Is there anyone to blame?
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Is there anyone to blame?
| Wed, 09-07-2005 - 9:23am |
Hurricane Katrina came and went. Thousands of people have been affected by nature. Over the last few weeks, I've heard the "blame" game. Who didn't get there quick enough, and why the leveys broke, and on and on. I don't believe it's as simple as any one answer. I do feel, however -- I may be wrong -- but, the United States isn't prepared for this type of emergency. This is one that simply was misjudged in its intensity.
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I have to agree with you CeeCee. I don't anyone was quite prepared for that intensity! Although, after watching a special last night on CBS, I began to doubt yet again. I don't like to point fingers either, but I'm glad the government is doing this "investigation" into the lack of communication. They knew something like this could happen, although I still think we all think the USA is invincable. It could just never happen and no one truly prepared for it (from what I heard on this program last night).
It all just breaks my heart and I pray daily for all those people. I'm doing what I can for our local Red Cross and the Orphan Grain Train. I just wish I could do more. I know my state has opened up many, many facilities to house and feed some of the evacuees, but have seen 12 of them. What's up with that? We even sent 10 buses down there, but they wouldn't let them past Baton Rouge. So, how do they expect people to help? We are trying to help these people get homes and jobs, yet they (the government) won't let us get there to help. It's quite frustrating. Then all you hear on TV is how we need to open up our homes and cities. Makes no sense!
We do have one family that is here in my city that left before all the devastation, but lost everything. They have been set up in a home and given jobs. My parents own an antique furniture store and my father went to an auction and got enough furniture to practically fill the house. They've been given quite a bit and were so incredibly thankful. Think they may even stay here now.
Just wish I could do more!
Chris
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Mom to furangel, Chelse
I know what you mean. It's hard not to judge the scenes that have taken place since Katrina hit.
You know, the weather reports have really gotten exaggerated over the past few years - the weather reporters get crazy with all thier super-doppler radar and predicting nor'easters and blizzards days, some weeks in advance, schools closing early before even a flake hits the ground; beaches closing up tight at the prospect of a wicked rainstorm. I think it's hard for the general population to take the weather persons seriously anymore because of this over exaggerating. I think it's hard for any of us to predict or 'assume' how bad or how mild a storm will ever be. We just don't know all the time. Especially a hurricane or tornado, which can turn at the last minute and head in a completely off/different direction - who's to know or tell if it will really hit or be as severe as they say?
That said, which gives all those organizations and people like the FEMA and Red Cross a little leeway, I do have to say that the national response was lacking and disappointing. I think that we simply did not have the (wo)man power necessary to properly prepare. I think evacuation and shelter locations should have been set up OUTSIDE the general vicinity of NO, not within it. I think that contacts in other surrounding states should have been notified of the possible need for assistance BEFORE the storm hit. We knew it was coming, it was just a matter of when and how hard. The fact is, there were many homeless, poor and indigent people left behind because mainly thier homes or few belongings were all they owned in the world and they had nowhere to go. The people who got out early were the ones with the means and a place to go - such as to stay with family.
Without getting into a debate or controversial discussion about the WAR, I must say that all we've been reading in the papers of late is that there is a military personnel shortage...and then Katrina hit and created our very own national disaster. We don't even have enough military or emergency personnel to take care of our very own, yet we have resources and personnel to take care of others. I do not say this with a selfish tone - I say it plainly, as a common sense statement. It just doesn't make sense to me how severely our priorities have shifted in recent years in regards to taking care of our home country first - I was raised to believe that "you give until you have nothing more to give", but "charity begins at home".
I don't like playing the blame game, but I do have to wonder how many people would or could have been saved had we been paying better attention and taken the necessary precautions PRIOR to the hit of Katrina.
From my understanding the levys' needed repaired years ago. Who's to say if they had been, it wouldn't be this bad? We have our noses in where and when they shouldn't be, over in Iraq, rebuilding, feeding, etc., and we can't even help our own? I don't buy it. Too many deaths because the greatest nation on the map wasn't 'prepared'. How could we be....we're everywhere else.
Betsy
The blame game is a political ploy regarding this tragedy, IMO. It's also a Western philosophy human trait. Find a scape goat. Find someone to blame. Just don't blame me! Kind of thing.
Instead of the media hyping all this, they should be resources for information for family members affected, to gather and send on donations, etc. No blathering about who didn't do this right, or that right, or fast enough. Gov't agencies SHOULD be meeting to discuss how NOT to make the same mistakes again, yes, but not pointing fingers. Trying to find better ways to deal with such massive occurences in the future. I think, like we do when we know our fridge is on it's last legs or the car is making terrible noises, we say we can't afford to fix or replace, so we look the other way. Until something massive happens. Then we lose all the food in the fridge or get stranded in the middle of nowhere, all costing us much more in the long run because we didn't heed the warnings and take steps to take care of the problem. I think this kind of thinking, in today's economy, where cities are hard pressed to have $$$ to function, let along rebuild levees, move an entire city to higher ground, etc. And the feds are pouring billions down the toilet in Iraq. I think complacency, if anything, a human trait at all levels and mentalities, were major factors.
Pointing fingers is all about money and power. And doesn't look at the victims who need the help NOW. It's spinning wheels that would be better spun to get money and supplies where they are needed. DO THE WORK NOW! Worry about redoing or recreating the plan later...
JMO,
Gypsy
Edited 9/7/2005 2:25 pm ET ET by gypsywolfwoman
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(
From what I understand, they are only allowing the large, government affiliated organizations get close to the area - all those mom and pop, or homegrown organizations that are showing up to help are only being allowed in if and when they work with the larger organizations, more specifically The Red Cross or the Salvation Army. Unless you're John Travolta or Harry Connick Jr (I know, sarcasm is so unbecoming).
Sadly, I think that there are many, thousands of those smaller organizations and church groups who are willing and able to help, but aren't being allowed close enough to do anything. The report I saw was advising volunteers to contact the Red Cross or Salvation Army if they wanted to help OR just send dollars. Could it be that they are trying to keep it organized and least confusing by not having too many hands in the pot? Or, could it be that they don't want the general public to know what's really going on down there?
>>>We have our noses in where and when they shouldn't be, over in Iraq, rebuilding, feeding, etc., and we can't even help our own? I don't buy it. Too many deaths because the greatest nation on the map wasn't 'prepared'. How could we be....we're everywhere else.>>>
Ditto.
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(
*******************************AMEN****************************
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Mom to furangel, Chelse
That's just it. It was the Red Cross going there and trying to get people out. We just had a bunch of volunteers lending buses.
Just breaks my heart, but at the same time, makes me angry. We've given so much to other countries. Now we don't know how to handle our own!
Chris
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Mom to furangel, Chelse
this country altho i am glad I live here. When I see "God bless america,"
I say God bless the planet, Bush really upsets me. I have to say
maybe all this is part of a plan we don't know about, something to
move us all to love and caring for each other.
What can you trust here? so much for money and greed. Chickens in cages,
getting passed thru even with cancer, with infections needing antibiotics.
Eating the eggs when the chicks are sick. There is so much that is not like the old days.
What we do for money that allows none when needed. I hate the war,
I hate the way animals are treated, I dislike gas prices, global warming. No
wonder i barely put the TV on. Oh well, I had a nice day today except there
was a dead seal on the beach. I didn't know we even had seals around here.
The waves were great. Ending on a positive note. Love, Leila
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