A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post for Bring it on! that was then posted on blog critics. It went up last Saturday and as of Thursday night was still getting comments. 280 at last and I hope final count. All vaguely on my and most thinking peoples’s belief that Intelligent Design isn’t a science and thus shouldn’t be funded with government money
At any other time in my blogging life, I would have been real impressed with myself. If people weren’t distracted right now with life’s realities it might have gotten many more. This should have been a slow news weekend. Could have really helped me become known.
But this isn’t a slow news week and I am glad that it hasn’t been picked up. It doesn’t deserve to be; people have to focus on relief efforts. Some people have nothing but internet access and therefore blogging is more important than it ever has been.
Yes I wrote a post for the above two blogs on not giving Bush another free ride. And I mean that more than ever. Once again he took the wimp’s way–read Moxiegrrl on that.
But, we the people, who live in this country and this inter-connected amazing world don’t have to feel helpless and hopeless. We can take action. Not much action yet and I still feel the need to do so much more.
The post below lists an emergency coast guard number. It asks for information on missing people. In my head they’ve become the missing posters I saw so many of four years ago. But this is so much worse. I still can’t comprehend the scope or the devastion.
I admit to not having watched one scene on TV. All my news comes from the newspaper, and the radio. I can’t look at the pictures yet. Just can’t.
This time we don’t have a terrorist enemy we can all hate. We can’t really hate anybody can we? Read Mox; read Bring it on! Read a thousand other blogs and news sources that generally aren’t “liberal.”
We can tell Bush that his leadership leaves much to be desired. At a time when we need a leader to make us feel safe and secure, we get a man who feels the need to tell us not to be divided. We’re not; it’s he who is out of touch.
I was told that for holding Bush responsible for many things that are wrong with our country, I’m negative, hostile and angry. I’m too shell shocked to be angry. Right now I want my friend JC to hear from her son. I want people to hear from their loved ones; I want people to have food and sanitary conditions.
Oh I’m getting angry and angrier by the second. People don’t deserve to die because they’re poor. They don’t deserve to die because The National Guard is otherwise engaged; FEMA’s lost much of its staff; Bush sits back on his ass and only reacts when things become so horrible it’s worse than any made for USA movie.
But I do have faith in the people of this country, and that’s the kind of faith that counts.
And I want to thank this amazing community of bloggers who stopped all normally scheduled posts and activities to act as resource centers. Individually we might not be able to do much. Together we really can change the world.
I watched NBC Nightly News last night ( we get it here) and was shocked at what was going on. I want to know where the police and troops are in all this, especially at the Superdome where people are dying. It upset me greatly and Now I can;t stop looking at the news. Even Fats Domino is now missing. And all Bush can do is fly around again in his helicopter…he was all gung ho about sending help to Iraq but what about our own people?
I’m very angry right now. Very angry. This President cut funding for levee reconstruction while his own administration was telling him that the levees were a prime target not only for natural disasters but terrorists as well.
“Who could have imagined that terrorists would fly planes into buildings?” Ahem…there’s a report detailing that very thing and you morons didn’t know?
“I don’t think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees.” And meanwhile this report has been public knowledge for years. So while New Orleans was dying this asshole was having cake with John McCain, strummin’ his gee-tar and then delivering a speech on SSI reform. This moron President will go down as the stupidest, most insulated, clueless twit that ever occupied the office.
Sorry about the rant but part of my own country looks like the Third World right now and Bush is clueless.
Mrsmogul, Fats is found. Pia, your post and the comments were amazing. I tried three times to get in on the conversation and was overwhelmed. You might say intelligence was rising from the primordial soup of the internet right before our eyes.
A brilliant post. I hoping that for each negative report that we see in the media about carjackings, shootings, etc., there are an equal number of acts of kindness that simply aren’t seen as newsworthy.
We should focus our energy on the positive. Feeling rage at President Bush for the failure of civil authority after a category 5 hurricane is not good for anyone’s health.
People will be pointing the blame fingers at each other for years to come. Did the mayor exhibit leadership? Did the cops wimp out by quitting the force during the disaster? Did the legendary Louisiana corruption come into play in the building of levees that might not have been as strong as they could be? Did the French rip us off with the Louisiana Purchase by selling us a defective city that was built below sea level? Did the Russians use their hurricane weapon that some crazy weatherman claims was done? The blame could go on and on.
Remember that Bush is a lame duck, so he could take the blame for everything wrong that happens from here on out and it really doesn’t make a difference. If I was the President, I’d take the blame for everything, then say that I learned a lesson and now is the time to make the corrections. It could be seen as a bold move (and would win some allies because we all know that there were screw ups among all sorts of people in this matter).
Let’s focus on the positive. Ninety-nine percent of the people are decent. It’s only the 1% that are the terrorists who shoot at air ambulances, rescue boats, police officers, and hurricane victims. The 1% is the evil force that always tries take advantage of civil crises.
The situation seems to be getting better after the roads were cleared enough and the troops were mustered to aid New Orleans. Some news reporters were reporting that right after the storm it was taking 13 hours to drive 50 miles on the highway. It’s a sign of progress that buses and military vehicles can now move freely into the city. The hellacious Superdome reportedly has been cleared.
Let’s focus on assisting the victims who need our compassion and prayers. Let’s send a donation to the Red Cross or any other fine charity of your choice.
Let’s focus on making the world a better place, instead of focusing on the negative. It only drags everyone down and results in apathy. Even donating $10 to a relief organization can make a difference.
Let’s pull together to help the victims. There will be plenty of time later on when the waters have receeded and the victims have found homes to point the fingers at everyone.
Chris
http://d-chaos.blogspot.com
BA~~32
Yes we should all pull together; my post was really about pulling together. my blog is a resource for families of people who are missing; I’m donating money.
Seriously would go down to New Orleans to volunteer but as all regular readers know I have a severe allergy to mold that can mimic life threatening symptoms.
But I gave Bush a free pass after 9/11; this time I’m holding him accountable for everything that has happened in this country except of course actually causing the storm.
I won’t be satisfied until there is a full investigation of Karl Rove, the war in Iraq and much more.
I can’t forget that as I cry and do what I can for the victims.
Good points all around Pia. I have felt, over the past few days that the American Spirit is indeed broken. Katrina is to blame, but the W, Rove and Co is also at fault. It’s sad and sickening – to think that, perhaps, the levee would have held should we not decided to bomb the hell out of Iraq. We will never no, but we are indeed left with quite a mess. But from dark places come hope.
By the way, there are some other places in the US that loook like second and third world countries…and they have not been hit by a natural disaster (I’m thinking parts of Detroit, myself). Again, they tend to be places where those in abject poverty are able to afford to hang their hats, if they can afford a hat at all.
Whoops. I meant “We will never Know…” not we will never no! Silly of me, I do apologize.
I’m angry and shocked and admit to watching it whenever I am home. I felt guitly going to see some of the US Open the other day and this afternoon.Anderson Cooper was taking notes from people who had relatives who they knew would be looking for them and he was announcing the names like” so and so ” wants to let ” so and so in connecticutt ” know he is alive. It is really horrifying to watch on television.
Pia,
Great post and great recommendation on moxie girls site. Did you know the last two people appointed to head fema had no disaster experience? Cronies. Also heard today that there is still a parish that has yet to see a single bit of aid, food, water, helicopters, they said that they still had people on roofs and what folks had been saved had been saved by their deputies and neighbors. It is a crying shame. Hugs girl.