Editorial: Fires remind us of life’s true priorities

As fires sweep across Southern California, members of the UCLA
community should take the time to put their lives ““ and this
tragedy ““ into perspective.

So far, the fires have killed at least 17 people and destroyed
well over 1,500 homes, making these among the worst fires the state
has ever seen. By the time the flames are extinguished, the
disaster may be the most expensive in state history.

These fires rage as most students are worrying about studying
for midterms and receiving good grades. But some students have much
more to worry about ““ some have had their family homes burned
to the ground, while many others are still waiting to see where the
winds will turn. As nerve-wracking as midterms can seem, the
thought of losing one’s home and possessions is unimaginably
worse.

Those who know their houses and families are secure should
comfort their friends who may be facing numerous obstacles in the
aftermath of the fires. And those who must worry about their homes
while trying to study for tests should prioritize lending support
to their families.

Thankfully, the federal government has recognized the
significant impact these fires are having, and has declared a state
of emergency in four Southern California counties. This allows
federal relief agencies to help cover the enormous costs associated
with fighting the fires and rebuilding after them. Lifting this
burden off California taxpayers will not erase the emotional and
personal losses, but it will help the state recover more quickly
““ so far, Gov. Gray Davis has estimated the fires will cost
over $2 billion.

Natural disasters remind us how fragile and unpredictable life
can be, and how weak our technology is compared to natural forces.
In a region defined by towering skyscrapers and urban sprawl, we
are still occasionally reminded of our true vulnerability. Here at
UCLA, we are physically safe, but that cannot make us complacent or
uncaring of what exists around us ““ especially when the
events are so tragic.

For the past three days, we have all woken up to hazy, twilight
skies. If nothing else, the soot-filled skies should make us think
““ we are lucky if all we have to worry about are midterms or
parties or where to buy groceries. Here at UCLA, we are taught to
be leaders, but sometimes it is hard to understand where we belong
““ especially now.

Sometimes, it is impossible to directly impact events,
especially events as large and diffuse as the current fires. But
that does not mean students should not care ““ caring is a
crucial first step to making a difference.

While receiving horrible scores on tests for which students
spent countless hours studying may seem like the end of the world,
students should put their disappointment into perspective. The
world beyond the protective brick walls of UCLA is literally
burning down, and worrying about losing that high grade point
average isn’t as important as worrying about friends who are
losing their homes.