Why are we having so many bs debates!

[mamaprincess]

Nothing else matters when babies drowned in a cess pool filled with corpses.
Nothing else matters when grandparents drowned in nursing homes.
Nothing else matters when husbands couldnt protect their children and wives from starving to death right before there eyes.
Nothing else matters when a mother had to sit helpless as she watched her once heathy beautiful child die of dehydration.
Nothing else matters when people had to live and die like that.
We should be ashamed. We dishonor the dead and those that are still dying. We dishonor those who struggled and fought for the lives of their babies.
We are spitting on their graves if we are talking about anything else but how to help them and our country heal from this atrocity.

For the love of your human soul do not continue to dishonor the dead and those that survived. We were all spared such horror ourselves but we still have life yet to live be careful it could be anyone of us next time. show the same compassion and respect that you would want to be shown.

In the name of the father,

 

[Planogirl]

If it happens again, I would hope that the process is smoother and more efficient so less people die. We learn from mistakes.

As for the debates, I wondered also why there were so many. Then I decided that if I didn't want to deal with them then I didn't have to open the threads.

 

[mamaprincess]

I just wonder what is in peoples hearts right now. I'm almost desperate to know, but I'm affraid of what I might find. I've got to believe we are full of compassionmore than anything else.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

One concern I have is that the original posters comments could be attributed to quite a few countries in the world, is there a little parochialism (sp/) here?
The words used are what has been happening in Zimbabwe for example, without I am ashemd to say Western world doing anything about it.

 

[bicker]

If it happens again, I would hope that the process is smoother and more efficient so less people die. We learn from mistakes.

I hope so. We've had disasters before, including Hurricane Andrew relatively recently, yet the American people have not been driven to support expending more resources on emergency management. Hopefully, we'll learn our lesson this time, to acknowledge the value of such investments, and to acknowledge that Nature's in charge.

 

[crazyme5kids]

It is more of a dishonor to remain silent.

 

[catherine]

Nothing else matters when babies drowned in a cess pool filled with corpses.
Nothing else matters when grandparents drowned in nursing homes.
Nothing else matters when husbands couldnt protect their children and wives from starving to death right before there eyes.
Nothing else matters when a mother had to sit helpless as she watched her once heathy beautiful child die of dehydration.

On the contrary I think that it absolutely matters when these things need not have been!

 

[bicker]

As long as we're assuredly on-the-mark in terms of speaking out to make things better. Until we know for sure, though, what actually happened (and that won't be for weeks if not months), we're as likely to advocate doing precisely the wrong thing rather than the right thing.

 

[Planogirl]

I like the idea of working on the levees and of course, repairing the delta in the case of New Orleans. I'm sure that there are also plenty of other ways to better ensure the safety of disaster-prone areas.

The problem is that it's going to take a lot of money. Money that is now being directed towards other "projects".

 

[JimMIA]

As long as we're assuredly on-the-mark in terms of speaking out to make things better. Until we know for sure, though, what actually happened (and that won't be for weeks if not months), we're as likely to advocate doing precisely the wrong thing rather than the right thing.

Your point is very well taken, both from a political view and from a public policy/environmental point of view.

With regard to public policy, you only have to look at the Florida Everglades and the public policy response to the disasterous hurricanes of 1926, 1928, 1935, and 1947, which killed thousands of people.

We jumped on the problem and created what is now called the South Florida Water Management District to provide both flood control and water supply (talk about a tough multiple-priority job!). It was a temporary success beyond anyone's dreams...but it destroyed the Everglades in the process, killed our sport and commercial fishing industries, seriously damaged the acquifer where virtually all of the water for SE Florida and the Upper Keys comes from, and is in the process of killing off our offshore coral reefs. In addition, the success of SFWMD made explosive population growth possible and now we face some old challenges -- flood control, and water supply.

One of the interesting responses was a blue-ribbon panel which studied the problem. To give you an idea of the seriousness of the issue, the panel was called The Commission on the Sustainability of South Florida.

Their conclusion, not surprisingly, was that South Florida is not sustainable without enormous overhaul of the engineering marvel that we built in the 1950's. So now, we are faced with an $8+ BILLION Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, funded half by the state and half by the federal government...much of which is designed to UNdo many of the main features of SFWMD. That plan, incidentally, is the second restoration plan -- the first one failed miserably. CERP is also only one of several plans, each of which must succeed to ensure the sustainability of this area...we think.

As we look beyond recovery to rebuilding, we are going to have to be very, very careful that we don't create worse problems than we have now. I know it doesn't seem possible, but it certainly is.

 

[LoraJ]

I've been arguing about what has been going wrong in this whole crisis because I don't want these people to die. I wanted whomever they could get to getin there and rescue these people right away and I wanted to know why this wasn't happening.

I don't want these people to die. And if my complaining about the process helps change the process so that it can be better executed next time, then I will keep complaing.

Sitting here with my mouth shut does nothing for the victims. I'm fighting FOR them, not against them.

 

[dcentity2000]

What good can silence do?



Rich::

 

[mamaprincess]

I've heard so much indifferednce and petty conversation, even I participated in heated exchanges. We are on fire out here. It is dangerous the ground we are treading on. Very few of us are emotionally ready to have real problem solving conversations, there is an undercurrent of fear and panic that is right along side of the love and compassion. It is frightening.

I dont want to be buried under an avalanche of emotions and questions so thick that I can barely move to help take care of the minds, hearts and bodies of those who survived that horrific event. I personally feel that we need to keep their stories in the forefront.

If it was your Grandmother what would you be saying and doing right now?
Say and do what it takes to heal and show respect for those who are suffering. Not one of us would be saying she should have had an evacuation plan, or why did'nt she get out. Why are we asking questions and taking precious time to go back and forth about topics such as that. These are human beings. Babies could'nt make it out. Elderly, sick and handicapped couldn't make it out, children couldn't make it out. Pray for them and send them your love thats all I'm trying to say. Tell their stories so that compassion not indifference can be stirred up.

Just know that if it was you and yours there are people out here who wouldn't stop to wonder why, thats to close to the blame the victim mentality that is so dangerous. I wouldn't stop to ask or to blame you, I would honor your struggle by commiting my life to helping you and yours recover. It's a better use of our energies and we need every ounce we can muster to help those survivors.

 

[JimMIA]

I hear what you're saying mamaprincess, and I agree with most of it, but we have to realize that each of us perceives situations differently, processes the information differently, and deals with fear, and hurt, and mourning a little differently.

A lot of us are still in the denial and anger phases, so I think we need to cut each other a little slack regarding the quality of some of the threads. What I think is silly and trivial may be very cathartic and very helpful for another poster. I avoid the political and personal squabble threads, but they probably are helpful for others to help them get through.

I'm sure nobody here means any disrespect, or is insensitive to the victims, no matter what they may post.

I've also seen something of a shift on this board today -- with less political posturing and fighting, and more good news and "what can I do to help" threads.

 

[mamaprincess]

As far as what I am doing right now, I am printing out a 500 person mailing on my other computer that I am sending out once it is finished announcing the psa that we taped for a local telvison channel urging viewers to support their local relief efforts and giving a list of where they can be found. There is a list of supplies needed with this mailing. After that I will be going to my local shelter to do some volunteer work, but right now I am waiting on the mailing to finish printing so yes I do have a little time to share with my friends on the dis.

 

[mamaprincess]

I hear what you're saying mamaprincess, and I agree with most of it, but we have to realize that each of us perceives situations differently, processes the information differently, and deals with fear, and hurt, and mourning a little differently.

A lot of us are still in the denial and anger phases, so I think we need to cut each other a little slack regarding the quality of some of the threads. What I think is silly and trivial may be very cathartic and very helpful for another poster. I avoid the political and personal squabble threads, but they probably are helpful for others to help them get through.

I'm sure nobody here means any disrespect, or is insensitive to the victims, no matter what they may post.

I've also seen something of a shift on this board today -- with less political posturing and fighting, and more good news and "what can I do to help" threads.

Thankyou so much, it can be really hard to see and understand the multitude of ways people are dealing with this. We are all so on edge and it is really hard to discourse in a centered and calm way after what we have all witnessed. I will keep everyone's words in my heart. You are promoting understanding.

 

[nliedel]

People debate about this because they think they have a way to solve the problem and want someone to listen or back them up. Perhaps it is a way of expressing their feelings and anger about the situation. People debate because in a time like this if they cannot physically do something (distance etc) they want to do something. It is a release valve for a lot of people to air their feelings. People need a way to get their anger out, let the pain go, find a reason to move ahead. You may not like the debates and the opinions but it is important to let people do what they feel they need to. It is really not for us to judge how others deal with this horrible, horrible tradgedy.

I know somtimes it is hard to watch people argue. I understand that it is draining to some people. Try to find something to smile about. I know it's hard. I know.