There is little I can say about the hurricane devastation that hasn't already been said and said a lot better. Frankly, words don't mean spit right now. Action is what counts. Please give generously to the charity of your choice. Choose one here. And say a lot of prayers for those caught in this nightmare.
Good night.
22 comments:
The tragedy and catastrophic problems plaguing the gulf coast right now do seem overwhelming. My emotions have been stretched in every direction as I've watched and read everything I could about this historic event.
I've cried with mothers looking for their children and I cried with the reporter who lost it when she talked of hearing the screams for help and could do nothing. I've been awed by the job the reporters have been doing and grateful for any news they can get out, for there are stories on the gulf coast that have to be told, must be remembered.
I got cold chills down my back when I heard of hospitals having to lock down their hospitals from looters -- what kind of animal tries to loot a Children's Hospital or sends sniper fire into nurses trying to evacuate patients? I mean, yeah, I'd raid Walmart for water or food for my family, but to try and break into a children's hospital and take away what little was there from the most vulnerable and helpless in the city? That's humanity, if you can call it that, at it's worst. It changes my sympathy to anger and my belief in the decency of other human beings to a deep gloom.
And, I've felt guilty because I didn't volunteer my nursing services to that area but after I saw the images of gunfire, looting and anarchy and heard the stories of rape, fires and murder -- well, I didn't have the nerve. And I sure will not sit in judgement on FEMA workers who are too afraid to go in there just yet, too or those who suspended rescue operations until some kind of order can be restored. I just pray they can get in there soon.
I've felt frustrated when I see the crowds of people waiting for buses that never came. Where are the buses? Why are there people still gathered there? Somebody tell me what the hold up is. I secretly cheered when I heard about that first bus that came into Houston a couple hours earlier than expected -- turns out it was commandeered by someone tired of waiting -- and it was full of children. I'd like to think that was something I would do.
I've been disgusted with the mental cases that have been taking pot shots at rescue workers in boats and in helicopters. Even in times of normalcy, New Orleans crime rate has been 10 times the national average, but what could anyone hope to gain by shooting at rescue workers? I felt a thrill when I watched a truck load of armed soldiers speeding down into the city to help out. Finally, the cavalry is arriving, so to speak. I know Louisiana National Guardsmen in Iraq must be frantic to get back and help their state and I read somewhere they were going to do just that. I hope they come home soon.
I've been inspired by the generousity of the state of Texas and the Republican Gov. Rick Perry as they opened their doors to 25,000 homeless and actually provided a solution to a huge, huge problem. We need more such solutions. I read somewhere that Americans have donated about $15 million now to the Red Cross to help with the relief. It's a great start.
And, then I get angry again, just thinking about so much suffering going on right now in such a land of plenty and resources. When are we going to get those resources to the people so desperately waiting for them?
But I think we all need to take a deep breath, and realize, too, Katrina just hit the gulf coast on Monday, Aug. 29th. Has it only been three days? My gawd, it seems like it's been an eternity. But, it's only been three days since the hurricane left the gulf coast.
Three days to find a way to get in food and supplies to a town under 20 feet of water and very few roads passable; three days to pluck people off rooftops and search through the rubble and water (now is not the time to pick up the dead, y'all -- we still have to rescue the living -- what is so hard to understand about that? And where would you put them if you did collect them? A flooded morgue? Sorry, this is a pet peeve of mine -- use some common sense, people); three days to move 27,000 people to a new shelter, and that's just the people that were in the SuperDome; there are 91,000 refugees in shelters in 8 states and another 25,000 who are supposed to go to San Antonio -- it may take FEMA more than three days to find homes for all of them; three days to try and absorb approx 1 million people back into schools, jobs and homes; three days to try and stop the flooding from Lake Pontchrain and fix the levees; three days to clean up approx 90 miles of flattened towns along the gulf coast; three days to pull manpower and resources from arguably the poorest states in the nation; three days to deal with the worst natural disaster in our country's history.
And it deeply saddens me to see other Americans taking this tragedy as an opportunity to vent against the current administration instead of pulling together. The same columnists who accused Bush of reacting a little too quickly to hurricane threats in Florida during his second campaign for president in order to get votes, now accuse him of acting too slowly. THREE DAYS!
I'm sorry Tech, I didn't mean to ramble on in your blog this long. I've been reading op-ed pieces on the internet for the last hour or so and sipping Wild Turkey when I should be sleeping. Not a good combination. Thanks for letting me vent a little.
Well said. And you're always welcome to "ramble" here.
Crystal, your comments was well-written. (I miss your blog.) You're asking many of the questions that have troubled me. This truly is a nightmare. We must keep holding on to our faith and do what we can.
This truly is terrible. It's a living nightmare. If I believed in god, I'd be praying 'round the clock.
But unlike Crystal, I understand why people are so angry with Bush. The Homeland Security shit was sold to us with the idea that it would be able to swiftly respond to disasters, natural or man-made. We're seeing the failure of it. And with the stupid and senseless war in Iraq, our resources are stretched to the breaking point. This is just another example of how shortsighted Bush really is, and people have a right to demand answers from him. This is the real test of his presidency. I hope he rises to it, but I doubt he will.
Slim, I don't think Crystal -- who is a ardent Bush supporter -- was necessarily defending Bush. She was pointing out the complete absurdity and stupidity of pointing fingers while people are dying. Let's save the people, and then we can play the blame game.
Finger pointing is easy to do, but it should be done after the crisis has passed. Do I think the president failed us? Yes, I do. I think he has a pattern of failing to lead with foresight and wisdom. Do I think that is important now? No. I think we have to pull together and help people survive this. I hope that he will wake up and mobilize the resources needed for this nationwide emergency. Otherwise, God help us.
Tech and Gloria, I believe totally that the placing of blame should wait until after the crisis is over. But it should be placed on Bush. His administration has let people die by their tardy response.
Crystal says it's only been three days. That's one way to measure it. But let's measure by the number of men, women, and children who have died. That's the ruler by which we should measure Bush. And he will come up terribly short.
I have said it before, and I will say it here:
Vote Democratic. The ass you save may be your own.
--ER
Susan, who should we blame then? The victims? I've heard people say that they should have left New Orleans. To go where? Most of them had nowhere else to go. They had no money to get there. They had no way to get there. And now we have a president who is more interested in photo ops and a government more interested in procedure and covering their butts than helping people. It's a shame and disgrace.
Exactly, Press, exactly!
Do Democrats have any shame? No! Of course not! They will use any excuse to attack the president. Even people dying and suffering isn't enough to stop their lies and senseless attacks. Did any of you read this in Crystal's comment: "And it deeply saddens me to see other Americans taking this tragedy as an opportunity to vent against the current administration instead of pulling together. The same columnists who accused Bush of reacting a little too quickly to hurricane threats in Florida during his second campaign for president in order to get votes, now accuse him of acting too slowly."
Exactly, Crystal, exactly. He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. Democrats need to look at the situation with objective eyes. I hope they will. But as with the war in Iraq, they won't be able to.
I think the most annoying thing about Republicans is how they drape the flag over their rotten acts and pretend that only they are patriots. My late husband served in the military. I'm proud of our military and support it. But that doesn't mean that I think the war in Iraq is just. Our soldiers are dying for nothing. Republicans seem to equate patriotism with blind loyalty. I care too much about this nation to look away when something is wrong. We're supposed to fix our mistakes, not deny that there are any. The administration has made mistakes in New Orleans. They need to correct them and help those people. Now!
Maybe it just seems that way to the Democrats because they so often support causes that undermine America. :)
Wow.
Well said Crystal.
Having a good day Tech? Is your cold doing better? It is Friday ya know... WooHoo!
Patriot: You mean like equal rights for minorities? Equal pay for women? Protecting the enviroment? Seeing that poor people have the same chances for a good education as rich people? Gay rights? Freedom to worship the religion we choose or no religion at all? Are you saying those rights undermine America? Because that's what the Democrats and all intelligent people support. If those rights offend America, then it's time for America to change for the better.
One of the more successful things that the Democrats have done is spread the myth that only they care about equal rights and the poor. History shows that Democrats have oppressed the poor and the minorities with great frequency.
The Republicans want everyone to prosper. The Democrats only want their friends to prosper. That in a nutshell is the difference between the two parties.
Out of respect to Tech, I will refrain from tearing into Patriot here.
Crystal, excellent post. I've missed you greatly and hope you will rise up to blog again!
Gloria, right on!
E.R. and Slim, I hear you!
I'll say no more. I'll be trying to figure out how I can help. I'll be giving to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) as my chosen agency. I urge everyone to find some way of giving what support they can. I'll also be going through the house to find things I can donate to the refugee families who are now finding their way to Oklahoma City.
Well, this was interesting. And a bit depressing. It shows how upset we all are about this terrible event. Take a deep breath. Pray. Donate what you can. Pray some more. And I think that's all we can do right now. I've added a donation link. Please use it.
Not the least bit surprising that someone who admits he doesn't believe in God is a Bush hater also.
I am so tired of some people who are politicizing this tragedy and using it as am excuse to bash the president.
You hate America that much? go live with Osama and be damned.
Tech: Thanks. It's nice to be able to speak my mind once in awhile. And, I think I feel another "ramble" coming on.
And, thank you, Gloria for your kind words. We may not always be on the same side of the political fence, but we're probably pretty close. I get the sense you realize we ALL want to help those in trouble and in times like these, we should remember we're Americans first, and whatever political party we're associated with, second.
Slim, trust me, I feel as frustrated with the events going on (or not going on) in the south as anyone. To sit in the convention center and watch people die in front of my eyes would drive me mad. And there will be a time to point fingers and plenty of blame to go around for everyone from the local levels to the state, all the way to the federal. And I will have plenty to say about that, but that time is not now. I just hope when that time does come we use it to learn how to fix the errors and not use it as a wedge to further divide this country. Is it just me, or does anyone else think terrorists might be watching this whole event very carefully to see how we handle a disaster and looking for our soft spots? We need to fix a lot of things fast. We need to be ONE nation, (and yes, I'm going to say it) under God, indivisible...
Texas Susan, I agree with you that this wasn't Bush's fault. Were there things he could have done differently? Yeah, sure, I'll go along with that, if everyone else will go along with the fact that the mayor of New Orleans, the governor of New Orleans and the people of New Orleans could have done a few things differently, too. By the way, if you don't mind me asking, are you anywhere close to any of the shelters where they're taking people? Can you give us an eyewitness account of it? I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on it.
Press...I really wish the answer to our country's problems was as simple as voting Democrat. If that was the cure to all our problems, I'd do it in a New York minute, but in my heart and in my head, I know it's a lot more complex than that.
Patriot, people who hate Bush will hate him no matter what he does. I've learned to consider the source and just roll with it, otherwise, my head would probably explode.
Trixie, we're definitely on different ends of the political spectrum, but your volunteer work and generous spirit give me hope. People from both parties could learn from your example. I heard a rumor that they may be sending victims to Falls Creek. Have you heard anything about that? Maybe someday I'll get a blog up again...thanks for mentioning it.
Naturally this Maness has to make a personal attack. Yes, Mark, I don't believe in god, at least not the one you espouse on your right-wing, uneducated, bigoted blog. Tech's god maybe. Tech at least shows respect for my viewpoint however much he might disagree with it rather than simply dismissing me as a Bush hater. Tech quietly gives his money and time to charities and causes that make the world a better place. I'm not sure if its Tech's god that leads him to do those things, but it's something that I can respect and even support. I've noticed that the people who scream the loudest about god are the ones who do the least. By the way, why don't you leave America? I love it enough to work to make it better. You apparently would rather it never learned from its mistakes.
I think we have said all we need to say about this. And I do not allow personal attacks on this blog. With this in mind, I will delete any and all further comments -- no matter who they're from -- on this post. Harbor Street is simply not the public forum that many other blogs are and will not be. I suggest visiting Erudite Redneck or 4 Rows Back where you will be welcome if you wish to engage in political debate. If this offends you, I apologize, but it will not change. Thank you.
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