Parsha Questions - Ki Tavo

As I mentioned, we're going to start each week off with a couple of questions on the Parsha, hopefully leading to some conversation.  Here goes:

• The dominant feature of פרשת כי תבוא is the תוכחה, the extended and detailed curses about all of the horrific punishments that בני ישראל will receive if we don't follow Hashem.  A big part of that message seems to be, that if awful things happen to us, we shouldn't just assume that "that's life" or give a scientific explanation for it, but assume that it is a message from Hashem.  Is that truly how we should live?  The Nevi'im sure sound that way.  Yet, after every disaster - natural (like Katrina or Japan or Irene) or man-made (like the Holocaust or 9/11), theologians Jewish and non-Jewish will often attribute the tragedy to any of various sins.  Did Irene come because New York passed a same sex marriage bill?  Was Katrina a punishment for Mardi Gras?  Was the Holocaust a punishment?  Send in your thoughts (comments or e-mail), and I think we'll discuss it at either PC or mishmar.
• The Parsha starts with the mitzva of ביכורים - It teaches, that when bringing the fruits to the Kohen at the בית המקדש, you must recite a passage that states that you have fulfilled all of your obligations regarding this produce.  This recitation is called וידוי מעשרות.  Isn't that odd, that a statement that you did everything right is called viduy - confession?  Why do you think that is?