Disaster’s Lessons So Soon Forgotten?

* Last fall, I watched in horror on TV and out of my window the destruction caused by the fire in Laguna. I felt in my heart that there was a greater reason for the disaster than a chance occurrence. I figured maybe this is God’s way of telling us that we have gotten too involved in material possessions and need to get back to appreciating the human spirit and the more subtle aspects of life. My feeling was substantiated somewhat by the pictures of families consoling others who had lost their homes. There were acts of heroism, and people from other areas donated what they could to help those who lost everything. It became a time for giving, sharing and caring.

Now I read (“Colliding Points of View Impair Laguna Rebuilding,” June 12) that Laguna residents are bickering over how large or tall they build their replacement homes and whether or not they have a good enough ocean view. What in the world is going on? Don’t these people realize that there are thousands of people who are unemployed, starving or homeless? What happened to that spirit we saw after the fires?

CAROLE TELFER

Fountain Valley