[ZeeDrippyVessel]

But we don't HAVE a king or a queen... We have an elected official whose hands are tied at what he can and cannot do so he cannot establish a dicatorship. What many foreigners do not understand is that our PRESIDENT is our LEAST powerful figure. One, solitary man is only 1/3 of the voice of our government. He can't move without the approval of the other 2/3rds. The 400+ in the Congress. The 100 in the Senate. The Supreme Court. And they don't move without the Govenors. That's one hell of a chain to yank.

When those in position cannot tell you what they need, it is impossible to move. There are organizations who were already enmassed and set to move and HAD moved... the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, FEMA... many large businesses. The company I work for had donated 17 million dollars of aid within a few days. What GOOD is it if the President sends aid that is already sent and isn't needed and yet doesn't send what has been missed? YAY! He sent food! And clothes! Soo did everyone else! I have more chicken soup than I can eat! WE needed PUMPS! But we didn't know they needed pumps until we knew WHICH levees were gone and exactly what we needed to shore them up! That take the Army Corp of Engineers! And that information takes time! It would be lovely to look into a crystal ball and see what is needed beforehand. Unfortunately, that can't be. Every storm is different. Every hurricane is different. The levee system was outdated. WHose fault is that? The President? Or the City of New Orleans? Or the Shipping companies that use the port? THe Port Authority?

I understand the frustration of the world sitting on the sidelines watching this unfold. You should do this and this and that! Here at home, we call that 'armchair quarterbacking'. It is EASY to say you should do this and that. But until you actually sit in that chair , in the White House, you have no idea. If you don't understand the idiosycracies of how this country is run... well, that's a stalemate there. It is easy to Bush-Bash. Too damn easy. He's the biggest and easiest target. And he's Texan to boot! (I like Texans. Don't yell!) As stated earlier, the last President to wrest control from the other branches was FDR and I'm NOT going to go there!

The Congress and Senate has passed the largest relief package ever in the history of this country. Not only is EVERY victim - including children - receiving funds and aid from several organizations, the government is PAYING each individual a sizable sum of money. I'm not talking a couple of thousands - I'm talking TENS of THOUSANDS.

PER Person.

Any age.

Even babies.

Rather than sit back and say we should have done this nad that, I prefer to help. I've donated food and clothes and I've directed victims to shelters and other stations set up here. I've prayed with many in my line. The area rebuilt after Camille. they will rebuild again. Initially, it was stated that it would be 6 to 8 months before the city of New Orleans would be drained. As of last night, 2 of hte 3 levees were shored, the 3rd is close and the city should be drained in 4 to 6 weeks.

By the extra pumps ordered by President Bush.

[Viv]

[ellisk]

I have been to to Biloxi this week driving my local charity's aid truck (after donating items, helping to load it and paying for the gas to get it to Biloxi). I volunteered to drive it in order to have the opportunity to search for my uncle, who is still lost there--one of the many who had no means to leave since he is blind and cannot drive. And my friend Donna's daughter is still lost in Gulfport--where Donna lost all her possessions.

I thoroughly enjoyed the post Inglor made that started this thread--I think very few people were aware before this incident how important the Gulf was beyond being a great place for beachs and gambling. But believe me when I say this is one of those difficult topics that likely will not be discussed without causing incident. I am normally the last person to attempt to squelch a polite debate, but I must say that this probably not a wise topic--emotions are running very high.

[Alassante]

I had a long post prior but after reading Ellisk posts I was reminded that this is such a touchy subject so I deleted all but the following:

Today is 9/11 and a few years ago we got a rude awakening that there are people in other countries out there that hate Americans enough to fly three planes into buildings and killing thousands of innocent people. The last two weeks have shown that we also have people in other countries that care enough about us as human beings to help us and mourn with us when once again innocent Americans die.

Whether it is a man made disaster or Mother Nature's fury, we have been shown that there are times when human kindness is stronger than political lines and government ideologies.

[NeumeIndil]

I think I'm with Al on this one. Regardless of political boundaries and restrictions, fundamentally we need to go back to a face to face, one person to one person level to recouperate from this disaster, just like we did from the plane bombings four years ago.

"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you," is part of a poem by Rudyard Kipling that I always think of in times like these. The last line of the poem sums up the list of conditions he's given: "...Then you will be a man, my son." He meant man in the stereotypical sense, but it can, and I think should, be applied in a HUman sense too. Now that the initial shock is over, it's time to buckle down and keep helping in any way we can, regardless of political party, religion or nationality. Politics will always be a stumbling block to interpersonal relations; times of disaster are probably the best ones to work toward overcoming those obstacles. At least, that's what I'm trying to do. This guy, I think, has the right idea: http://us.video.aol.com/video.index.adp?mode=2&pmmsid=1398682


Brightest Blessings to all of you,
Neu

[inglor]

I watched something on CNN the other night about just this topic: who to blame. Although skewed (from this conservative's point of view) they did say what happend in New Orleans was mishandled at every level. Local, State and Federal officials acted too little or too late (it was common knowledge that it would take 48-72 hours to evacuate NO properly but the order to evacuate was not given until sunday morning, 24 hours before the CENTER of the storm made landfall). The Superdome was not stocked as it should have been. National Guard units (commanded by the Govenors of thier respective states) were not mobilized quickly enough. FEMA was in a bind. They should have been prepared for this, they even had a drill last year for a Cat 3 hurricane to hit NO, and the levees breaking was part of the senario. The whole thing was a clusterfuck from the word go. I don't know how this got politicized but that was not my intent. All I will say is that there is PLENTY of blame to go around, starting with the local gov'ts. I voted Republican and I am a Bush supporter, he dropped the ball, so did lots of other folks. BUT for places like Waveland MS, where there isn't a bulding standing, there was no way to prepare for this.

I agree about Gulliani. But he wasn't there so we will never know.

BTW, there is one other US city that connects the Mississippi water way to the Gulf of Mexico... Mobile, Alabama. Near where the Tennessee River meets the Ohio, right before where it empties into the Miss., they cut a canal a while ago. There are two problems. 1) It can only handle about 1/4-1/2 the barge traffic, the Mississppi could handle a 32 barge tow, going both ways easily, the TennTom (the name of the canal) can only handle 6-10 barge tows and they have to be real careful passing each other. 2) Mobile doesn't have near the facilities NO had (thank you, Birmingham...politics...again).


Inglor

[Rhapsody]

Just one note:

Our country knows how to deal with massive flood and destruction by nature with force of water. If we can help our ally by providing our specialism regarding it, then we do so. Our specialists were down there to help repairing the leeves, but we went in unnoticed by the media. Yavanie told me, this week I believe, it got confirmed that the Dutch specialists helped repairing one of the levee's of NA. That most of the equipment used comes from us. And if it is welcomed, we will help on thinking on better a levee system. But do you see us boasting aloud about it? Truly? We are helping because it seems and feels right. After WWII we could rebuilt our country by means of the Marshall plan. We welcomed it with open arms. We owe Canada a lot and we still show the appreciation of it: it brought the two nations really close. The US did play a role as well. In this light, do you expect, as an ally, to sit on our hands and do nothing with this going on? Just send out a condoleance and that's it? We are not talking about words: but real actions, hands and people at work down there.

I am not playing the blame game here, but I have read enough, from reliable sources to form a pretty good idea what went wrong or not, even years before that. I am not depending on CNN or BBC world news solely, but on local news as well. I do, for example, put higher value on what Yavanie posts then on what Fox news is reporting for example. I know this is an very emotional issue when you live in the States, but do not underestimate the impact it has on your allies as well. We do care and we do not walk away when it gets tough.

[inglor]

Rhapsody: If I could, I'd kiss every last Dutchman and Dutchwoman (preferably the women) I could. But I don't think my wife would appreciate it much. I imagine your engineers where horrified by the antiquated state of the levee system they found.

It is a shame that we have not heard more about this. Hopefully, when this all settles down a bit, this will get the recognition it deserves and GW or the govenor of Louisiana or Mayor of NO or the press will show the proper thanks.

Inglor

[Eruanna]

Thanks, Inglor, for the post.

Any catastrophe, after the dust settles or the waters recede, teaches lessons. Also, after the finger-pointing stops...

We have never before experienced something like this. So much has already come out.

--Eruanna

[LuthienTinuviel]

What ripped my heart out when I watched Katrina disaster on CNN was that of newborn babies seperated from their mothers because they had to be transferred immediately, and the supposed racial clashes (I mean no offence, I saw what I saw).... It is scary.

In any case, no one can ever truly perdict a natural disaster accurately. We can try, but the risk will always loom at large. Easier said than done is to move on and live again, but mayhaps it's a reminder to all of us?

[FallingIntoStrangers]

Personally, being from New Orleans, I have been both shocked and horrifed by everything that has happened down there. Lucky for my family, everyone is fine, and only my Aunt Gloria lost her house.

But to see my brithplace, my home every summer for as long as I can remember after my parents split. I have nothing, and i mean NOTHING but great memories of that place. So much so that for my our first wedding anniversary, I took my husband down there. And he loved it. I took him to all my favorite places and even to all the touristy stuff.

It has to be rebuilt. I can't imagine never going there again. Yes the city is corrupt, everyone knows that. But there are good things there too.

I was born In Mercy Hospital, which was flooded. I grew up in Algiers and Gretna, which I think is okay. I spent so many summers eating luch at the Dry Dock cafe in Algiers, just a few feet from the ferry station. I would sit there for hours watching everyone come and go. Sitting on the levee, looking eastward to the city. Watching the ferrys go back and forth, the barges tugging by, the cruise ships leaving or entering port, the paddle boats taking tourists on the same course up river to see the old antebellum mansions (icluding the one in Interview with a Vampire), listening to the calliope play on the Creole Queen, played by an old lady who has been playing it every day seince she was a kid.

The time my cousins and I rescued a dog from a half sunken barge jutting out into the river. We made a chain and lowered me down by my ankles into the pit of it and pulled him out. The time me and a freind were accosted by a drunk movie star at a cafe. The times I would sit for the street vendors so they could go use the restroom, and I would tell the toruists they be back in a minute.

Choking on the powdered sugar on the beignets at Cafe Du Monde. Making fun of the tourists fanny packs. The time I went out with this guy one night who looked so much like Brad Pitt a ala 1993, that I couldn't really dig him cuz I can't stand Brad Pitt, so he tried to hook me up with his heavy friend.

The times I would babysit this kid in Algiers who lived in one of those shotgun house that his parents remodled so it was one big house. Walking in the door from a loooooong day of prowling the side streets and back alleys of the French Quarter to and smelling my mom's gumbo cooking, cuz I always have to have my mom's gumbo when I see her.

So for me, the city has to rebulit, cuz I need more memories. I want to take my duaghter there, to see where her ancestors come from. Yeh, New Orleans has its' orblems, and hoepfully they can be fixed. I know how bad the bad neighborhoods are there. When you HAVE to drive through it, you drive with a gun in your lap, and you never ask a cop for help, cuz they won't, except to look good for the tourists for MArdi Gras.

But for now, I mourn for that city, They didn't deserve such suffering, no matter what. I hope it never happens again, anywhere.

[inglor]

Hurricanes at Pat O's, kneewalking drunk after highschool graduation.

A road trip from Auburn to visit a buddy at a Loyola fraternity house. We left at 11pm at night and made it from Auburn to New Orleans in 4 hours (speedometer never got below 100) Had no idea where we were going, took two turns off the interstate and found it, God watches over drunks and fools... but that is another story

Seeing the Ramones at Tipatina's and $0.25 draft...another story

Leaving for honeymoon cruise from NO

Artists in Jackson Square

Being hustled on Burbon Street

Girlfriend went to Mardi Gras with some girlfriends and returned with a sack full of beads, big ones. She said she caught them...poor thing nearly died from guilt. Also another story.

Walking down Burbon Street as a 10 yearold and asking my dad what those funny looking things were in that little shop. I recognized the handcuffs and riding crops...


Lotsa fond memories of NO.
Inglor

[FallingIntoStrangers]

I have way to many memories of Pat O'briens to be legal. And to be in there and NOT be legal...well I won't get into that.

Is it just me or does anyone else remeber when the drinking age there was this dort of legal 18 to drink, but with provisions??? Or am I just crazy?


Oh and Inglor, I think I know the shop you area talking about... hee hee. Except my pervy ass self went in a store like that and bought a black leather cat eye Zorro like eye mask... naughty naughty fun....