Hurricane Katrina
I watch the Hurricane Katrina footage on TV all the time mainly because it's so unbelievable. It's also crazy that there's almost nothing we can do. How are they going to get that water out of New Orleans? Where are all of the people who don't have family in other areas or savings going to live? I guess that if you lived in the projects, there are plenty of those around the country. In a way, it could be an opportunity for people to start over and leave an area they may feel trapped in.
How do you feel about the looters? At first I was like, BIG DEAL. I think looting a grocery store or gas station should be allowed, people are hungry and I'd do anything for water in a situation like that. But all of the clothing and electronics.. that's a bit much. I mean, there's no electricity -you don't need a TV or DVD player. And the car jackings and shootings are just wrong. And how about the decision to move the refugees from one stadium to another? One news person asked why the government doesn't just commission some hotels and put people there. But I think there's a concern about putting some of these families in housing that's better than the slums they may come from. Let's not pretend that socioeconomic issues won't come into play here. I guess there are hopes that people can return to their homes after a few months. But living in a stadium for months? Really, how many showers could there be in there?
This morning Diane Sawyer asked the president to compare the way he feels now to the way he felt about 9/11. He was like, it's different, but it's the same.. blah, blah. (I can't quote that clown.) The question made me wonder how the two situations measure up in my mind. They're both hard to believe until you see them, but at least we've seen the graphics on TV every hurricane season. Everyone knew that N.O. was below sea level and would wash away in a major hurricane. I think I feel more depressed about this than I did about the towers. They're both senseless, but having lived through a category 5 hurricane- I understand the terror and strength of these storms. I get that "we're almost out of water" feeling. I won't go on and on because just writing this is super depressing. I just thought people may want to share some thoughts on what's been going down.
photo: AP, Eric Gay
posted by Atsui_Gal @ 10:45 AM
13 Comments:
Having lived throught the category 5 with you, I understand your pain. We were watching all the dumb reporters on the news the other day during lunch at work, and this dumbass co-worker of mine actually said, "After the tsunami, I'm just not that impressed by storms." I wanted to slap that bitch in her face. Multiple people dying as a result of one event is depressing, I don't care what you compare it to. Would it have been wrong of me to cuss her out in public?
Having lived through 3 hurricanes last summer, I can relate...but none of it was like Katrina. Why do people say such stupid shit? They were showing the footage on the airport terminal CNN screens and this stupid bitch said, "That's one way to clean up Bourbon Street". Incredible!!!
This is what I don't understand about moving people from one stadium to another. This woman called into the Tom Joyner show from Houston to say that there are people sleeping in the street, across from the Astro Dome. They made it there on there own. However, because the space is reserved for those being bussed in from the other stadium, they are not allowed in. They were there first, and they don't have anywhere to go either. They are sleeping in the freakin' street. Now they see the busses arrive and those people walk right in. That's some mess.
About the churches... people are always contributing canned goods and to VARIOUS funds (building, pastor's comp, blah blah blah)through the church. I'd much rather see pictures on the news of them opening their doors. Wouldn't you rather sleep on a church pew than in a stadium seat?
Wrong for cursing out someone in public? Not when they're just being an asshole. Also, most of us have the power to embarrass and humiliate folks publicly without using profanity-so that's what I suggest.
But I seriously think that people should be put in their place for saying dumb shit in public because it will teach them to think before they speak. Everyone should have to learn that lesson.
Of course, where I work, it's customary for people to say idiotic, insensitive things and everyone just keeps their disagreement to themselves. Or sometimes we laugh, because the shit is funny.
What your coworker said is interesting though, it seems that she's become desensitized to pain and suffering because she's seeing it on TV. I bet if a gust of wind blew her coffee out her hand tomorrow she'd come in bitching and moaning all day- but she's not impressed with this storm because it's on TV and doesn't affect her.
And another thing.. My nephew (who's so smart and cute!) is in Jamaica right now. Why the hell is he there in hurricane season? Because the tickets were dirt cheap and his mom doesn't know any better. I have a problem with the travel industry dropping prices and practically luring people to these areas during the deadliest time of the year.
And don't think they're going to give you a heads up when the storm's coming.. Ohhh noo. It cost too much for them to redirect you. A guy was on the news during the storm and said that his airline still says his flight to New Orleans is leaving on time that night.. but it wasn't. And there's no way it did, but that airline wanted to wait until the last minute to cancel so they didn't have to help him out. And you know what they probably said to him? "This is an act of nature so we're not paying for a hotel room either. Now scram!"
Yo.. Red State Hostage has it 100% correct. Churches and mosques should be open and members should be providing things like food and clothing. I know people want to help, and that is an excellent way.
The situation down in N.O. is dire. This is why you don’t go willy-nilly waging a senseless war, spending BILLIONS of dollars, and using (and losing) man-power unless it’s ABSOLUTELY necessary. Now we are in desperate need of serious $$$$ to help these people out. What is taking so long to deploy the national guard? They have to restore some form of order in the area. It is very dangerous. But what do you expect? Its hot as fire down there and things are not getting any better. I know tempers are boiling over as the situation gets more and more desperate with no sign of any help. It’s THURSDAY already for crying out loud!!!!! I can’t help but be concerned that most of the people left in that area are black and brown and I don’t have too much confidence in the response time when it comes to people of that persuasion. Get the national guard in there to restore order and so they can continue with rescue missions!!!!
About airline tickets being cheap to death traps. I was scanning packages online, dreaming about where I could catch a good e-saver. Of course the whole summer, every where in the caribbean is dirt cheap. Having learned from my past hurricane mistakes, I checked weather.com and learned that the two cheapest destinations were due to have tropical storms over the weekend. Now how's about that for a fun-filled weekend. I was very tempted to risk my disposable income and summer weekend for a maybe stormy/ maybe the storm will just miss getaway. I opted not to go, but the thought of spending the weekend in the Dominican Republic at an all-inclusive resort for under $400 still haunts me. It really should be illegal to sell tickets for so cheap to destinations that pose serious threat to one's health, without warning them about the risks. Is it too much to say, "Thank you for your purchase. Remember to pack a safety kit and we hope you return to the U.S. alive and healthy."
Ofcourse that Son of a Bush didn't cut his vacation short because of the storm. Only when it affected oil prices, did his ass have comments.
I will say this about the people left behind, on my first trip to New Orleans with the fam, we stayed a nice spot in the French Quarters. Kinda like a B&B. They gave us a map and highlighted areas of town that we should avoid at ALL COSTS. Like, don't cross this street, please. The people who lived in that area must have been cannibles or something.
If this is the perception that tourists are given when they come to the city- like, make yourself at home, but please don't look in the laundry room- then how many cities will open their neighborhoods to the people who come from these impoverished areas? I do have faith that when it's time plenty of people will help.
Check out Michael Moore's letter to George Bush...I love this guy!
Friday, September 2nd, 2005
Dear Mr. Bush:
Any idea where all our helicopters are? It's Day 5 of Hurricane Katrina and thousands remain stranded in New Orleans and need to be airlifted. Where on earth could you have misplaced all our military choppers? Do you need help finding them? I once lost my car in a Sears parking lot. Man, was that a drag.
Also, any idea where all our national guard soldiers are? We could really use them right now for the type of thing they signed up to do like helping with national disasters. How come they weren't there to begin with?
Last Thursday I was in south Florida and sat outside while the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed over my head. It was only a Category 1 then but it was pretty nasty. Eleven people died and, as of today, there were still homes without power. That night the weatherman said this storm was on its way to New Orleans. That was Thursday! Did anybody tell you? I know you didn't want to interrupt your vacation and I know how you don't like to get bad news. Plus, you had fundraisers to go to and mothers of dead soldiers to ignore and smear. You sure showed her!
I especially like how, the day after the hurricane, instead of flying to Louisiana, you flew to San Diego to party with your business peeps. Don't let people criticize you for this -- after all, the hurricane was over and what the heck could you do, put your finger in the dike?
And don't listen to those who, in the coming days, will reveal how you specifically reduced the Army Corps of Engineers' budget for New Orleans this summer for the third year in a row. You just tell them that even if you hadn't cut the money to fix those levees, there weren't going to be any Army engineers to fix them anyway because you had a much more important construction job for them -- BUILDING DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ!
On Day 3, when you finally left your vacation home, I have to say I was moved by how you had your Air Force One pilot descend from the clouds as you flew over New Orleans so you could catch a quick look of the disaster. Hey, I know you couldn't stop and grab a bullhorn and stand on some rubble and act like a commander in chief. Been there done that.
There will be those who will try to politicize this tragedy and try to use it against you. Just have your people keep pointing that out. Respond to nothing. Even those pesky scientists who predicted this would happen because the water in the Gulf of Mexico is getting hotter and hotter making a storm like this inevitable. Ignore them and all their global warming Chicken Littles. There is nothing unusual about a hurricane that was so wide it would be like having one F-4 tornado that stretched from New York to Cleveland.
No, Mr. Bush, you just stay the course. It's not your fault that 30 percent of New Orleans lives in poverty or that tens of thousands had no transportation to get out of town. C'mon, they're black! I mean, it's not like this happened to Kennebunkport. Can you imagine leaving white people on their roofs for five days? Don't make me laugh! Race has nothing -- NOTHING -- to do with this!
You hang in there, Mr. Bush. Just try to find a few of our Army helicopters and send them there. Pretend the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are near Tikrit.
Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
www.MichaelMoore.com
P.S. That annoying mother, Cindy Sheehan, is no longer at your ranch. She and dozens of other relatives of the Iraqi War dead are now driving across the country, stopping in many cities along the way. Maybe you can catch up with them before they get to DC on September 21st.
I really do like Michael Moore. This letter is perfect! I would love to see Moore and Bush sit in a room together and just talk.
The pres was posing for pictures, playing the guitar and goofing off while state and local officials waited for relief. And the administration SWEARS he didn't know the scope of the disaster until Thursday! I can't believe the president doesn't watch CNN or listen to the radio or read the fucking paper. It's like he's oblivious to world issues unless someone calls him on a private secure line. WTF!
red state hostage said regarding those locked out of the Astrodome: They were there first, and they don't have anywhere to go either.
Time and again throughout coverage of our American refugee situation I've heard instances of people being punished for thinking for themselves. It's as if you think for yourself and get shit done you're making the bungled official operation look bad. so, they keep you down.
Read this
Rumor has it that Bush doesn't want to be polluted by the media, so he avoids it so that he can make clear clean decisions for our country.
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