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« Introducing ... | Main | The Best News In A Long Time »Sunday, September 04, 2005
Because It's Not Just All Puppies Around Here
I went out Friday night and got pretty drunk. I was in a bummer of a mood and really couldn't put my finger on why until I was at home, at 2 a.m. in front my computer, crying the sort of drunken, hysterical crying one does after too much gin, reading report after report after report on the conditions of things in Louisana and Mississippi. This sort of crying was bound to happen this week. You just can't be human and not break down after what's happened, no matter how surreal it seems. Now, after all of my crying, I'm pissed off and angry. Watching the Sunday morning news programs today just made me even moreso. I shake my head in disbelief of it all. I found this, via Pamie, and wanted to share: The President said something interesting while appearing on Good Morning America: "I hope people don't play politics at this time of a natural disaster the likes of which this country has never seen." He's right. A lovely thought. However, via Hunter at Daily Kos: "Oh, I'm touched. Utterly touched. After 9/11, the entire Republican Party went en masse to get Twin Towers ass tattoos. The Republican convention was a wholesale tribute to crass exploitation, the sets themselves designed to evoke the aftermath of the attack. Every domestic and international policy this administration -- no, this entire Republican government -- has produced has been heaved up before the public while waving the spectre of 9/11 as the catch-all vindication of every administration whim. Every tax cut, every civil rights issue, every budget cut, every budget expansion, no matter how tortured the logic must be, has some Republican senator standing on the Senate floor and proudly raping the corpses of that day as justification for their particular agenda item. Oh, we've seen politicization of disaster. Every Republican campaign for the last four years has revolved around the politicization of disaster. But Lord help us, George W. Bush is going to get the vapors if anyone asks him to explain his administration's active cuts of the very programs designed to keep New Orleans safe." I have no further elaboration on any of this, as it says everything I feel right now, better than I could phrase it. I wish there was one of those stupid magnetic ribbons I could slap on my car to illustrate just how much I loathe this administration but I doubt it. Gah. [Edited to add The Cavalry Didn't Come: I watched this video this morning. If you find video, you should too.] Posted by Erin at 03:19 PM | filed under: Political, baby commentsMakes my blood boil all over again! Don't understand why relief took almost a week. There is so much I want to say but I won't. I'm disgusted. Thanks for sharing,Erin. posted by: Cyndi at September 4, 2005 06:44 PM australia just seems so far away at times like this. I can't imagine how you are feeling. I can't even imagine how i would feel if that happened here. Our government is the same though, no balls behind the barricades! ps - sorry to break the overall feel but the puppy is adorable! posted by: airlie at September 5, 2005 03:19 AM We are all watching the news and feeling just sick about it too. I'm sorry but not surprised that you're feeling like that - it's totally natural. I will definitely nick that button (as soon as I can work out how to). Go and give Glin a cuddle. That might help you feel a little better. I'm not much of a dog person, but she does look very sweet and fluffy indeed. posted by: Kirsten at September 5, 2005 03:52 AM I am also very sad about this terrible situation. It is heartbreaking. Just when I tell myself that I am going to stop watching, I watch a segment. Like last night, about children in shelters that don't know where their parents are. Like you, I am utterly shocked that relief was delayed. Things are starting to look better. I have faith that the American people and volunteers from all over the world will do all they can to help these people. It's a complex situation. We can't point the finger at one person. I am no fan of Bush at the moment, but many sytems failed. We can point the finger at many people. Let this be a lesson to us, and may something like this never happen again. posted by: Lori at September 5, 2005 09:06 AM I keep hearing people say things like, "now isn't the time to make this political" and, "this is not a race issue, saying it's a race issue takes away from the rescue mission - there's time enough to discuss this afterwards." Umm, OK. I agree to an extent, but the fact of the matter is, when has it ever been a convenient time to discuss something like this? I wonder what would have happened if MLK had said, "OK, not a good time? We'll try for civil rights next year." Talking about it while passions are high and people are paying attention is exactly the right time. And as a country of multi-taskers, I find it hard to believe that the people whose job it is to get in there and save the people who are dying can't do that while the rest of us write checks to the Red Cross and try to puzzle out why this happened. People I've talked to have all been in an uproar about Kanye West's comments on Harry Connick Jr's relief concert. I think he just said what so many of us in this country are thinking, and more power to him for having the guts to say it live on national television. (I heard they edited his comments out for the West Coast, but here in NJ we heard it loud and clear.)
posted by: another erin at September 5, 2005 07:02 PM The convention center was not a designated shelter. People started going to the convention center on their own. A few people were there, and then it snowballed. The press started to trickle in, and then they realized that masses of people were there. I have had a few days to collect some facts on the matter. I was outraged and angry that people were basically stranded at the convention center without food and water. But, there are logistics involved. I think it is dangerous to start blaming the Bush administration when many leaders failed New Orleans. It's funny how nobody is blaming Governor Blanco. It is the governor's responsiblity to call the National Guard, not the federal governments responsibility. It's sad how the press and public are playing the race card. It just drives a wedge between us even further. I think Kanye West's remarks were embarrasing, and so far from the truth. Like I said, I don't blindly follow Bush, and I am not a huge fan. I didn't vote for him in the last election, but it's amazing how much blame and hatred there is for this administration. We may not like the war in Iraq, but is it fair to attack him for things we don't fully understand yet? posted by: Lori at September 5, 2005 07:35 PM I just found out the head of FEMA was a political plant, a part of the good ol' boy network. An Arabian horse judge! I am so confused. I also learned that FEMA is no longer it's own entitiy, but part of Homeland Securtiy. I can see how we can blame the administration, but still disagree with blaming it on race. I don't think George Bush hates black people. He may *hate* poor people, if you want to put it that way. posted by: Lori at September 5, 2005 07:53 PM Erin - i'm sad too, but i'm concerned about you. are you okay? i ask because of the getting drunk bit, as a means of making yourself fell better. i've tried it too - it never works for me. please understand, i say this from a good place, with affection for you in my heart. take care of yourself first, or you can't help anyone else. i've never posted before, but have been reading for a couple of years. posted by: jddlas at September 5, 2005 08:53 PM The Convention Center might not have been officially designated as an evacuation spot, I don't know for sure, but I do know that SEVERAL news outlets reported on the people there on Wednesday. On Thursday the head of FEMA insisted FEMA had only learned about the evacuees that day. How is it possible that millions of Americans knew this important information but FEMA didn't? Plus, isn't it just common sense to assume that people will head for higher ground when there's a flood? And since the convention center is obviously on higher ground, it seems silly to accept FEMA's claims that they didn't know the people were there. Meanwhile, Bush insisted that there was no way of knowing the levees would burst. Right, because that wasn't documented in all of the Army Corp of Engineers and the LA government's pleas for funding to finish the levees? You know, when the Bush administration cut the funding for three years in a row (though they did find several million to finance a bridge to an uninhabited Alaskan island - money well-spent, no doubt) I'm sure it was just b/c nobody told them about the levees and how crucial they are to the safety of millions of POOR N.O. citizens (who, by the way, also happen to be black. Hey, did you know that African Americans typically tend to vote Democratic? Interesting. ) Also, as late as Thursday or Friday, the people trapped in the convention center amongst the dead and dying were not permitted to walk up the road and over a bridge that would have taken them to food, water, medical help, etc. Checkpoints were in place and people attempting to walk towards help were turned away and told to return to the convention center. Geraldo Rivera & Shep Smith on FOX News (a rabidly conservative network) reported on this. I'm not a fan of this network, but for once there was no spin - these reporters were there and reporting back what they were seeing - and they were clearly as appalled as the rest of us. Check out the following link to view their report: http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/09/02.html (It should be the 2nd story - sorry, I don't know how to link directly here - or if it's OK to do so.)
posted by: another erin at September 5, 2005 10:14 PM Just as a reminder: the comments aren't a forum for everyone to start a war; I appreciate everyone's opinions on the matter. You guys rock, and I love how varied your opinions are, but there is nothing more irritating than when a blog's comments feature turns into a makeshift, angry town hall when one isn't really necessary. You all are entitled to feel how you want to feel, really, and you can post those thoughts here. Just don't look at this medium as a way to argue with people, OK? Just keep it all constructive, that's all I ask! jddlas -- you're sweet, and I appreciate your concern, misguided and presumptuous as it may be. No matter, since you asked: I hadn't gone out with the intention of getting drunk. posted by: Erin at September 5, 2005 10:19 PM Sorry, Erin! Got a little carried away there. posted by: another erin at September 5, 2005 10:23 PM No, no. You guys are fine! I just wanted to be preemptive before others got into the mix and it became a donnybrook! As you were, ladies! posted by: Erin at September 5, 2005 10:30 PM Erin, I apologize for using your blog to discuss politics. I promise to be civil. "another Erin" I saw some of the Fox reports. I saw the grief and despair in Shepard Smith's face. I do think that all networks are biased in one way or another. It's amazing how quick everybody comes out with hatred and blame. If Kerry were president, I suppose the Republicans would be complaining, or maybe the Democrats would blame it on the previous administration. We have to remember that the levee needed work for 40 years. That is what failed New Orleans--the levee gave way. We can blame that on our government. We can blame the Bush administration for appointing an Arabian horse commissioner to be the head of FEMA. We can blame the Bush administration for compromising FEMA's ability to make decisions. posted by: Lori at September 5, 2005 11:50 PM What's a donnybrook? Well, I can guess, but why's it called that? Maybe I should submit it to Word Detective, if nobody knows. Kirsten, who increasingly feels she doesn't speak the language... posted by: Kirsten at September 6, 2005 03:16 AM Presumptuous it was - sorry. I'm probably oversensitive to that kind of thing, for my own reasons, which obviously have nothing to do with you. posted by: jddlas at September 6, 2005 08:59 AM OK this is my last post on this entry. I feel myself becoming annoying already. :) Kirsten, here you go. :) posted by: Lori at September 6, 2005 09:03 AM laurie's planet of sound in my 'hood has magnetic bumperstickers that say things like "bandwagon patriot" and "i support empty causes." i'll check to see if they have something pertaining to this administration. posted by: carrie at September 6, 2005 03:44 PM Thank you Lori! I used to have free access to the OED online at work, but not anymore :( posted by: Kirsten at September 7, 2005 06:36 AM |
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I hear you on the sadness. I really do.
http://www.evolvefish.com/fish/stickers.html is the best place for stickers and magnets and everything else - political, religious, feminist, etc. They have a good selection.
The best part? They'll happily put the bumper sticker on a magnet for you so you don't have to wreck your car. (I should really post a picture of the backend of my car sometime... Heh. :)
posted by: Dana at September 4, 2005 04:24 PM