I hate that my first post has to be about Katrina, but I need to vent. I am so tired of hearing newscasters wax poetically about how Katrina affected everyone, rich and poor. "Katrina was a great equalizer", what a bunch of equalizing bull! You want evidence of the division between the haves and the have nots, turn on you t.v.!
I haven't seen anyone on t.v. crying from the affluent neighborhoods currently under water. Have you? No! Why, because they could afford to fly or drive to safety. They are chilling in hotels or are staying with family members. Right now, their biggest concern is contacting their insurance adjuster. The few that may have been interviewed (from the safety of hotels far out of Katrina's path) are griping about not being able return home to inspect the damage. All these people have to do is take a few pictures and they will rebuild and probably be reimbursed for the money they spent fleeing the hurricane.
Now let's look at the other side. Those people living in the "hood" couldn't leave their homes. Not because they were scared of looters and such, but because they lacked the means to go. Many don't own cars and for those that did, they didn't have the money for gas. Flying was obviously out of the question and those that may have had the money for bus tickets were stranded in New Orleans when the Greyhound station closed on Saturday. My question is why didn't officials provide buses to shuttle these people to safety? They had plenty of time. Why, because they were the lowest common denominator.
Now all that is left is the hope that most of these people can be rescued. Although that hope dwindles everyday. It doesn't help to see the heartbreaking stories of mothers forced to choose which child will ride with her to safety. Husbands that have to watch their wives wash away in the raging flood waters. Now, after admitting to the devastating death tolls, do city and state officials play hero. Yeah, Hurricane Katrina, the "Great equalizer".
Slate offers a great article about this.
1 comment:
You are absolutely right Ginny! But you also forget the fact that these reporters are walking around wearing clean clothes, drinking their bottled water and sticking their obtrusive mics in people's faces. I can't understand how someone can stand there and interview a person who is wading onto the overpass bridge and have the audacity to question them, not even offering a hand to help them out of the water. I got to see that on Fox yesterday. Normally I think the reporters are less biased on Fox, but let's face it, they are all about "The Story". These are people.. not just a story. They have lost everything and some are still losing those they love right in front of their faces. If you can't give a hand, some water or food.. don't videotape what is probably the hardest times of these people's lives. My family went through a horrible tornado in 98, an F5, which is very rare. I can comprehend how bad it is for these folks. Granted it was not this big, but we didn't want nosey reporters and curious folks coming to look at what was left of our loved one's homes. News? Yes, but have some decorium and heart. And for Pete's sake, share what you do have!!!
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