Is there anyone to blame?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-23-2003
Is there anyone to blame?
33
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. 


Comments?



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Faith and Spirituality     Yoga

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Wed, 09-07-2005 - 7:10pm

Several years ago the New Orleans daily newspaper, the Times-Picayune, ran a story about the state of unpreparedness of this city for meeting what it called the "inevitability of a massive hurricane making a direct hit on New Orleans" at some date in the future! That article described in eerie detail what would happen if the levees broke under the impact of the water surge from the storm. It chronicled the plight of the New Orleans poor, who, the article said, were predominantly black, and would be trapped in the city because they did not have cars in which to escape. It described the lack of plans for evacuation of the victims, for getting food and water to the survivors, for providing medical care for the chronically sick and aged. This article laid bare exactly the circumstances that have now happened. Any attempt on the part of any official to claim that no one anticipated the magnitude of this natural tragedy must be quickly dismissed as nothing more than political "backside covering."


-John Shelby Spong, 7 Sept 2005


So, whose fault is it?




iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2004
Wed, 09-07-2005 - 9:32pm

You know, I can't help but feel in the bottom of my heart, someone is trying to tell our world something. Someone of higher power. It's time to stop the wars and cruelty. It's time to take care of our own. What has our world come to? All the vicious people out there. Disheartens me terribly! I can't imagine having that frame of mind. Although, a hurricane isn't of a sick frame of mind. I wouldn't want to live anywhere but the USA, and I pray every night for our countries leaders. But this disaster was at the hands of someone higher. We all have to come together somehow and stop all this bad stuff going on. There has to be some kind of lessen behind such a travesty! I just wish so many innocent lives (human and animal) didn't have to be used up for the rest of the world to wake up. Sorry, this whole thing has just got me so upset. I've had many a nightmares. And it hurts me so deeply that I cannot go to any of those people and help. I just want to reach out so terribly. I wish I had the financial means to do so. I would in a heart beat.

I read that article too about them knowing the devastation that could very well hit New Orleans. It's just sad that no one took it to heart. So much may have been preventable. We'll never know.

God Bless them all in the south. Be with them all!

With a very heavy heart (but thanks for letting me vent it all),
Chris


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Mom to furangel, Chelse
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2004
Thu, 09-08-2005 - 6:55am

Chris, you said that a hurricane 'isn't a sick frame of mind', actually it is. We create EVERYTHING with our thoughts, yes, even the weather. Didn't Jesus say, 'You have the faith to move mountains'?
You can do something for these people, clean out your closets and give something you no longer use, or do, and send it to the Red Cross. Host a yard sale and send the profits. These people have nothing but the clothes on their backs. Send a check for $5. Send a toy to a child who has lost every Christmas gift ever gotten.
Please don't blame God or a 'higher power' for this. It's just not so, although we are creating our own 'wake up' call for humanity.
Don't let it get you so upset...these people need your positive thinking right now. We've got to empower ourselves and them, right now.

God Bless you for being so sensitive, your own fearlessness can be found in your charity,

Betsy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 09-08-2005 - 8:15am
our library has a list of what's needed but it says it has to be new!!!!!!!!
why not a pretty good used??????? People are not leaving their homes because they
have pets andd the boats won't pick up pets, a rule. That makes me want to cry.
Love, Leila
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Thu, 09-08-2005 - 9:05am

The Humane Society of the United States is the main coordinator of the rescue effort and they are doing as much as they can.


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2004
Thu, 09-08-2005 - 10:08am

I know I shouldn't put blame anywhere. Last night I was just so upset. I see these scenes of TV and have watched Oprah the past couple of days and my heart just breaks. I'm sorry if I sounded so harsh. Just had to vent.

Oh, believe me, I've been doing alot. Not only volunteering at the Red Cross, I have taken two loads of clothing in my SUV (completely full front to back) to the Red Cross and Orphan Grain Train. Mainly kids clothes, but some adult clothes too. Went thru all my dd toys yesterday while she was in preschool and what she hasn't picked up or even looked at in the last few months went too. I also sell Avon products and loaded two boxes of that up and sent it. Along with dog and cat food. The animals I see just tear at my heart too. I'm a HUGE animal lover. So, I've been doing my share. It's just that sometimes I just want to give those people a huge hug and tell them that the world is pulling together to help them. We are also hosting a golf tournament at a local golf course this weekend and have invited the Red Cross and the Humane Society out to collect donations. All proceeds will go to them. So far we have 90 players signed up. Hope the weather holds out.

I'm doing better today. Just feel helpless sometimes even though I am doing things here. Sorry I got a little out of hand venting. It really is upsetting somedays. I think I'll stay away from any of the programs today on TV.

Chris


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Avatar for heartsandroses2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 09-08-2005 - 11:46am

My 15dd's school is making "Friendship Bags" for the children 6 and under. The bags will be a gallon sized Ziplock baggie filled with age appropriate items, such as coloring books & crayons, small hand games, a story book, stickers, playdough, etc. They are hoping to make at least 100 bags to be sent to those people with small children stuck at shelters. These children have lost everything and are probably bored out of thier minds.

Unfortunatly, 100 is just a drop in the bucket. I am hoping that parents will make 2 and 3 and 4 bags per student and bring that number up to possibly 300 bags. And spreading the word will help as well.

I would also like to see it taken a step further and make Teen-Aged Friendship bags as well. Those aged kids could use everyday toiletry items and magazines, pens, markers, etc. It seems when people donate items, they usually focus on the adults and the smaller children and the teens are usually left out.

A lot of local businesses are taking collections also. We've already donated money, I think it's time to dig through the closets now....time to clean things out anyhow. A large number of evacuees arrived in CT yesterday and they are not used to cold winters, so I know I have a few winter coats and jackets I could give.

This is so sad. I have to tear myself away from the TV news.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2004
Thu, 09-08-2005 - 3:18pm

I just read on the Red Cross web page they are not taking used items for varying reasons. This would have been one way I could help. It seems as if there are many ways people are being helped. And people have the capability of helping themselves, even in the worst of situations. I know this is horrible for them and can barely imagine what so many are going through. What just kills me though is families are being forced to abandon their pets, not to mention the ones lost and hurt, who cannot take care of themselves as we have made them dependent on us for everything. Giving to the Human Society can help them, but it doesn't take away the pain I feel for those wonderful pets that give us so much and the people with broken hearts at losing them. :(

Peace

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2004
Thu, 09-08-2005 - 3:48pm
God love ya girl, you are on it. You're doing much more than myself. Vent all you need to that's why we're here....
Leila, don't cry, I hear shelters are taking in an awful lot of animals. God, I can't wait til the pain is OVER.
Prayers tonight for you both.
Betsy
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 09-08-2005 - 5:37pm
The new business infuriates me. I have so much i could give that iis good.
I gave money at curves, I am not going out to buy things. TV's are on the list.
Sure goi but a new TV???????? Th epets. I can't even think about it without dying inside.
I'd never leave my kittens. I go down with them. Love, Leila