What defines perilous times? Typically i might say war, death, or disease, but apparently dictionary.com thinks that it's exposure to injury, loss, or destruction. Reflecting on this past weekend, i think that this is a very fitting definition; and i think it goes without saying that the citizens of northern Illinois felt the peril as the massive amounts of rain washed through the area. (8 inches fell on Wilmette in one day alone!) Many people felt the immense feeling of loss and destruction as water flooded their basements, and the flooding led to fearful, and at times extremely dangerous, situations.
It led me to thinking more and more about the discussions we had been having in class, along with the overriding question, What happens to the authority of people in charge in a fearful time? I didn't personally observe the leaders of the town taking charge of the situation, however what i did notice was the leadership roles taken on by it's citizens. My neighbors took turns watching all the kids play outside in the rain while the other parents took turns managing their flooding; and every hour or so, my dad would go outside to clear the sewer grate, ensuring that no leaves could block the water from continuing the flow down the drain. Everyone worked together to push a car that had stalled in the high waters to it's house. The whole day was filled with communal efforts, and this coming from a block that hasn't had a block party in years. Perilous times lead to a great emphasis put on the community. We discussed this occuring with Puritans way back in the 1600's; and now we see it first hand during our own local perils.
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