I've taken time out to follow just a few of the links in the blogosphere about the reaction to the Katrina relief efforts (or the lack thereof). An amazing indictment of the government's reaction comes from Shakespeare's Sister. In part: Take a look at the international analysis of what’s happening in America right now—the entire world is appalled, watching the richest country in the world let its people die of thirst, and yet that is the inevitable result of a ruling party who feels little obligation to its citizens.
But then I read this post by ThinkProgress, where the president of Jefferson Parish in New Orleans, Aaron Broussard, issued an emotional appeal on NBC’s Meet the Press. By the end, he was completely broken down, sobbing uncontrollably. Read the post. I did - and then I followed this link to watch the video feed (the QuickTime link is faster).
If you're not angry after hearing this, I don't know what to say.
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6 comments:
...and yet that is the inevitable result of a ruling party who feels little obligation to its citizens
Oh please. As if the results would have been any different had the other party been in power.
Face it, you wouldn't have been satisfied unless Bush himself flew a plane into the hurricane and altered its course, or rode in afterwards on a white horse doling out debit cards.
I have a feeling there's a lot more to this situation than we're aware of. With emotions running high, everyone seems quick to point a finger and blame someone, and it seems the situation is being grossly oversimplified. I think it's much more complex than many make it out to be. Yes there are people who will have to answer for some of this, but we will get to the bottom of it. I am sickened by the failure of different parties to appropriately help those in need, but I am also sickened by those who are politicizing this situation, and using it as a means to bash a political party. I get so sick of all the bi-partisan crap that goes on in our government, and now I'm seeing that it doesn't end there. WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THINGS BETTER?
You're right, Deanne. I guess I'm not so much pointing blame as pointing to the problem. Until you see someone like Broussard and his agony, and helplessness, it's hard to imagine what it's like to see your entire city destroyed.
And no, I'd never assume that if John Kerry was there, that the same posturing wouldn't be happening. It just really doesn't help the situation much...
I think that the problems are largely systemic. The one thing that is certain is that we've got to do a full, independent post-mortem and make changes.
right now BLAME and ANGER are easy but futile
:(
It's unfortunate that everyone is looking to blame ONE person for the problems. The failures go through several layers of government (though I believe things would have been dramatially different if NO followed their own evacuation plan )
I think the biggest thing we are missing in this is how big this thing is! The evacuation of an entire city and getting help to 100,000 people trapped for one reason or another ... and that's just the city of New Orleans. Do you know how much coordination it takes to organize relief/rescue for 100,000 people? ...Let alone with people shooting at you. It's not something that can be done overnight or even in a few days. Add that to the fact that in New Orleans...unlike the asian tsunami and hurricane Andrew... the water didn't recede.
Could things have been done better? Absolutely! The only thing we can do is to do an evaluation on what whent right/wrong and learn from it in the future.
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