Local from La. statement.

[Charade]

It really bothers me to see the lack of compassion and caring that people have for disaster area victims from their OWN country.

Lack of compassion??? You must be kidding. I just dropped off 5 bags of stuffed animals to a church that is in the process of sending down several TRACTOR TRAILER loads of relief help. In addition to that, I've donated money to the Red Cross, The Salvation Army and Noah's Wish. So have millions of other Americans. Honestly, I don't know where you see a lack of compassion.

 

[karebear1]

Thanks Totalia. I believe people are compassionate and caring towards the people in NO. I think people care very deeply about what happens down there. Unfortunately, when everyone play's the "blame game" and people don't agree with your personal view, it may seem like they don't care. I'll bet if you asked everyone here if they cared about their fellow citizens in the hurricane disaster zone, they'd all tell you they do and they'd mean it. Keep your head up girlie! You DF needs a strong positive influence right now and it seems as though your the one to give it to him. Help him move through this difficulty and into a better life then what he had. He can't go anywhere but up now can he?

 

[totalia]

Yes, things will get better.

He wants to say something on here though. He's going to make a handle and say his piece when he gets access to a computer. He will try the library tomorrow. He's rather upset by the threads I've been reading to him. Of course, he's also heard some wonderful things and wants to thank people for their kindness. I don't know what he will say but I think he needs somewhere to say it.

He just said to me so I can tell you (I editted out the swear and changed them so they aren't as insulting. There were also more before I editted).

"The thought that everything you have ever known, the smells of the food, the French Quarter, these places you have visited, the things you've seen, the people... others can't understand unless you've been through it. We all sat down and watched for a week as the city was destroyed. We watched for 5 days as people you've worked with, people you've been friends with... You're watching and its like people just don't give a care.

Its not about what gvt agency didn't do it right, its about the politics getting in the way of the people. We watched as the city we loved rotted in a cesspool. Its disheartening when your home has been destroyed and its like its just ignored by the gvt they counted on.

Its not about justifying what happened. Anyone who was not there cannot understand what its like. Only if you live here can you understand that we watched as gvt showed how horrible this is.

People just want it to go away and try to sit in judgement of the people when we had just as good and bad people in our city as every other city. Feeling that your being snubbed is a horrible feeling.

How am I supposed to feel as my gvt, because of the bad planning because of the politics and the bad planning... and after the fact the city is treated like crap and treated like a backwater place full of nothing but sin.

I was living my life, working, caring about it, living in a city that's not like any other. Then it was washed away by nature but also by mankind.

The people were ignored when they needed help during the most desperate hour. The greedy are coming out of the woodworks trying to get everything they can...

Nature rolled over NO and the looters came out. The looters that broke into Walmart are scary. The looters in the Federal gvt using this as a way to make themselves look good are much worse. NO is going to be lost to politians garbage. It will never be the same again because of the politics.

Bush is worthless with his stupid republican garbage to make the have's and have more's, have more while those who have nothing get less. Outside of the politics, he shows no care for the people. He's trying to use this as a political stomping ground to better his own career. He hasn't done anything to deserve it.

Nobody has shined through in this. Blanco's only a little better than he is.

The real care that I see comes from the people on the street.

Outside of the politics, the US gvt that is supposed to be the greatest gvt in the world, treats the people they are claiming to serve like dirt. They are supposed to help protect and govern and can't get their crap together to help when they are needed.

In Indonesia, it took 2 days after the disaster happened for food drops. Saudi Arabia, we had the army in, in 24 hours. Food drops in heavy gunfire the day of...

Then the gvt were telling the citizens of the gulf that they couldn't do food drops because they were scared of looters? (sorry only one word for this so it is a swear) Bull****. This is the army.

Its an insult to the people of the gulf coast and to the american people that even after the fact, Bush wants to spin doctor it all.

If our military could respond to Indonesia so quickly, why couldn't they respond to their own people that quickly?

People can't understand what its like to have lost everything.

To the fundamentalists who say this is an act of god or we deserved it...

the Al Queda said the same thing. Aren't you as bad as the terrorists that you would wish harm on your fellow citizens?

In the end, its not about religion, its about humanity.

All religions fade with time and will be forgotten and put into mythology. What matters is that people lives are in danger.

You don't know what it means to lose everything you have and your opinions are not needed and if you have nothing good or constructive to say to people who are stuffering, keep it to yourself. No one deserves this pain.

These are good people living their lives. They didn't deserve this.

No one can understand unless they have been through it. I would not wish this kind of pain on anyone."

 

[totalia]

Thanks Totalia. I believe people are compassionate and caring towards the people in NO. I think people care very deeply about what happens down there. Unfortunately, when everyone play's the "blame game" and people don't agree with your personal view, it may seem like they don't care. I'll bet if you asked everyone here if they cared about their fellow citizens in the hurricane disaster zone, they'd all tell you they do and they'd mean it. Keep your head up girlie! You DF needs a strong positive influence right now and it seems as though your the one to give it to him. Help him move through this difficulty and into a better life then what he had. He can't go anywhere but up now can he?

I'm trying. I think he needed to say what I posted. It was actually much longer. He talked for almost an hour while I just listened. But I couldn't type fast enough to keep up. He's sooooo angry.

 

[bsnyder]

I'm trying. I think he needed to say what I posted. It was actually much longer. He talked for almost an hour while I just listened. But I couldn't type fast enough to keep up. He's sooooo angry.

Totalia, he didn't lose his home because of the government. It was a hurricane, an act of nature.

He'll ruin his future if he allows himself to wallow in bitterness.

 

[Bunch24]

Totalia, believe me, as a person that lives 120 miles from New Orleans and has been there more times than I can count, I can totally understand your fiance's feelings.

But I have to ask, for the sake of curiosity, what were his feelings of Bush before the hurricane. I mean no offense and it doesn't take away from what he said.

The reason I ask is because the majority of people I've met who blame Bush for this admit that they never liked him to begin with. This, basically, is just another reason to pile it on.

And I really don't understand your post about people not having compassion. What's said on these boards and what's done in real life are totally different things. Already, Americans have raised $670 million dollars in the relief efforts. And the money continues to pour in. That doesn't even include the people that have taken in evacuees, have fed and clothed them, have purchased books and bookbags for their children, etc.

It really bothers me, as a person that has virtually put myself in severe debt by donating to the cause, that people can still say people are not showing compassion.

The political arguments are just that. But at the end of the day, whether you're Republican, Democrat or Libertarian, your charity dollars all spend the same way.

To see what this country has done for Hurricane Katrina relief, visit this site:

Americans show support in record numbers

 

[Smell The Glove]

Long time lurker the past few days. First time poster. I had friend in the N.O. area. Fortunately they heeded the evac warning and did get out. And, fortunately they were not as damaged by the flood as other were.They were fortunate. And I guess the only govt agency they have to thank is the one that told them to get out. All that said, I'm having a hard time how one can blame the govt for what people lost. No govt agency could have stopped the levee from breaking. No govt agency could have stopped the flooding. So, people that lost their homes due to the flood should be blaming God, or Mother Nature, or fate or whatever, but not a govt agency. Even if every govt agency had provided a helicopter for every man, woman, and child to get out of N.O. it wouldn't have prevented the flood or the loss or property (or the loss of life for those that may have even refused transportation). Yes, I'm sure it's hard not to look around and see the devastation and not think someONE is to blame. But, at the end of the day, what was lost was due to the strorm and the levee break.

As for all the talk about the Dept of Homeland Security, and FEMA, does anyone find it somewhat ironic that the President initially against the formation of the DHS, and against placing FEMA under it. Seems those that wanted the DHS from the get go are getting what the asked for.

 

[totalia]

He is not blaming the gvt for his loss. He is angry because of the reaction of the gvt.

Why is it so hard for some people to distinguish between the two?

How can you tell a survivor of something this tragic to just get over the bitterness when it JUST happened?

Do you tell someone who just lost someone they loved to just get over it? It doesn't work that way and everyone knows it.

He's grieving. Why is that so hard to understand? Anger and blame are part of the process of grieving.

Its rather insensitive to just tell him to get over it and not wallow in bitterness. My fiance is a rather quiet and introspective individual. He tries very hard not to let things get him down. And yet, his father who's a counsellor, has had long talks with him about this.

In fact, I'm rather hurt by the responses to what he said on here myself. Why does everything have to be explained down to the most minute detail sometimes on here?

Can you not give the grieving time? And no, two weeks is NOT long enough. Not by a long shot. He feels that his gvt failed him and the people of the gulf states. I can't and don't blame him for that. Neither should you. Those who are mourning often do things others don't understand. Thats the nature of grief.

As for my fiance's feelings about Bush before the hurricane, you'd have to ask him that yourself. But I can say he didn't vote for him and has found his behavior since his election to be.... to put it politely, lacking. Since the hurricane, he now hates Bush and the entire Republican gvt. He was never a Democrat before. He's not now. He just doesn't like the current administration. Though he's angry and hurt enough right now that he isn't sure anyone could have done better.

Bunch24, read some of the posts of what people have said. You will see what I mean by disappointed in peoples lack of compassion. I could give you names but it wouldn't go over well with the mods so I won't. You can judge for yourself.

I can't believe I even need to defend my fiance to any of you. This is simple stuff that, if you know people at all, you will be able to understand without needing to have it spelled out for you.

This is the first time that I've felt like I wanted to leave these boards.

SOMEONE is going to take the blame for the REACTION to the hurricane. How many ways and times that has to be said, I don't know. It has NOTHING to do with the hurricane itself. Hurricanes happen. Thats life in that part of the world.

The problem is NOT the hurricane. It is the REACTION of the gvt TO the hurricane. EVEN BUSH admitted that the REACTION was not acceptable. The REACTION. Not the hurricane. What it boils down to is the REACTION.

Whether those someones end up being Bush, Blanco, or any other official, someone will take the fall for taking so long to respond.

Rich made a very good point, if you can muster an army in 24 hours and start air dropping food in the middle of enemy gunfire in a war, then why did it take so long to muster the army and food drops in your own country in the middle of a bunch of looters?

 

[Smell The Glove]

He is not blaming the gvt for his loss. He is angry because of the reaction of the gvt.

Why is it so hard for some people to distinguish between the two?

How can you tell a survivor of something this tragic to just get over the bitterness when it JUST happened?

Do you tell someone who just lost someone they loved to just get over it? It doesn't work that way and everyone knows it.

He's grieving. Why is that so hard to understand? Anger and blame are part of the process of grieving.

Its rather insensitive to just tell him to get over it and not wallow in bitterness. My fiance is a rather quiet and introspective individual. He tries very hard not to let things get him down. And yet, his father who's a counsellor, has had long talks with him about this.

In fact, I'm rather hurt by the responses to what he said on here myself. Why does everything have to be explained down to the most minute detail sometimes on here?

Can you not give the grieving time? And no, two weeks is NOT long enough. Not by a long shot. He feels that his gvt failed him and the people of the gulf states. I can't and don't blame him for that. Neither should you. Those who are mourning often do things others don't understand. Thats the nature of grief.

As for my fiance's feelings about Bush before the hurricane, you'd have to ask him that yourself. But I can say he didn't vote for him and has found his behavior since his election to be.... to put it politely, lacking. Since the hurricane, he now hates Bush and the entire Republican gvt. He was never a Democrat before. He's not now. He just doesn't like the current administration. Though he's angry and hurt enough right now that he isn't sure anyone could have done better.

Bunch24, read some of the posts of what people have said. You will see what I mean by disappointed in peoples lack of compassion. I could give you names but it wouldn't go over well with the mods so I won't. You can judge for yourself.

I can't believe I even need to defend my fiance to any of you. This is simple stuff that, if you know people at all, you will be able to understand without needing to have it spelled out for you.

This is the first time that I've felt like I wanted to leave these boards.

SOMEONE is going to take the blame for the REACTION to the hurricane. How many ways and times that has to be said, I don't know. It has NOTHING to do with the hurricane itself. Hurricanes happen. Thats life in that part of the world.

The problem is NOT the hurricane. It is the REACTION of the gvt TO the hurricane. EVEN BUSH admitted that the REACTION was not acceptable. The REACTION. Not the hurricane. What it boils down to is the REACTION.

Whether those someones end up being Bush, Blanco, or any other official, someone will take the fall for taking so long to respond.

Rich made a very good point, if you can muster an army in 24 hours and start air dropping food in the middle of enemy gunfire in a war, then why did it take so long to muster the army and food drops in your own country in the middle of a bunch of looters?

sure he's bitter. Sure he can grieve. But really, what good does it do now to obsess over the local, state, and federal govts response and lack thereof. Things are now being addressed and progress appears to be being made. We can point blame all we want, but there's a time and a place for that. While I indeed understand it's a terrible thing to be living through, I'm not sure how, for someone who is a victim of this tragedy, trying to figure out why a particular govt agency didn't respond to someones expected timeline really results in any progress.

As for the "how can you muster an army in 24 hours", well, it's actually not done that quickly, even in war time. That is all staged beforehand. But, to your point, the federal govt has no authority over the states in this aspect. The governor would have had to cede control of the National Guard to the federal govt for that to have happend. And even then, I doubt it would have happened the next day. And while some say "well can't we just dispense with procedure and protocol".. well yea, I guess we could, but that does create some interesting precedent issues.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

It really bothers me to see the lack of compassion and caring that people have for disaster area victims from their OWN country.

Lack of compassion and caring? Just because we don't want Bush's head on a platter doesn't mean we lack compassion and caring. I believe there were problems with every level of government, I will not lay blame on just one person.

How do you know what each and everyone of us has done for these victims? Some of us don't feel the need to post about every little thing we are doing.

 

[3for Me]

Native and current New Orleanian here and PERSONALLY know some of the players involved here...and while there is enough blame to go around I ASSURE you that help was offered and refused by our governor. Mr. Nagin finally had to intervene and remind everyone that it was HIS city and he wanted federal help.

I assure you I would not post this information if it were not true and believe me there are many rumors swirling around right now. This is accourate information.

That said, as I stated previously, there is enough blame to go around, I guess I just see it as "easy" to blame the federal government. Not saying that anyone here is doing that, I just think that generally, that happens sometimes.

By the way, I feel your pain. I live in the suburbs and have NEVER EVER flooded, and thanks to the break in the levee, I now am the proud owner of a worthless home on a beautiful (once) tree laden street.

 

[dixipixi]

I also live in La. 80 miles north of NO to be exact. While we did not have the devastation they had, we still had our share. My house and car were totaled. We have been without power for 2 weeks (just got it back). Although we had a generator, it has been virtually impossible to keep fuel for it. Everything we lost can be replaced. Thank God my family is safe.

Since we have been directly affected, I think I am entitled to my opinion on this situation.

Yes, the local and state govt in La. is corrupt. Yes, they did not do the job they should have. But, we are all forgetting how quickly this storm blew up and how little time there was. NO is a large city. Lots of people just don't have a way out. Our business is located right next to I-55 and it was amazing to watch both sides of the highway completely filled with cars headed north. Lots of people did leave.

The bottom line is that when the storm was over, the federal govt definitely dropped the ball. The people in NO are American citizens. They were left with no resources. No clean water, food, or sanitation. The US govt can jump and respond in a matter of hours to people halfway around the world, but these people were abandoned. That's the way I see it.

It's ridiculous that even now, trucks aren't making deliveries. The stores are not being restocked. My cell phone has not worked since the storm. Our land line phone will only call out about 15 miles. I've eaten my share of MRE's, stood in line for ice, waited hours for 10 gallons of gas. Our mail is running days behind, the banks are just now able to access customer accounts. This is the US and I think there is plenty of blame to go around.

I do have to say Thank Goodness for the American people. They have picked up where the govt didn't. We truly appreciate not only the direct aid, but the thoughts and prayers of everyone out there. I've always said that the greatness of America lies in her people and they have proven that during this catastrophe. Thank you all!!!

 

[WDWBetsy]

I also live in La. 80 miles north of NO to be exact. While we did not have the devastation they had, we still had our share. My house and car were totaled. We have been without power for 2 weeks (just got it back). Although we had a generator, it has been virtually impossible to keep fuel for it. Everything we lost can be replaced. Thank God my family is safe.

Since we have been directly affected, I think I am entitled to my opinion on this situation.

Yes, the local and state govt in La. is corrupt. Yes, they did not do the job they should have. But, we are all forgetting how quickly this storm blew up and how little time there was. NO is a large city. Lots of people just don't have a way out. Our business is located right next to I-55 and it was amazing to watch both sides of the highway completely filled with cars headed north. Lots of people did leave.

The bottom line is that when the storm was over, the federal govt definitely dropped the ball. The people in NO are American citizens. They were left with no resources. No clean water, food, or sanitation. The US govt can jump and respond in a matter of hours to people halfway around the world, but these people were abandoned. That's the way I see it.

It's ridiculous that even now, trucks aren't making deliveries. The stores are not being restocked. My cell phone has not worked since the storm. Our land line phone will only call out about 15 miles. I've eaten my share of MRE's, stood in line for ice, waited hours for 10 gallons of gas. Our mail is running days behind, the banks are just now able to access customer accounts. This is the US and I think there is plenty of blame to go around.

I do have to say Thank Goodness for the American people. They have picked up where the govt didn't. We truly appreciate not only the direct aid, but the thoughts and prayers of everyone out there. I've always said that the greatness of America lies in her people and they have proven that during this catastrophe. Thank you all!!!

I'm sorry you and others have suffered through this.

 

[DawnCt1]

Funny, my fiance said he hopes Bush rots in hell and that he thinks the man should be impeached. Considering he lost everything in the New Orleans disaster, I find it very interesting how someone who doesn't live directly in the disaster area vs. someone who does actually sees things.

Somehow, I'm more inclined to listen to someone who lost everything in the governmental ineptitude.

So how does your fiance losing everything make him an expert on what the government did or did not do? And how would anything have changed for your fiance if FEMA had been sitting on his doorstep?

 

[DawnCt1]

It really bothers me to see the lack of compassion and caring that people have for disaster area victims from their OWN country.

I totally disagree with your perception that there is a lack of compassion. Money, time, clothing, food, supplies, volunteers, companies, industries, corporations have opened their hearts and their wallets. I am sorry that you feel that no one cares because that is simply not true.

 

[Bunch24]

So how does your fiance losing everything make him an expert on what the government did or did not do? And how would anything have changed for your fiance if FEMA had been sitting on his doorstep?

Well said. I totally understand totalia's fiance's situation, having family members and close friends that had their houses destroyed in the storm.

But no amount of FEMA help could have stopped that storm from doing what it did. Whether FEMA was there 24 hours before the storm or 24 hours after the storm, it wouldn't have stopped the inevitable.

 

[rie'smom]

Totalia where does your boyfriend live? He talks about the loss of the French Quarter,etc. but the French Quarter is fine. In fact, it is one of the few areas of the city that received little or no damage from either the flood or the hurricane.My friend's brother had drinks in a Bourbon Street bar last week!He was one of those who did not evacuate and stayed in his French Quarter apartment during the storm.
It seems to me that either you or your boyfriend or both of you have a political ax to grind. Look, I don't like Bush but I can see that the hurricane and the flood are not something he wreaked on Louisiana, nor did he direct the storm or the flood to impact black people. Has anyone mentioned that the first people affected by the 17 th canal levee break lived in the area of the Metairie Country club- one of the most exclusive areas in the state?
Oh and I live 45 miles from New Orleans and its where I spent my childhood. Its my favorite city in the world and I literally thanked God that the most historic parts of the city were not destroyed. Its on its way back already and will be better than ever!

 

[DawnCt1]

It seems to me that either you or your boyfriend or both of you have a political ax to grind. !

Nah, Not Totalia! A political ax to grind? Say it isn't so!

 

[WDWBetsy]

Nah, Not Totalia! A political ax to grind? Say it isn't so!

She's not the only one.

 

[WDWBetsy]

I totally disagree with your perception that there is a lack of compassion. Money, time, clothing, food, supplies, volunteers, companies, industries, corporations have opened their hearts and their wallets. I am sorry that you feel that no one cares because that is simply not true.

And I will disagree with you. It's not that no one cares; there are some who are caring less as the days pass. Already there have been many posts where people are complaining about those displaced by the hurricane. Some have been legitimate concerns. They've complained about the disaster benefits being distributed and who's worthy of them. Based on the stupidity of a few, the entire group of disaster victims is thought to be possibly untrustworthy, thugs, and crooks. Complaints have been made about the actions of people severely traumatized by a horrible disaster. What they had time to grab out of their flooding homes before fleeing. And yes, judgements have been made about victims.

These people did not want to flood the cities, schools, and resources. The disaster created this immigration to other cities and states - no plan that I know of coordinated how to handle such a situation. Many had no choice to come to their communities - they were in an utter hellhole and were put on buses. With no choice as to where they were going.

For the most part, compassion has ruled. Sadly, some people feel inconvenienced and slighted - then they take it out on the victims.