Hurricane Harvey has devastated Houston, Texas. The images coming from the aftermath are heartbreaking, yet also hopeful to see so many people putting aside their differences to help out our fellow Americans.
But not everyone has a sense of goodwill in their hearts. In an advice column published on Slate yesterday, a woman wrote in saying her girlfriend was refusing to donate to help people affected by the hurricane simply because some of them voted for Trump. Instead, she gave to the Humane Society.
Earlier in the week, Ken Storey, a professor at the University of Tampa, tweeted “I don’t believe in instant Karma but this kind of feels like it for Texas. Hopefully this will help them realize GOP doesn’t care about them. Those who voted for him here deserve it as well.”
Storey has since deleted the tweet and his Twitter account but Turning Point’s Charlie Kirk took a screenshot and as we all know, everything lives on in the digital world.
WOW! Professor at U of Tampa says GOP voters and Houston residents DESERVE #hurricaneharvey because of how they voted — SICK!
RT!! pic.twitter.com/9yggDyT55B
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) August 28, 2017
And he’s not the only one who has tweeted similar reactions.
To all the Texas people, Trump dont give a shit about yall, and its funny cause most of yall voted for him. You played yourself.
— Darion. (@Darion_TheGreat) August 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/trolltrumptower/status/902902035988733952
It's kinda hard for me to feel bad for Texas cause they voted for Trump
— Kayla A. (@kaylaarose_) August 30, 2017
With that being said I hope all the black, Hispanic and white people who didn't vote for him are good, everyone else got what they deserve
— Kayla A. (@kaylaarose_) August 30, 2017
Ironically, Houston is one of the few cities in Texas that voted for Hillary.
America may be divided politically right now, but when a tragedy like Harvey strikes, we shouldn’t care about who voted for whom. Instead we should band together as a nation and help out in any way we can. It’s just basic human decency. And if you can look at these images and shrug these people off because of politics, then you need to do some real soul searching.
Texas, our hearts are with you.
-K
To donate to the Red Cross, text HARVEY to 90999 and $10 will be added to your wireless phone bill.
Donations are also being accepted through Samaritan’s Purse (they are also mobilizing volunteers), Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, Salvation Army and United Way.
NPR has a very extensive list of ways to help that can be found here.