Devastation

Here's an interesting story: USA Today. Be sure to note when it first appeared.

Harry Connick, Jr. has been to New Orleans this week. Where's the president? Where are the troops? Where is the help? It's been four days. Within four days of the Tsunami, we had more aid in place on the other side of the globe than we do now in our own country.

This catastrophe is not a surprise. This is the worst-case scenario that's been discussed for years, probably decades. Though apparently it's been mentioned as the worst-case scenario, no one has actually bothered to plan for it. We knew close to a week in advance that something was going to happen. We were sure as of late Friday or Saturday that it was going to hit the Gulf Coast and it was going to be very bad. Why didn't we get the aid and supplies in then? That used to be the way we operated. Back in the days of Clinton.

So far the most our president has managed to do is to ask his daddy and President Clinton to raise money. Oh and today he finally asked the Congress for money. Of course, that's going to cause more problems than it'll solve. Why do I say that? Because they're going to use this as a photo op. They're going to throw what sounds like a bunch of money (but in reality is a mere drop in the bucket considering the devastation) in the general direction of New Orleans (because apparently everyone has forgotten that New Orleans was not the only city/area wrecked by this storm) and then they'll forget about it. There will be no future planning. There will be no long-term fixing. And throwing random money at the problem now means there will be even less money to help in the long run. Also, the "creative accounting" that's going to fund their photo op is not going to be pleasant for any of us.

And then there's FEMA. They used to be quite the org. From what I understand, it used to be that they couldn't be beat. So what on earth is going on here? Oh right, FEMA is no longer in control of disasters. FEMA has been folded into the Office of Homeland Security. And that office... well, they're new. They still don't even know their own structure.

Where's the president? Where's the call for volunteers? Where's the call for conservation (heaven forbid this oil-funded administration would actually use that word)?

This is disgusting. It's embarrassing. I can't bring myself to read any of the coverage from other countries. I can only imagine what they're saying about us.

Why is it that we're more capable of getting in the middle of things in other countries than we are of getting in the middle of things in our own country? Why do we think we can take care of the world when we clearly can't take care of ourselves?

I said yesterday that I didn't think other countries needed to send us aid. I've completely changed my mind because apparently our government can't handle it.

Where is the president? Why hasn't he been there? Why did he remain on vacation? What was he thinking going to CA to talk about social security? [Social security? A plan that the majority of Americans have clearly said no thanks to. A plan that he continues to push anyway because... well, frankly, I don't know why. But it's become his pet cause even though NO ONE wants his version of it.] Vacationing and social security in the aftermath of one of the worst (if not THE worst) natural disasters that's ever hit this country? And what was he thinking when he allowed his picture to be taken while he was sitting on his cushy couch looking out the window at 5,000 feet?

As someone on the radio said yesterday, he's having another My Pet Goat moment.

People who know me know that I don't hesitate to say that I don't think the guy is all that bright. I think he's selfish. I think he has no compassion, no empathy. I do not believe he cares about the people of this country. But this... even I didn't expect this apparent lack of interest in this tragedy.

Where are the buses? Where is the food, the water, the diapers?

I get that this is huge. I get that. But where is the planning? The aid? The help? We knew this was coming! We knew. We've known for years. Yes, we've all seen people being saved from rooftops. The people doing that rescuing are truly heroes. Yes, there are people helping, giving what they have, helping those who are ill, lost, wandering. Please don't misunderstand me. Those who are there, who are helping are truly wonderful people. They are heroes. They are to be admired, to be emulated. But they can't do all of this alone. They need more help. Where is the military? Oh, right, they're dying in Iraq.

And you know what's really sad? There's a not entirely small part of me that is afraid to post this, afraid to publicly post something so clearly critical of the administration. Over the last few years (say... 5) people have been questioned, detained, harassed really, for much less. I don't think the ABA will like it if I acquire a record.

I was watching a special on NBC as I typed this. They of course finished up with a photo montage. When I realized what song was running with the montage... well, let's just say I've had it for the day. I'm overloaded on this news. Watching and listening to all of this has actually been causing me more anxiety than I would have believed possible considering that I am many miles away, that I have no ties to that area, that I know no one there. My anxiety about this is actually at the point where it is showing itself physically. And I'm here safe and dry in Ohio. I have the luxury of turning off the tv, drinking a clean glass of water, and going to bed in my nice, clean bed in my air-conditioned apartment.

I truly cannot even begin to imagine what it's like down there. Cannot imagine how those people feel; whether you ended up trapped there or you managed to get out, your material life got washed away just the same... the only world many have ever known is simply gone.

So anyway, here's a little bit of the song from the special...

My city of ruins
My city of ruins...

The boarded up windows,
The empty streets
While my brother's down on his knees
My city of ruins
My city of ruins

Come on, rise up! Come on, rise up!...

Thanks to Bruce for that one. More appropriate than he could possibly have imagined when he first sang those words.