hardest times in the big easy

for the past few days i've been depressed and frustrated about the horrible situation in new orleans. while i feel for all the folks in the gulf coast who were affected by katrina, i'm most sympathetic (and upset) for the people who were stuck in new orleans to face an aftermath arguably worse than the wind and rain itself. no one in the world should have to live like that, without suitable shelter and food, let alone in the so-called richest nation on earth. simply unacceptable and unforgiveable. i hope the current administration gets its a** dragged through the fire for the lackadasical response.

my elders taught me that sometimes a bad omen is rooted in nothing more concrete than an uneasy feeling. when i saw that most of the folks using the superdome for shelter were black and poor, i knew there would be no good end to it. and soon thereafter emerged the first reports of looting and violence. uh, DUH! people hadn't EATEN! i'll refrain from a full rant here since this is a public space, but why is it that poor folks, especially black ones, are expected to be noble in times of scarcity (rather than steal and swindle, like their rich counterparts are used to doing). kanye west has hit it on the head again (i'm already impressed by his remarks against homophobia ), saying america helps "the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible."

i am relieved to report that my three friends in new orleans are all safe and staying with friends/family out of the area. godspeed to their louisiana counterparts; my thoughts and best wishes are with them.

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