Judge Orders Bush Administration to Resume Paying for Katrina Housing

[Marthatex]

Appreciate reading everyones viewpoints on this topic. This is intensely personal to me---not really going to delve into the specifics, and I'm not really in the mood to even dance around the facts as to why, just know that it was and is very personal in many ways and on different levels.

Just want to add my opinion on a few things.


* Yes, the trailers are not safe. Yes, they are tiny. BUT, they are shelter. Basic shelter. When you don't have anything else, you thank God for what you've got. As shitty as they are, huddling your family together under a tree or freeway overpass for shelter is even shittier.

* Yes, NO was crime-ridden before Katrina. I can assure you that while there were crimes being committed by residents, you must also take into account the fact that NO was known worldwide for being a touristy, party spot. Hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the US and other countries flocked to NO to wallow in booze and party. Just the aforementioned (another post) CNN transcript showed, when you add a mass influx of people to the mix, crime will and DOES increase dramatically. Then add mass amounts of liquour and binge drinking from spring breakers, suburbanites fleeing their mundane day-to-day lifestyles to "live it up" and party in NO......you're going to have a ton of crime. Can't be blamed on all the residents. There's a reason that LE in New Orleans had to more than double their force and presence during Mardi Gras.

* All of the posts on rebuilding and the community helping each other are great, wonderful ideas......and it IS being put into practice. It is painfully slow because you need the materials to rebuild. Raw materials cost money, and lots of it. Getting rid of the debris and garbage sounds simple enough, right? Just get rid of it. Those in other parts of America that have garbage and trash collection come twice a week, rain or shine, always on schedule cannot fathom why it is so hard and painstakingly slow to clean up. There are STILL, to this day, STILL parts of NO that have not seen any sort of city refuse services, trucks, or manpower AT ALL since Katrina hit. Many other parts of NO, refuse collection is so sporadic that it happens once every 6 weeks IF THEY'RE LUCKY because city services are overloaded, underfunded, and just generally lacking when it comes to cleaning up after the nations worst natural disaster. So, the piles and piles of stinking and rotting debris remain.

* I cannot sit back and say that the government should stop helping these people....my fellow human beings. I'm not going to get into a rant about the government, but anyone who thinks that Katrina aid wasn't incredibly mismanaged by the government just doesn't have enough information. Period. There are many, many instances and reasons and specifics I could quote, from OUR government knowing waaaaay beforehand that the levee breeches were a very real possibility & not delegating funds to bring them up to code BEFORE a tragedy could occur, to them sitting around or vacationing while our fellow AMERICANS were dying, dehydrating, and stagnating in the Superdome.

For those that just don't really know.......sit back, close your eyes, and just TRY to IMAGINE your entire neighborhood, community, city--essentially your entire life, being erradicated right before your very eyes, your beloved friends and family members dead bodies floating away beside you. Imagine not only the PHYSICAL results of such a tragedy, but the MENTAL and EMOTIONAL results. Try to imagine if you wouldn't be living in a mental fog, emotional rollercoaster of despair, disgrace, anger, sadness, and complete sensory devastation for many many months afterwards. Completely shellshocked for months. It's very easy for those who don't truly know to simply say "OK, times up. Dust yourself off and move on." Just IMAGINE. Then open up your eyes to your nice, dry, warm home, with running water, indoor plumbing, electricity, full refridgerator and dry carpet under your slippered feet. Be lucky you only have to imagine.....I can assure you there are thousands upon thousands of souls who WISH Katrina was just their imagination. When it's not YOUR reality, it's easy to sit back and say what should be done and when it should be done.

Come on, guys.....I'll be the first to say that there are many things and people that I have becomed hardened to in this world. Horrible things and people that really DESERVE my hardness. This isn't one of those things, and these aren't those people. The day I can look at this with a hardened attitude is a sad sad day for me, and quite possibly the day I lose all traces of humanity.

Again, just my opinion----please do not think this is aimed towards any poster(s) in particular, because it isn't. As I said, this is VERY personal for me, and I just wanted to weigh in with what I feel and think for what it's worth.

This deserves a standing ovation IMO. :clap: :clap:

 

[czechmate7]

No one is blaming the government for the natural disaster. The fact remains that there was a devasting MANMADE disaster that occurred after the hurricane and for that the government most definitely deserves blame. I am a solidly a-political person with middle of the road views so my remarks are not at all aimed at any political party. But I have to say that I was physically sickened by the feckless response occurring at all levels of government in the days following the hurricane. To deny that our government failed miserably in responding to this disaster is an uninformed position.

The day I saw those haunting images of suffering Katrina victims ignored by everyone from the President on down was the day I realized my government would not be there for me, in the event of a catastrophic occurance. A scary thought.

Before everyone convicts the Federal government (I'm can only assume the bolded statement is geared toward the Federal level...if not, I apologize) of dropping the ball on this whole tragic disaster, lets not forget that the State and Local levels of government are equally as guilty.

I don't care how many articles get posted.....No one will convince me that things at these two levels did what they were suppose to! Nagin and Blanco have pointed the finger at everyone.....

Look at all the hurricanes that hit Florida in the recent years...Florida was ready at the state and local levels... I live in Flordia, I went through it....And before someone says "Yeah,you can't compare the two", come look @ Pensacola Beach and Gulf Breeze area .... people are still in trailers (2.5yrs later) houses are gone, flooded out.

 

[natasha-cupcake]

Sorry if I didn't make this clear, but I absolutely agree that the government failed on all levels--local, state and federal. That's what I meant when I said from the President on down. I did state that the response was feckless on all levels of government.

 

[windovervocalcords]

This deserves a standing ovation IMO. :clap: :clap:

I second that. Skillful writing Julianne. Very diplomatic. Said with panache. Mirrors my own sentiments.

Thanks also natasha-cupcake.

All those who have compassion for suffering may your kindness be multiplied.

May all habits of cynicism and negativity be dissolved and may all benefit.

 

[Nova]

I second that. Skillful writing Julianne. Very diplomatic. Said with panache. Mirrors my own sentiments.

Thanks also natasha-cupcake.

All those who have compassion for suffering may your kindness be multiplied.

May all habits of cynicism and negativity be dissolved and may all benefit.

Can't I have compassion and then be cynical and negative for entertainment purposes?

 

[Nova]

I, too, want to applaud Julianne's post.

And just to add to the perspective, there are parts of Los Angeles that are still being rebuilt from the Northridge earthquake. And that caused nothing compared to the destruction in NO and it happened in 1993!

 

[deanws]

What?
For general interest...this is one of those dumb are you a racist tests.
http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=12925561706718549677

Ok..took the test. I scored 5 on the test..which means anti-racist. I knew I wasn't.

 

[narlacat]

Ok..took the test. I scored 5 on the test..which means anti-racist. I knew I wasn't.

I scored 34 on the test and it told me I am very tolerant which must mean I'm anti racist ...I knew I wasn't as well Dea I'm just not politically correct...

I'm not sure how accurate that test is though....I'm not very tolerant at all about some things eg Catholicism :slap: :banghead: not that that's news to anyone here

 

[czechmate7]

Ok..took the test. I scored 5 on the test..which means anti-racist. I knew I wasn't.

I scored an 18; neat test.. I'm not racist either :woohoo:
Is there a test for sympathy??? Seems I may lack it !! I think people mistake my "tough love" for unsympathetic.

Dean scores a 5 and anti-racist and narla scores a 34 and anti-racist??? WOW...I wonder if high or low score is more/ess racist?

 

[narlacat]

I wondered that too Czech.

I just went to look at the scoring because there's a big difference between 34 and 5...still I know I'm not racist- I was just curious about the test.

 

[deanws]

I scored 34 on the test and it told me I am very tolerant which must mean I'm anti racist ...I knew I wasn't as well Dea I'm just not politically correct...

I'm not sure how accurate that test is though....I'm not very tolerant at all about some things eg Catholicism :slap: :banghead: not that that's news to anyone here

LOL! You KNOW I love ya!

 

[deanws]

I scored an 18; neat test.. I'm not racist either :woohoo:
Is there a test for sympathy??? Seems I may lack it !! I think people mistake my "tough love" for unsympathetic.

Dean scores a 5 and anti-racist and narla scores a 34 and anti-racist??? WOW...I wonder if high or low score is more/ess racist?

I don't think you come across as unsympathetic. I am a pro "tough love" person myself. I believe you do no favors by bailing out kids/people/family members from mistakes all the time. Sometimes my children got mad at me..but that is all in the price you pay as a parent isn't it!?! My children are much better adults because I didn't rescue them all the time. JMO

 

[czechmate7]

I don't think you come across as unsympathetic. I am a pro "tough love" person myself. I believe you do no favors by bailing out kids/people/family members from mistakes all the time. Sometimes my children got mad at me..but that is all in the price you pay as a parent isn't it!?! My children are much better adults because I didn't rescue them all the time. JMO

You're so kind!! And what you wrote is so totally true. I'm not talking about people who are struggling to make ends meet or people who have totally lost everything and are trying to rebuild their lives. That would be down right cold not to sympathize with those folks.
The person who is whining about not getting their $2k FEMA card as they drive away in their brand spanking new Caddy, kids all decked out in Tommy, Gucci handbag, nails done, $100 + sneakers driving off to their rent free trailer....now, this scenero bothers me....And for people who don't believe this exist...you're fooling yourself!

 

[narlacat]

LOL! You KNOW I love ya!

is this Michelle?

lol, jokes-used to get you two mixed up bigtime!

I think it's sad we can't all be unique- and I think it's sad that noone can say anything nice about anyone else anymore....if I say, geez those black Americans have great rhythm, I'm racist!
Or, aren't those little African babies just too cute....racist.

 

[czechmate7]

is this Michelle?

lol, jokes-used to get you two mixed up bigtime!

I think it's sad we can't all be unique- and I think it's sad that noone can say anything nice about anyone else anymore....if I say, geez those black Americans have great rhythm, I'm racist!
Or, aren't those little African babies just too cute....racist.

Or, as the test ask, are you attracted to someone of another race...if you say no, you're racist...but I'm not attracted to guys with red hair or guys with hair on their back What does that make me then? It's all so political nowdays!

 

[deanws]

is this Michelle?

lol, jokes-used to get you two mixed up bigtime!

I think it's sad we can't all be unique- and I think it's sad that noone can say anything nice about anyone else anymore....if I say, geez those black Americans have great rhythm, I'm racist!
Or, aren't those little African babies just too cute....racist.

I think that is so funny because Michelle and I are friends. I agree, we should all be able to be unique and be appreciated for who we are and celebrate our differences.

 

[deanws]

Or, as the test ask, are you attracted to someone of another race...if you say no, you're racist...but I'm not attracted to guys with red hair or guys with hair on their back What does that make me then? It's all so political nowdays!

Hair on their back! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I know that sometimes my husband and I get dirty looks because I am so much younger than he is. Kind of hurts my feelings!~ They think he is a dirty old man...and that I am a gold digger!!!! They are only 50% correct...he is a dirty old man! LOL J/K! :angel:

 

[narlacat]

I don't remember that question about being attracted to someone of another race lol
I'm mostly attracted to people of the opposite sex! who cares what nationality they are

We know in our hearts if we are racist, who needs a test....loove those little online tests though it's kinda fun waiting to see what your results will be...

 

[narlacat]

Hair on their back! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I know that sometimes my husband and I get dirty looks because I am so much younger than he is. Kind of hurts my feelings!~ They think he is a dirty old man...and that I am a gold digger!!!! They are only 50% correct...he is a dirty old man! LOL J/K! :angel:

Hahahaha, funny.

I've been there.

My ex is 16 yrs older than me....we always got strange looks..

 

[Peter Hamilton]

lol--That test was so dumb--what a waste of time