I am sure by now that we are all aware of the tragedy that occurred (and is still occurring) on the Gulf Coast caused by Hurricane Katrina. If you haven't, where have you been? It has been heartwrenching to see the pictures and videos of the devistation this storm left in its wake. My heart goes out to all those affected, and if I could be there helping I would be...unfortunately, I would just be in the way at this point in time.
What sickens me even more, though, is the fact that some people in this country have turned this disaster into a chance for political gain or another chance to Bush-bash (a favorite hobby of Democrats). I have heard people complain about how Bush didn't deploy the National Guard fast enough, didn't get FEMA involved fast enough, and some even claim that the speed at which relief efforts were able to get to Louisiana and Mississippi proved that Bush was a racist who hates African-Americans. All of this is so sickening that I don't even know where to start, but I shall try.
First, to those who say Bush didn't deploy the National Guard fast enough, guess what, it wasn't his to deploy! The National Guard is the state militia, and is under the control of the governor. If anyone should be blamed for the National Guard's late response in Louisiana, it would be Governor Blanco (a Democrat), who refused to hand over control of the National Guard to the federal government and took a while to even mobilize the Guard into action. Now, maybe Democrats are trying to hide the mistakes of a fellow Democrat by loudly blaming Bush for her mistakes, but Bush had nothing to do with the National Guard. Get over it.
Next, Bush declared a Federal State of emergency in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama BEFORE the hurricane even got there so that FEMA could mobilize and prepare to bring aid as soon as the hurricane had passed. Any delay in relief from FEMA was the result of incompitence with FEMA, not Bush. If you want to say anything here, you could claim Bush appointed the wrong person the lead FEMA, but you can't change that now, and it wasn't a direct response to Katrina. Bush did everything he could to get aid there as soon as possible. Seriously, what more did you want him to do, run out to the Gulf Coast and yell at the hurricane "GO AWAY!"? Not every problem in this country is his fault.
Finally, the claims that Bush hates African-Americans is ludicrous. Kanye West even said during a nationally televised Red Cross telethon "George Bush does not care about black people." Statements like this are ridiculous. Of course most of the people who were victims of Katrina were black; they were the poor in the cities affected! They couldn't get out of the city, and therefore got caught in the floods. Bush tried to get aid to them as fast as possible (as discussed above). On top of this, Bush is one of the most compassionate men I have ever seen. When he visited the victims at the shelters, he embraced them (including embracing African Americans) and I saw tears in his eyes. He loves this country and everyone in it. Democrats may claim that he was "faking" it for the cameras, but you can't fake that kind of compassion. Bush loves the people of this country, including the African-Americans, and it pains him to see them suffering like this.
Of course, none of this should have ever been an issue. I find it appalling that so soon after a tragedy like this that people are already willing to point fingers and let accusations of blame fly. People are already trying to gain a political advantage from this tragedy and it makes me want to puke. In a time of tragedy, the last thing we need to be doing is yelling at one another. Did it ever occur to these people that maybe they could lower their political swords for just a minute and actually try to help the victims and the relief efforts? Tragedies are not times for political gain or throwing around accusations. They are a time to come together as a nation and help those who were affected by this Hurricane. I was reading another blog where the author stated "I am going to start off this post by criticizing all those out there that feel it is unpatriotic to criticize our goverment during times of crises. It is in these times when we need to question what was done and what can be done better the next time." It is not times like these when we need to question the government...it is times like these that we need to put aside our differences and look out for those who most need our help. We should not be questioning what was done while relief efforts are still going on. If you want to question the government's response to situations like this, at least wait until things are getting back to normal. Bickering and blaming people is not going to help anyone.
In conclusion, this is an attempt to open people's eyes to the tragedy within the tragedy. While there are people dying and wallowing in filth, others want to sit back and blame Bush instead of going out and doing their part to help (and Bush has done during his many visits to the area). Tragedies are not political tools, so please do not try and make them one. Go out, help where you can, and keep everyone affected by Hurricane Katrina in your thoughts and prayers. It is through all of us working together that we will overcome this horrible event and become stronger as a nation and as individuals.
4 comments:
I agree with you Patrick. I haven't been following the news as closely as yourself, but in times of need, people should be putting their resources into solving the problem, especially if urgency of the essence. It is true that we as people should always be looking to how we can improve things. To quote a coworker of mine who was trying to remove an overexcited, overanxious family member to an injured woman from the scene "We're doing our best sir, and you're not helping". The guy shut up and backed off, and let us take care of his aunt. This is a smaller scale example. Also everyone is trying to help in their own way, but you, Patrick, are right to see that some forms of "helping" really are more productive than others.
Well-written Patrick! And I agree with you. I think that you should submit this to your school paper. (Fix the spelling of incompetence first). You should also submit it to the Morgan Hill Times as an editorial. I'm proud of you.
Love,
Mom
Well, what can i say that others have not already stated. This was a very well written and thought out piece. I agree completely that pointing fingers and assigning blame do not help in times of need. The key is to help when it is needed and ask questions later. When in times of crisis, the most important thing is to offer aid, keep people calm and relaxed, and focus on the task of rebuilding. Blaming others and starting petty fights when people need help only delays the rebuilding process because everyone gets worked up and loses focus on the important issues, like the people in need.
Next, i think this tragedy reveals a greater problem more endemic to U.S. right now, that people feel that they are deserved anything and everything by the federal government and that each person is quick to place blame on others rahter than what they could have done. Before and and after the Hurricane, politicians and local officials have been pointing fingers and placing blame. And it sickens me that members representing this great counrtry could do such a thing. What i really want to see is people take responsiblity for their failures. I mean look at Bush. It is not his fault that rescue work has been slow and inefficient, but he has stepped up to help by passing aid. This a man we should all look up to, he cares so much and is willing to accept the responsibilities of all those that have thrown it aside.
This is what i say to all of you out there attempting to blame the President and the federal government: think about what you could have done? We knew before the hurricane hit land that people in the way of the hurricane would be devistated, cities would be destroyed, and possibly thousands of casualties. So tell me everyone how you could sit back and place blame now, when nearly everyone sat on their asses, watching and waiting for the hurricane to demolish everything in its way? It's not what others can do for others or for you, but what you can do for others. JFK (a major Democratic Hero) said this, and yet all i hear from democratic analysts and politicians is that someone else is to blame and what others can do for them. I suppose that is a blataint attack on democract's and those bashing political leaders, including myself at the moment, but it is needed. It's important to take a second and think about what we are doing and how we can do better. And at the moment, bickering and fighting are not the anwser. We should all be helping since we have so much more and then worry about what we can do better after we have helped the less fortunately. Action is needed, not words. ~ Jack
Julie says....
Very well said, this has been irking me too. I hate that something this big is just another excuse to have people bitch about what's going wrong rather than being productive. Even if this was Bush's fault (which I don't agree with even for a second), sitting around blaming him isn't going to get much done. And I agree with your mom, you should try to get this published somewhere.
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