Last week at this time I began watching the news channels (CNN, FOX, MSNBC) and keeping dibbs on the enormous hurricane headed for New Orleans. Fox made the hurricane incredibly entertaining, and I must admit, that I ordered pizza and watched hours of speculation like I'd watch a Hollywood movie.
I stayed tuned in as the hurricane hit, all the while thinking, that with all the build up and evacuation, and supplies that the worst to hit New Orleans would be weather driven.
Now, almost 4 days later, I feel horrible and double-crossed by my own government that there are still people (children even) who haven't had food or water in 4 days. That there is NO army presence on the ground. That the rapes and murders are being tacetly aided by our Federal government's non-response in the hours directly following the storm.
In my opinion, if the reports I've read of 40 public buses crowding the slums and poverty stricken parts of New Orleans before the storm being left empty by people who would rather ride out the storm at the Superdome, is true, then the people now trapped in New Orleans have only themselves to blame.
However, when I see shot after shot of AFRICAN AMERCIAN crowds being left without water, food, and medicine, in an unsafe and violent American city for days on end, I start to question the motives of our Federal government. I start to believe if those pictures contained white faces, that food would have already been dropped and water and medicine would have found it's way there already.
Of course, I can't know that for sure, it's just a gut feeling. A gut feeling that makes me sick. I suppose there's going to be plenty of blame to go around, but I want to remember how I feel now, so I can process it later. This is more than just the story of the good people, vs. the bad people. Poverty in America is fueling this as much as the warm gulf waters fueled Katrina.
My love and heartfelt prayers are all I feel I can give at the moment to my African-American brothers and sisters in New Orleans. I gave to the Red Cross yesterday, but am doubtful it's going to help any.
We should all learn something from this. Learn to GET OUT if there's a mandatory evacuation called. Learn to help and love and connect with your poverty stricken neighbors so that they have hope. Learn to confront your inner racism and fear of the unknown in human cultures. Learn to love and lead.
