they doing the right thing? Or have they missed their time-sensitive window to be Comforter-in-Chief? Should President Obama have shortened his Martha’s Vineyard golfing vacation and returned to the White House in an interim show of solidarity? Are Obama and Hillary being true to their national tribe?
Louisiana’s local publication theadvocate.com published a harsh opinion piece that admonished President Obama for not visiting soon enough - this despite him activating federal relief funds and dispatching his top disaster relief administrators to the scene.
Meanwhile, the locals who had a chance to shake Mr Trump’s hand today said, “We knew you’d be here,” and “We’re glad you aren’t playing golf” - the latter a clear dig at President Obama continuing his golf vacation.
It’s all about the optics
optics
noun
- (used with a singular verb) the branch of physical science that deals with the properties and phenomena of both visible and invisible light and with vision.
- (used with a plural verb) the way a situation, action, event, etc., is perceived by the public or by a particular group of people: The optics on this issue are pretty good for the Democrats. Administrators worry about the bad optics of hiring new staff during a budget crisis.
In these months of closely following the US presidential campaign, I’ve learned a lot about optics. Nerd that I am, I’d only known the scientific definition of the word and not its political meaning.
America’s showbiz and celebrity culture make optics extremely important in a presidential race. Pundits spend hours agonizing over the optics of every move that the candidates make, scrutinizing their actions and speculating on their motives for those actions.
When there’s a major change in the Trump campaign’s leadership team, media outlets wonder about how the optics will play out with Americans.
What’s (hopefully) becoming clear to them is that not all optics are created equal.
I sense that most Americans don’t much care for the daily machinations of the presidential race. Statistics and polls are fascinating for some (I admit to geeking out on them), but if we’re really being honest with ourselves and take a step back, many voters decide how they feel about a candidate if they can get up close and personal with them.
Voters want to know and feel you care about their lives and especially their pain. It may seem prudent to stay away from a disaster zone until state resources can accommodate your VIP visit. But when a break-the-rules candidate like Donald Trump shows up anyway, the optics lean in his favor, even if just for a few days.
Voters want to know and feel you care about their lives and especially their pain.
If you’re reading this article, you may not have much in common with the lower-income Louisianans who now have to rebuild. You may not know what to say to them if they invite you over for dinner - what jokes to tell and what tribal connections to make.
But I trust, as a fellow American, that you can understand the utter devastation of having your home destroyed in a tide of water. I hope you can sense their helplessness as they wonder how long it will take, if ever, to get back on their feet. Most of all, I believe you can appreciate the reassurance they feel when a potential president shows up in their moment of need. Even if this was a strategically-engineered Republican campaign photo opportunity, it was a good gesture at a painful time for Louisiana.
Is the situation irreversible for President Obama and Hillary Clinton? Probably not. Right now, it doesn’t match the ill-advised move in 2005 when then-President George W. Bush, a Republican, drew criticism for flying over extensively damaged New Orleans, Louisiana, and then gave a speech in the still-flooded city following Hurricane Katrina.
And when Obama and Hillary do show up, they would do well to bring their most compassionate selves to Louisiana.
As this Reuters piece reports, Kellie Michelli, who lost her home in the flood and was also at the church to pick up food with her family, beamed as she showed off an autograph on a Trump hat from an earlier rally in Baton Rouge.
“He took time out of his busy schedule to come here,” Michelli said. “I don’t care if he gives a nickel, he showed he cared by coming here.”
For more independent views on this year’s election, read Lead for the World magazine’s Election 2016 Countdown Anthology.
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How to help Louisiana flood victims
(reference: Time.com)
The Red Cross is providing medical assistance and supplies to victims, as well as meals and dozens of shelters for displaced residents.
You can give by visiting the organization’s website or by texting the word LAFLOODS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Donations for flood relief can be made through the organization’s website, and they’ve set up two regional outposts where donations are being accepted.
This organization is providing food, water, equipment and relief supplies to victims. Donate through the website and specify that you want your donation to go to Louisiana August 2016 flood relief efforts.
This local organization accepts donations through its website and then directs those gifts to community non-profits who need it.