Rescue Never Came
I have written here before about Sunday mornings. I like to sit with the laptop at the kitchen table (I am working on a big journal paper at the moment) with a nice fresh cup of coffee, listening to the radio and working. These are satisfying moments, when the family sleeps and the sun streams in from the east, and I have my music. This weekend, the anniversary of Katrina, is a little bit different.
My great grandmother was a Duncan from western Louisiana; our people are from the little towns of Egan and Crowley. She was named, as far as we knew, Ghinniganna. She used to tell us about the Great Flood of 1927. An alligator came up and took her dog right out of the boat she was in with her family. I always pictured a little pirogue full of huddled, wet, frightened people, I don't really now what kind of boat it was, but having visited relatives out there I can't imagine it was anything very big; those were some poor, tough, hard-working people. Fifty years later, when Ghinniganna told us about the flood, it was still the pivotal moment in her life, the most important thing that ever happened to her, and her memory of survival has been passed through the generations as vividly as the inscriptions in the old family Bibles.
WPFW just played Aaron Neville's "Louisiana 1927" twice in a row. The DJ came on and said something about black people, and incompetence, and about needing to change things. She said she was only speaking for herself, not for the station or anybody else, and invited us to call the station management and complain if we didn't like what she was saying. I am pretty sure nobody will call.
Now they're playing a churchy, gospel version of Nina Simone singing Dylan's "I Shall Be Released." You'd have to be here.
A year ago we watched in horror as people banged on the ceilings of their attics, up to their necks in water, hoping for rescue that never came. We saw crowds of hungry, thirsty, dying people that our government could not see, day after day. We saw terrible physical destruction, but much more than that. Much more.
One year ago was a pivotal moment, I think, for all of us, even those of us who only saw it on television. We witnessed the most unimaginable, un-American, profound example of uncaring -- I can't think of a better word. Uncaring.
Now they're playing Keb' Mo' singing "America the Beautiful." There is not a trace of irony in this, none intended, none desired, even in the decision to play it.
These are hard times we live in.
My great grandmother was a Duncan from western Louisiana; our people are from the little towns of Egan and Crowley. She was named, as far as we knew, Ghinniganna. She used to tell us about the Great Flood of 1927. An alligator came up and took her dog right out of the boat she was in with her family. I always pictured a little pirogue full of huddled, wet, frightened people, I don't really now what kind of boat it was, but having visited relatives out there I can't imagine it was anything very big; those were some poor, tough, hard-working people. Fifty years later, when Ghinniganna told us about the flood, it was still the pivotal moment in her life, the most important thing that ever happened to her, and her memory of survival has been passed through the generations as vividly as the inscriptions in the old family Bibles.
WPFW just played Aaron Neville's "Louisiana 1927" twice in a row. The DJ came on and said something about black people, and incompetence, and about needing to change things. She said she was only speaking for herself, not for the station or anybody else, and invited us to call the station management and complain if we didn't like what she was saying. I am pretty sure nobody will call.
Now they're playing a churchy, gospel version of Nina Simone singing Dylan's "I Shall Be Released." You'd have to be here.
A year ago we watched in horror as people banged on the ceilings of their attics, up to their necks in water, hoping for rescue that never came. We saw crowds of hungry, thirsty, dying people that our government could not see, day after day. We saw terrible physical destruction, but much more than that. Much more.
One year ago was a pivotal moment, I think, for all of us, even those of us who only saw it on television. We witnessed the most unimaginable, un-American, profound example of uncaring -- I can't think of a better word. Uncaring.
Now they're playing Keb' Mo' singing "America the Beautiful." There is not a trace of irony in this, none intended, none desired, even in the decision to play it.
These are hard times we live in.
posted by JimK at 9:52 AM
6 Comments:
Jim writes,
I have written here before about Sunday mornings. I like to sit with the laptop at the kitchen table (I am working on a big journal paper at the moment) with a nice fresh cup of coffee, listening to the radio and working. These are satisfying moments, when the family sleeps and the sun streams in from the east, and I have my music. This weekend, the anniversary of Katrina, is a little bit different.
Well, isn't that a coincidence, because I am enjoying a couple of muffins and some coffee, just reading over our corporate/local paper (owned and operated by the same folks that gave us that abomination of all, USA Today...and no, not because of their politics...no, no, simply because it is written at an elementary school reading level)...
A year ago we watched in horror as people banged on the ceilings of their attics, up to their necks in water, hoping for rescue that never came. We saw crowds of hungry, thirsty, dying people that our government could not see, day after day. We saw terrible physical destruction, but much more than that. Much more.
Some, believe it or not, choose to stay put because they did know what Hurricane Katrina would bring, besides rain and hurricane-force winds (and that it would be the breach of the levey (sp?) system that would do the most damage).
Additionally, Katrina did not make those left behind poor; they were poor already...all the hurricane did was bring the media in to cover the disaster. The City of New Orleans should have been responsible for getting residents out of harms way...and by out of harms way, I don't mean setting them up at the Superdome, where nothing was in place to be ready for the number of people that needed to be evacuated. I will remind everyone of the picture of literally dozens upon dozens of school buses that were pictured, sitting in water, ruined, that could have been used to get the residents out of New Orleans.
One year ago was a pivotal moment, I think, for all of us, even those of us who only saw it on television. We witnessed the most unimaginable, un-American, profound example of uncaring -- I can't think of a better word. Uncaring.
Wow...you really feel that way, Jim? What I saw in the aftermath I saw in my own Archdiocese and Parish (Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton) where a couple of weeks after the hurricane a Second Collection (authorized and directed by Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput) was taken up where 100% of what was collected would be sent for relief in that region. With approximately 150 parishes participating, that is an amazing effort. But that is not all...the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic mens service group (ok, once in a while we also share a beer...but mostly it is service work we do...) donated $7,000,000 to Katrina Relief (and no, it was not distributed to just Catholics...need relief?...we don't care if you are atheist, you qualify simply because you are in need).
While I was disappointed in the federal response, it was to a degree understandable as it does take time to gear up the large structure of the federal government...but it was too slow. However, most appalling of all was the negligent and incompetant response by the Mayor of New Orleans and the Governor of Louisiana, the two governmental entities that should have been geared up even before the hurricane made land fall. And then once the hurricane hit, and the flood walls failed...well, that New Orleans voters returned Nagin to office only shows one of two things; first, that they did not have any better choice for Mayor than a clearly incompetant blame displacer, or second, the voters did not learn the lesson they should have learned, that Mayor Nagin was not up to the task of governing a medium size city. I tend to think it might be the later since folks from New Orleans like to refer to themselves as coming from "the Big Easy".
Now they're playing Keb' Mo' singing "America the Beautiful." There is not a trace of irony in this, none intended, none desired, even in the decision to play it.
Do you know why? Because even with all that we fail to do to lift others, the US does so much more than many other parts of the world (especially given the number that arrive every year...legally, and otherwise).
Rather than contemporary American liberalism, which has a pronounced tendency to look at this countrys' weaknesses the way a Proctologist looks at his/her patients, I look at what we so often get accomplished and I am in awe of the charitable and generous spirit, independent of any government response, in times of disaster.
These are hard times we live in.
It's interesting what people remember. I remember Bush laughing and playing guitar with entertainer Mark Willis on August 30 while Katrina raged on.
http://www.pensitoreview.com/2005/08/30/bush-fiddles-with-a-guitar-while-new-orleans-floods/
And I remember that the governor of Mississippi, where the eye of the storm can ashore, managed to do a great job of taking care of his people.
As did Alabama, Florida, and Texas.
The responsibility for taking care of the local people falls on the local government. Not the federal government.
You are correct, the federal government did not respond as it should have. But, the primary responsibility for the disaster in New Orleans falls squarely on Nagin's shoulders. Can imagine if that idiot had been in charge of NY on 9/11 instead of Guiliani ?
Actually, Theresa, while I have little good to say about Nagin, the book on Guiliani is far from closed. He may have been responsible for a system which led to a significant number of the deaths that occurred that day. Yes, he rose to the occasion and rallied the city, but he is not without his flaws.
Though I do find it interesting that you have such nice things to say about a pro-choice, pro-gay, cross-dressing New Yorker :-)
And, Orin, we certainly agree on one thing -- USA Today is the paper of ever-lower expectations for its readership. An American disgrace.
Dana writes,
Actually, Theresa, while I have little good to say about Nagin, the book on Guiliani is far from closed. He may have been responsible for a system which led to a significant number of the deaths that occurred that day. Yes, he rose to the occasion and rallied the city, but he is not without his flaws.
And here I would have to agree with you Dana...Guiliani did rally the city, but after what happened in 1993 with the first attack on the WTC, who in the right mind planning for the worst would fail to move the emergency command center from such a high profile structure??? Since I work with computers it is like this: doing system backups but then making only one copy and locating that copy onsite. Most people would agree that that is NOT good emergency preparedness.
Though I do find it interesting that you have such nice things to say about a pro-choice, pro-gay, cross-dressing New Yorker :-)
...just a few of the reasons he will never receive my vote.
And, Orin, we certainly agree on one thing -- USA Today is the paper of ever-lower expectations for its readership. An American disgrace.
If I were stuck on a island in the middle of the ocean and had a choice of McPaper or the New York Times, I would choose the NYT in a heartbeat (in a perfect world I would ask for a WSJ op-ed supplement, but alas, this is not a perfect world). While it might insult my political sensibilities, it would not make me feel dumber the longer I read it. Besides, since I listen to NPR regularly, I've learned to filter out the liberal political spin in what passes for "mainstream media" reporting of the news.
Oh, and tomorrow is a pink letter day as Katie Couric will take the helm at the CBS Evening News. Frankly I think she is unworthy to hold such a position, but I doubt she will last more than a year before she is given the boot. And to show that I am not sexist, I would watch a gal like Cokie Roberts if she were given the job...that is, it is NOT about politics, rather, Couric is not bright, and is biased as well. Doesn't matter though...I gave up on tv news years ago...it is not about news anymore, it is about entertainment.
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