The Chatterbox

Katrina (the Political Hurricane)

Pardon me for ranting, but I just cannot help myself. I'm quite sure that some may be offended by some of what I'm about to say.

Let me start with the fact that my heart goes out to those who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Have I been through something similar to what we're seeing there on the news? Similar, but certainly not to the same degree as some of the worst reports we're seeing.

(Ancient history here, but I was one of those who pretty much lost everything except for our lives in the Great Flood of '93 that put several hundred thousand acres of ground under water in Missouri, so that much I do understand. Though I freely admit that my experience, while certainly quite bad, is nowhere near what many affected Gulf Coast residents have been experiencing. Additionally I have friends of many years who lived in the area whom I have been trying to touch base with for days. But have been unsuccessful in finding out anything.)

We won't go into the financial giving side of things since that is very personal in my book. Let's just say that I give in these situations and leave it at that. No matter where in the world it happens.

Now my extreme rant...

Something that I noticed a few days ago, and was frankly worried about, was that the situation stood a chance to turning into a political and racial situation. And it is neither, except for the fact that some want to make it one.

Why racial? Because many of those who didn't have the financial ability to evacuate were poor. Like it or not (I don't personally) many of the poor in the affected area of the world, and in fact in many areas of the world, have a darker skin tone than others. We're seeing an awful lot of this on TV, though I'm not sure it's completely representative. There are also many who could pass for my brother or sister in skin tone who were as drastically affected by Katrina.

Those who have a political agenda against President Bush apparently look for any opportunity to turn up the heat. Whether it is well-founded or not, this has been the case since 2000 in the United States. IMO it's sad and only serves to denegrate themselves. Please note that I say this as what could at best be categorized as being an Independent Voter. Meaning that I vote for whichever political party that puts forth the best candidate on a very individual level. In my personal opinion. I don't belong to a party, nor do I want to.

This morning on C-Span --no link yet since they don't have anything up yet-- I caught a program where several "Democrat" and "Black" organizations held a press conference. I will not name them here because I am quite sure that the speakers do not speak for all supporters considering the fact that many of the involved are organizations that I have supported both financially and in spirit!

All I can say about the press conference is that I am ashamed.

The comments put forth, as well as the tone of much of the press conference, was quite frankly shameful. To consider that a admitted horrible hurricane somehow became a Political Process or some sort of Racial Issue is ludicrous, and quite disturbing to me as an American. The comments of some speakers made me sick to my stomach. In case you're wondering, no I will no longer be making any financial or time contributions to those organizations who were most flagrant.

Why?

I simply cannot support anybody or anything that attempts to use a natural disaster to further some political cause. Especially not when it is clear to even a 5 year old that everyone should be pulling together.

Were mistakes made by government representatives?

Yes, undoubtedly. On all levels.

City, County, State and Federal. Of those, the President has the least responsibility for any failures in my view. And it's certainly not a Republican or Democrat issue. Or a White and Black skin tone issue.

Given what has been happening in New Orleans --especially with the thuggery of the last several days-- hindsight says that it would have been nice to have a larger Federal (read: Military) response available immediately. But had 20,000 troops been inserted into New Orleans immediately after the winds started to die down, and that's assuming anyone had anybody been 100% sure it was going to hit there and that levee's would break, these same people making political hay today would have been screaming about the Federal Gov't having set up no option other than Martial Law. Completely overriding State, County and City rights, which is not right and is not the American Way.

I'm quite sure that no matter what answer had been chosen prior to Katrina hitting, some would have tried very hard to make it a political issue. Just as they're trying to now. That's a sad commentary, though it is true.

The bottom line is this...

People are in trouble. I've been in a similar circumstance. These people need HELP, not some silly political argument. Contrary to what some of the National Press Club speakers apparently believe, the people who are most affected are not "our" kind or "their" kind.

They are Us!

It is our obligation as citizens of the United States of America, in fact as citizens of the world and the Human race to see that the affected have their immediate pain and uncertainty relieved as quickly and fully as humanly possible.

It is a Human issue, not a political or racial one.

If anyone has any doubt about the above statement, repeat the following to yourself.

There but for the grace of God, go I.