I am currently so distressed about the situation in New Orleans that I really cannot think of anything else. I am trying to turn this rage into something positive so please indulge me while i rant.
What we are currently seeing is a ugly blistering clusterfuck illustration of how we treat our poor and disenfranchised in this country. This situation would be completely different if it was a bunch of white, middle class families at the Superdome. I am sorry but that is the truth and we all know it. The director of FEMA himself said on NBC news regarding the deplorable conditions at the convention center today: "The federal government just learned about those people today [?!] and we are moving heaven and earth to get pallets of food and water to them. I've heard all day long the stories about people who were causing trouble, screaming and yelling about things, and just being thugs and then I hear about this group today, and I told my team I don't care what it takes you get stuff to them and you get it to them now." Um, yeah, I never knew that FEMA was there to make a value judgement about who they were saving. "Oh, it sounds like it's just a bunch of thugs left in New Orleans, that's what CNN is saying, so we don't have to move too fast". Holy f-ing God! I cannot believe that it is taking this long to get the absolute basics to thousands of people in such dire need. IT IS 5 DAYS LATER. FEMA and Homeland security had 24 hours notice of a Category 5 hurricane on Sunday and this is the best they can do? What's going to happen when they have no warning (like, oh, another terrorist attack)? I know that many people are doing their utmost but this is simply unacceptable They need to bring in troops, active duty, not just National Guard to restore order and protect people and get them out. But I guess that might be a problem since they're all in Iraq. I don't understand why this country is not coming to a standstill, why we all aren't completely focused on this like we were focused on 9/11. WHY IS THERE FOOTBALL ON THE NETWORKS? They couldn't bump some sorry-ass preseason games to give this unfolding tragedy the kind of coverage it deserves????? This is an utter, utter disgrace and I feel a deep burning shame that something like this could happen here. I also feel completely powerless but I will use this tiny platform to spread information to you, my friends and family. Here is a list of links for where you can go to help, get better info and maybe a little comfort that others are equally outraged.
Help:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/30/national/hurricane-resources.html
http://www.hurricanehousing.org/
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/about/help/katrina_cl.html
Info:
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/hurricane/katrina/blog_090105.html
http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/national/nationalspecial/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_of_Hurricane_Katrina_on_New_Orleans
Outrage:
http://www.dailykos.com/
http://atrios.blogspot.com/
http://leftofyall.blogspot.com/
http://www.thismodernworld.com/
I had the exact same thoughts last night when I was watching that fema creep speak. aaarrrghhh! i just feel a general sense of sadness and helplessness that I haven't felt in about 4 yrs.
Posted by: lea | September 02, 2005 at 06:14 PM