Anne Rice's comments...

[halestrm]

I found the article very.. touching. It made me cry.

Someone said they emailed her to ask where to donate.

Let me ask you this... Say YOUR city has just been destroyed. YOU have watched as the people you grew up with and the city you loved and have since childhood devastated. You just spent the last week in a hell on earth as people died on the streets of your home. Not from the bullets of some idiotic sniper. But from disease, dehydration, and starvation. You have watched as suffering occurred in your home that you never thought possible.

Now tell me...

THROUGH ALL OF THAT, YOU CHECKED YOUR EMAIL.

Why don't you try putting yourself in her shoes instead of looking at it from the perspective of an outsider. Lets see how well you'd handle all of this when there are reports of people losing their memories of the past 5 days due to the seriously traumatic events that have been happening.

Tell me, would you give one crap about checking your email? Or about running your little empire? Or about directing the people that are running it to do something?

You'd be so caught up in your own pain and suffering and the pain and suffering of the people and place that is your home that you likely wouldn't even think of something so inconsequential. Would you?

You can judge from your cushy seat at your computer from your fair distance away. While SHE had to suffer through it all

Try wearing the swamp soaked diseased, dehydrated and starving shoes of the people that have lived there and have suffered through all of this.

You will find yourself looking at this from an entirely new perspective as you finally know the heartbreak and loss these poor people... YOUR PEOPLE... have suffered the last 5 days. And it wasn't from bullets. It was from mother nature itself.

I am unsure why you sound so angry with me. I am not angry with Anne Rice, I can appreciate what her emotions are going through. I am angry that she dares to tell me and other citizens of this country that we are failures in this situation.

A few facts, rather than just emotional attacks.

Regarding me expecting or thinking I might get a response. Her public relations department in NY handle her website, and her webmaster is also based in NY. I didn't email her, I sent an email to her site. Amazing, I did get a response today, suggesting I watch for her upcoming book.

Next, Anne Rice does not live there. I doubt that Anne Rice, even if she had been visiting the city, would be wearing wearing the swamp soaked diseased, dehydrated and starving shoes for me to walk in. Read her books. She seems to believe it is a badge of honor to be poor. While I do not agree with her, I do believe that a woman of her wealth and resources can be doing something. Note, I didn't not say should, but if she demands something of me, then lets see what she is doing.

Since you don't know me, I would explain to you that I lived in the Mid-west with 2 direct hit tornados. We lost everything, along with our neighbors, including life. I have also lived through a forest fire in Oregon. Do not persume to explain to me how I would react. Actually, during the 90's, I did get on the computer, because I had no phones, and needed to get messages out, and to let people know I was alive. (Before you say anything, I had satellite, and it worked.)

I love her books, and will continue to read her work. I disagree with her politics, and will continue to ignore that aspect of her public personality. BUT if she has a right to censure me, why do I not have the same right?

 

[arminnie]

BUT if she has a right to censure me, why do I not have the same right?

Good point.

 

[totalia]

Just wanted to clarify - Anne Rice moved away from New Orleans a couple of years ago. Not that she doesn't still love the city, but she's had major health problems and wanted to be nearer to family members.

I don't think she was there.

*sighs* I know she wasn't. Thats not the point. The point is that this is her home, her people. SHE will understand better than ANYONE who doesn't live there.

 

[totalia]

Why are you angry that she speaks from a position of pain and suffering and says something you don't like? Have you ever said something mean to someone in the throws of great emotion because your hurt and rethought it long after the situation had calmed down?

It is less than a week after the hurricane. She speaks from a position of great pain and emotion.

Instead of being so bloody judgemental of a woman in emotional pain, why don't you try to be understanding, kind and caring and give her some TIME to see this through with a clearer head?

 

[rcyannacci]

She's right; we did fail New Orleans. Beautiful article. Thanks for posting.

 

[halestrm]

We have all said things when we are in terror, hurt, pain, that have hurt others. I also believe most of us say we are sorry when we realize what we have done. Does anyone believe that Ms. Rice will write an article in the New York Times saying she is sorry? If she does, then I will gladly apologize for any of my words.

Yes, I am frustrated because too many people are claiming that we are insensative to the issues; that we don't care; that it is a racial issue; that it is too little too late. That is my right.

She was able to publish in the NYTimes only because of her name. With the right to publish comes responsibility, from her, the editor, someone. Isn't that what the whole article is about. NOLA was damaged, and noone else will take responsibility for fixing it as quickly as people would have liked it to happen. IF the article had been an article to the glory of New Orleans, then wonderful, that is what I needed to read, and that is what the title of the article said it would be. The title was a lie, instead of telling me what is means to lose New Orleans, I am told I am a failure because I "and turned your backs." I am sick and tired of entertainers telling me how to think or how bad I am.

For her to state that "During this crisis you failed us. You looked down on us; you dismissed our victims; you dismissed us." is wrong, and someone should have pointed that out. I can appreciate that she is in pain, I will not just accept that I failed NOLA in any way. I have been doing volunteer work to prepare to take in the refugees in our state, I have donated time, tears, and money. I have worked with my company, and we are organizing to adopt families who are displaced. My family cancelled a weekend trip so that we can help. Do not tell me I failed, not when I asked your representatives what the best way to be of service was; and not when your representatives tell me to watch for your new book.

 

[Boo Boo]

THROUGH ALL OF THAT, YOU CHECKED YOUR EMAIL.

that was awesome.

and it stands just as true even though she wasn't there. i'm from there but don't live there now, and i've spent the past week completely immersed in this, gathering information and relaying it to people at every waking moment. i heard from my last missing people just today. i left my house one day and was actually surprised to NOT see armed hoodlums wandering the streets. the mental effect of displaced people from the area cannot be understated. i have one friend on the east coast that had to get medicated just so she could sleep. i'm having nightmares and crying 4-5 times a day. i am just now starting to feel like maybe the world ISN'T coming to an end. so don't dare criticize her. and as for her people in NY handling the e-mail... since that's the case, then why are you criticizing HER PERSONALLY? the people in NY didn't say all that; SHE did.

 

[totalia]

*hugs* Oh Boo Boo. I wish I could help you.