154. More on Hurricane Katrina

Monday, September 05, 2005

I usually don't make many rants in my blog. I usually don't get heated enough to say much of anything. Some have told me even my rants aren't all that ranty because I somehow figure out how to rant while trying not to offend anybody. As I came online and started surfing around my normally read blogs, I'm not the only ranting on the subject of Hurricane Katrina - Cece, Monica and Kate all have posts as well.

As we all know, I'm a known insomniac, and since there isn't much on at 2am in the morning, I put on the early early morning news shows coming from the east coast last night. On CNN, it was daybreak, and the question was being asked if those that suffered from Hurricane Katrina should receive the same benefit package as those that suffered through 9/11. The tragedies are very different, but the same. With both we've had a tremendous loss of life, and one entire city is gone now. Some of the emails sent in said no they don't deserve the same benefits because the mayor and its residents chose to live in the city of New Orleans knowing that they were under sea level and that if a storm hit them this would happen. They chose to not evacuate when they could have.

New Orleans is a city that is over 300 years old. It has a rich history, and people have always lived there. I don't think by choosing to live in the city means they don't deserve our help now. That is almost saying that those that choose to live in California that is quite earthquake prone, and one earthquake can come with no warning and wipe out Southern California, shouldn't be helped. They talk about "the big one" coming someday, and when it does the loss of life there will probably surpass what has happened here. As a former resident of Southern California, I'm quite used to talk on the subject.

This is a natural disaster, and with any natural disaster comes devastation and loss of life. People saying they shouldn't receive assistance because they chose to not evacuate sort of made me think in the case of a rape victim asking for it because she wore a skirt that was just a bit too high. Some couldn't evacuate. They were poor or unable physically to do so. If they could have, they would have. Those that could leave, did leave.

On FOX this morning, they had two brother's and their dog that didn't evacuate. The two were obviously ill, one having asthma problems and the other with massive swelling of the legs. Their dog was with them, and they told a story of how some had suggested shooting their dog so they could be taken from the city. That idea just saddens and angers me. Here we have two men, not in good health, but wanting to stay because they are unable to leave and not wanting to lose their dog in the process. They have since been evacuated, but so much has happened. I'm sure there are more stories than just this one.

In this time of need, we need to come together to help others. It shouldn't be a matter of they shouldn't have stayed or lived there in the first place. The fact is they did live there, and now many are homeless. Many have lost their lives. I've heard of many states stepping up to help. Texas being the first to house refugees from this storm. My own state of Arizona has also now stepped up. They are taking in those affected by the storm in both Phoenix and Tuscon. Some of those coming here will probably relocate to this state. Instead of pointing the fingers of blame at this person or that one, we need to help those that need it right now. They need help now. Not days from now, weeks from now or months from now. They need assistance now, and they will continue to need that same assistance for the foreseeable future.

My prayers are still with those affected, and I hope everyone is safe.