Political Quotes

“Mr. President, last month, on August 8, people on Maui experienced one of the worst days of their lives. What started as a bright, sunny, windy summer day turned into a long, hellish nightmare as wildfires burned down the town of Lahaina. There was little sign of the tragedy to come. People showed up to work as usual. Children enjoyed their summer vacation. Tourists strolled down Front Street. Snorkeling charters set out for the day. Surfers hit the waves. And all of that changed in an instant. By now, people around the world have seen the photos and the video from that horrific day. But the devastation up close, on the ground, is even more chilling. It is unlike anything I have ever seen. Whole neighborhoods are levelled. Piles of ash and debris sit where homes once stood. Hollowed- out cars, burnt to a crisp, cover the streets. To date, 115 people have been declared dead, and many more are still missing. For a tight-knit community like Lahaina where everyone knows each other, these losses are crushing. They were mothers and fathers, aunties and uncles, friends and neighbors, kids as young as 7, and seniors who couldn't escape in time. We mourn every one of them and the lives they lived and would have gone on to live. Even for those who were lucky enough to survive, their lives will never be the same again. They are grieving the loss of their family and their friends and confronting the loss of their homes and their livelihoods.…”