by Anisah Bright

Created on: June 30, 2009   Last Updated: July 08, 2009

Never would I have thought I would see the day, that there was even a question about saving a persons life. If a person is trying to commit suicide, should I not cut the rope? There are reasons people choose not to heed to the warnings of a coming natural disaster. One reason, I have come to learn, is fear. Fear of leaving everything a person is made of. To a person who was born and raised in their home town, they may not understand how to cope with living else where. Usually these kind of people are poor, and have not had the opportunity to experience life outside of their community / element.

I've learned this through first hand experience. From a young age, the thought of the road made me think of adventure. I loved to travel, rather it was a vacation to Pocono,PA; Disney World in Orlando,FL or just visiting loved ones in far off places.When I was 16, I ran away from home and went to Marion,SC. To family and friends, this was amazing. I left in the middle of the night and hopped on a bus from Philadelphia,PA to Marion,SC. Now to my family, it was amazing I had made it to the bus station alive. But the drive to travel, (and some issues at home) had caused me to leave my home town without a second thought.

When I became an adult, and had children of my own, I decided to move away for good. I have three boys and understand that boys are rough. What would have gotten you into a fight in the good old days, will get you killed now. Especially in Philadelphia. Again my family and friends are not handling this too well. To them I am far away, (I only moved to Pottstown, PA which is 55 minutes away, and considered the suburbs) and that I shouldn't trust anyone. To me it's funny to constantly hear, "How do you do that on your own, in a different town?" Although I must admit, it was rather unnerving to hear that there are KKK's in the surrounding areas. The only reason it affected me so badly is because I have always been a person to get along with anyone. Didn't matter race, culture, religion, or social status.

Though I am known for roaming blindly but cautious, my family and friends do not share my same views. They are content with knowing exactly where everything is that is needed. There is a security in not getting loss, and if they do, there is a chance that someone can come and rescue them. They know they are accepted and share memories with each person they've come into contact with.The comfort of being "in the know" is critical for some. So who am I to not protect the ignorant?

We have sent our families to risk they're lives for this country, so that it would not be shot into a third world civilization. If there were a natural disaster and the United States were to sank to the bottom of the ocean, how many would flee to another country after living in the most fortunate? And who wouldn't want those family members and friends saved; who can't bare to leave there only home they've ever known?

Learn more about this author, Anisah Bright.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.