Wednesday, September 07, 2005

And This is America?

Just like much of the rest of America I've been alternately depressed, astounded and ashamed at the debacle in New Orleans. Whenever I think we've reached our nadir we seem to sink a little lower. The Bush administration has egg on their face and dog doo-doo on their shoes. The head of FEMA prior claim to fame is running a horse camp. The Shrub is to busy planning future sitathons on Trent Lott's porch to worry about the citizens of New Orleans. His mother seems to have spent way to much time reading biographies of Marie Antoinette - but then they do share a similar hair color. And Houston's population has just increased by 50,000. All in just one week. What does next week have in store for us?

New Orleans has always inspired authors and this week is no different....

Don't You Know Me, I'm Your Native Son...
Notes from Inside New Orleans
By JORDAN FLAHERTY


I just left New Orleans a couple hours ago. I traveled from the apartment I was staying in by boat to a helicopter to a refugee camp. If anyone wants to examine the attitude of federal and state officials towards the victims of hurricane Katrina, I advise you to visit one of the refugee camps. ......

click below to read the rest.

http://www.counterpunch.org/flaherty09032005.html

I told My Beloved that as soon as the city is back on it's feet that we are going back. The coffee and bengits at Cafe du Mond are calling my name.

2 comments:

Rev. Christopher Byars said...

Question? Why did Gov. Blanco refuse to give the Fed control prior to Katrina hitting? Why did Gov. Blanco refuse to allow the Red Cross to enter New Orleans when they were prepared to deliver food and water just after New Orleans flooded? Why wasn't an effective plan established for the people that were in the Superdome to insure safety?

Mrs. Ris said...

Like you, our family has committed to returning to NOLA as soon as they are ready to receive us. We have limited fun money, but it will be directed to New Orleans because we know that money talks, and we want our money to say "New Orleans we love you!"

Until then, our money says "through the devotion of the Red Cross (and other formidable charities), we send our heartfelt hopes for healing and peace."