The Media Rocks (NOT)!!!!

So, I keep getting these forwards, forwards about how Bush, Black People, Rich People, even Lesbians, are at fault for the devastation occurring after Hurricane Katrina. Well, I am just damn sick of it. Bush is an idiot, yes. He hired the head of the Arabian Horse Association to be in charge of National Safety, DUMB ASS, but whatever. Black people are the majority in New Orleans, it's true, that's why you see them everywhere on the news, sucks for them to not have any money. Rich people had enough money to get out, that's why they are gone. And lesbians, well, you just go ahead and ask Pat Robertson about that one. Even amidst the disfortune of people around the country, it does not make them responsible for the hurricane. Bush and Robertson are ignorant and that sucks, but they did not blow the winds and knock down all the houses. And the poor, black, rich and lesbian folks are unlucky enough to be a part of the countries out groups, but again, they did not get together and destroy half of the South. So what I am saying is, please stop sending me these damn e-mails. More importantly, stop listening to the damn news.

This is what I have learned through my experiences working with the Hurricane.

1. Catholic Charities in St. Louis doing a terrible job with the 200 evacuees because a fight broke out with two siblings who have been living in a room with 5 other people for 16 days. Please ignore the fact that we have found people's families who were missing, the fact that the whole group of men who are living there organize weekly car washes to raise money to give to catholic charities so that when more evacuees come in they have some money to give them as well (that's right, they don't keep any of the money), or how every single child in the group has gotten their physicals and started school here. (Thank you St. Louis Post Dispatch for the Expose)

2. That the most surprising thing about being in Jackson Mississippi was the 107 degree warehouse (cause who thought Mississippi would be hot in the summer time?) and not the amazing volunteers who showed up from California, Kansas City and St. Louis to help out on their own time and dime (thanks channel 5 for the misquote).

3. That the rich were not effected. I guess my aunt Missy, moving to Houston for two weeks, going back to re-erect her demolished house on September 11th and then being forcibly evacuated again doesn't count.

4. That the people stealing food and diapers and even beer, are terrible looters. Please, tell me, what would you do if you were living on the top of your house, surrounded by water/sewage/gas/trash/dead bodies/etc. I think I might take beer too, anything to make me feel a little bit better. Please, do not assume that if you see looters/gang members/criminals on the news it is the majority of people. Most people are just trying to be ok.

5. If I could remember one thing about this experience it is that people are in the middle of a catastrophe. Many people have felt their family members swept from their hands in the flood. One woman came home to her house to rebuild, went upstairs into her attic and found a family of five dead. Sure, people are freaked out, some are taking advantage of the situation, but most are only trying to survive, and find some joy out of nothing.

6. The volunteerism and donations are amazing. People have driven from all over to help out. We have donations from everywhere in the world, eg., we got canned horse meat from Italy and letters from little kids who were giving away their most precious possessions. Please, do not disrespect the people who have lost everything, including their lives, by believing the news.