In the days following 9/11, much was made of how well Mayor Gulianni handled the situation. I never doubted that it was a fine effort, but I assumed that he was doing what the people of New York elected him to do, what they should expect him to do, basically, his job. There were disaster preparedness plans in place and, though the disaster was monumentally larger than they would have planned for, they followed procedures and utilized available resources. In the wake of a complete surprise attack he led the city through the chaos.
Contrast that with what is happening in New Orleans. A disaster that was predicted for years, a storm that was anticipated for days, disaster preparedness plans that were ignored, local and state officials doing little to nothing for their people while complaining that the federal government isn't doing enough, people who chose to stay (and were dancing in the streets) now complaining that they are being ignored and requiring/demanding resources that could be used elsewhere. Their mayor, who seems to be waiting for someone to rescue him from a job he is undeniably unqualified for, is no leader.
I heard someone say that if these were rich white folks they wouldn't be left there to die, and that is probably true. Rich folks (with the exception of the Paris Hiltons of the world) haven't been told their whole life that someone else is responsible for taking care of them*, that someone else will give them what they need, that someone else will ensure they never have to think for themselves. Mayor C Ray Nagin has obviously taken that message of dependence to heart, Jabbor Gibson did not.
Don't think for a minute that I don't ache for these people who are suffering, who have lost family, friends, pets..... I know I can't begin to comprehend the devastation - but I can comprehend the incompetence, and to blame the federal government for the failures and foot dragging of the local officials is absurd.
* CLARIFICATION: One of my friends thought this sounded 'elitist' so I want to clarify. My point is that you don't get to be a rich person, of any color, by embracing the entitlement mentality. Those who have become rich in this country have done so by helping themselves, not waiting for someone else to hand them a living or a place to live. Someone with the wherewithal to become successful and/or amass wealth is not likely to be sitting in their home in the face of a disaster waiting for someone else to tell them what to do - they are likely to work at figuring that out for themselves.
Posted by Vox at September 7, 2005 02:02 PM | politicsI agree with you, Vox. I could go into a lengthy discussion about the mentality of some people down there. I've seen it first hand. But then I would just be repeating myself so let me just say that I agree with you! :)
Posted by: yayaempress at September 8, 2005 07:02 AMThe government on all its levels: local, state and federal do have some responsibility. Trust me, as it appears, no one was taking care of the poor, black disfranchised citizens of New Orleans, including their black mayor. Why else would there be school buses that could have helped thousands of evacuees get to safer quarters be left rotting in the sun surround by stench, death and water? Nevertheless, how does the federal government answer its response to Louisiana's call for $60 million dollars? "We need it for Iraq, homeland security, etc." We have learned absolutely nothing, except that race and class are still fundamental factors in the land of the free and the home of the brave: With Liberty and Justice for Some.
Posted by: Honey at September 8, 2005 07:19 PMWith Liberty and Justice for All.... but you have to contribute, and earn it. Freedom aint free. And it's misguided to think that race and class are gone, societies will always have divisions. On the other hand I don't think any of this had to do with race. Is there no such thing as white poor people?
Posted by: wickld at September 8, 2005 08:40 PM