TORNADO

Terrible to see the loss of life and devastation caused by the tornado that touched down yesterday in Moore, Oklahoma.  Once more, we are brought to our knees by the immeasurable power of nature.  It's also another tragic reminder, as if we needed it, of the necessity to respect that power and harness our own desires and needs, as but one species on the planet, in service of our only home.  I realize that one tornado may not be a symptom of the climate change evidenced by the vast preponderance of science; but it does seem, anecdotally at least, that the storms grow exponentially stronger and more destructive: tornados, hurricanes, floods, wild fires and blizzards... should we not be learning something from all this?  Is nature trying desperately to have us pay attention?

I have not actually seen a tornado, but I have lived through tornado warnings and have seen the destruction at first hand--driving through an area in southern Wisconsin, years ago, just after a tornado hit.  Fortunately, it was not a populated area, but it was astounded to see trees stripped of limbs, leaves and bark, and farm buildings destroyed.  In Iowa City, once, I recall tornado weather, with hail the size of your fist thundering down and leaving every car in town dented, its glass smashed.  I recall the eerie, deep black sky that seemed back-lit by neon green, and the gusting winds.  We were spared a hit, that time.  Would that the good citizens of Moore had been similarly spared...