Help

It's almost surreal. Last month I was enthraled in the horrible fiction of Blindness (by Jose Saramago), a book about a society undergoing an epidemic crisis and the drastic, inhumane choices it makes to control it, and I remember thinking "If this ever happens in real life it'll be like living in Hell." ...and now I'm going through the pictures of the damage done by Hurricane Katrina and reading the articles about what the people have to go through in- among other cities just like it- New Orleans and I can't help but notice the similarities between real life and fiction; when all of the sudden I read a quote by the man in this picture that sends chills down my spine:

"It's like living in Hell."

Can this be? Surely the US must be doing something about it... we helped aid the tsunami victims and are always ready to help when other countries are going through crisis...

But then I read about the poor masses of people- who the papers are now calling refugees- crashing through closed stores (which are damaged anyway and will see all their money back through insurance) trying to get their hands on any food or water they can find to survive and, as a response, read quotes like what Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said on NBC's Today show Thursday: "We're trying to deal with looters as ruthlessly as we can get our hands on them."

Looters? Ruthlessly? Is that what you call mothers trying to feed their children? Or men trying to get medicine for sick loved ones?

Or how about this quote from an MSN news article:
"We were told (by police) don't drink or eat in public as it could lead to a mob situation," NBC's Michelle Hofland said. "We were told that by sundown to get out of here."

Or how about the picture I saw of young boys being forced by gunpoint to lie on the hot gravel of the Texas Highway because they stole a mailman's cart to GET AWAY from the devastation?

Or what about:"He was frightened and would not land," Richard Zuschlag, head of Acadian Ambulance, said about why the ONE helicopter the national guard was sending to the superdome refused to land after shots were fired.

Do not misunderstand me- I am not trying to disregard the helping efforts that have been made. Fishermen from surrounding towns on the Gulf- some coming from 200 miles away- have been driving their boats in to aid with the search for people in the water. The few policemen and service men there to help are doing the best they can with their short numbers and smaller amount of medicine, life saving supplies,and ammunition. And the National Guard is still coming to the superdome to help evacuate the some of the thousands of people stuck there with no home, food, water, or news from loved ones.

But what I am surprised about is the disgusting way the government- from the President down to Mississippi's Mayor- is treating the people going through this. While police and service men are down there 'getting dirty' and helping, the men up top- the men who fly by on helicopters to 'survey the disaster,' are saying things like 'shoot to kill' about looters and calling in 100 troops to help when there is clearly a need for thousands. This is not some charity case that you can hope to rub off on well-meaning celebrities and donations Mr. President and Mr. Mayor. This is not a 'low point' in the economy or 'something to learn from next time.' Get off your vacation ranches in Texas or your leather chair and take a good look at the people you swore to help and protect. You are spending 300 billion on the 'war against terror,' and spend millions of dollars to help refugees in the sad little 3rd world countries on your wish list, but these are your CHILDREN, the TAX PAYERS, that need more than a statement or a meesly call to arms.

Never should you ever attach the word 'refugee' to a citizen of your nation. Stop what you are doing and help.


For a detailed account happening RIGHT NOW from 2 men who are blogging through the storm (with pictures) go to: http://dancingwithkatrina.blogspot.com. If that doesn't work go to my link section and you'll find a working one there.