August 31
...serving up your daily dish.
Anybody else hooked?
(Cartoon courtesy HumorInk of Montclair)
no atm's-no food-no protection from the elements-lost loved ones-having to put someone's elses life at risk to save my own--no clothes-no water-risk of illness--no communication--danger of unbelievable proportions-shock--yes with pathos --i am watching and praying--i wish i could rally actually today but i am filled with a deep sense of despair--
Posted by: cstarling | Aug 31, 2005 10:39:53 AM
What country is this again? Watching the news briefly, I see poor Americans walking the highways fleeing the floods. There are stories of people sleeping under highway over passes. Where is the national guard and their equipment? Iraq. Where is President Bush? On the golf course!
Without the national guard we are completely vulnerable to attack and natural disasters. The hurricane in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama demonstrates how this administration has completely mismanaged the basic domestic security of the US. Let us also not forget that the Bush administration has jeopardized US foriegn relations while putting American solders in harms way. Bottom line, Bush does not care what happens to anyone as long as it is not happening him.
Posted by: lasermike026 | Aug 31, 2005 10:44:36 AM
While not measuring on the same level of tragedy as the lives that have been thrown into chaos and destroyed along the Gulf Coast, there are students in New Jersey and throughout the nation who were about to start college at Tulane this week and will not be able to get tuition refunds if the city is evacuated. Hopefully Rutgers or Montclair State etc. will make special accommodations to accept them so their semester (or longer)is not lost.
Posted by: cannon | Aug 31, 2005 10:45:43 AM
A face-saving way out of Iraq! Gotta bring Haliburton home to repair oil production and refining facilities. That's compasionate conservation. You read it here first ....
dfb
Posted by: dummiesforbush | Aug 31, 2005 10:46:58 AM
This isn't a time to be red or blue. This is a time to be thankful for everything we do have right now - power, food, water, comfortable beds, and our loved ones. Suddenly shoveling my car out of the snow doesn't seem so bad.
Posted by: hrhppg | Aug 31, 2005 10:57:52 AM
Well said, HRH. Whatever one thinks about George Bush, he didn't cause Hurricane Katrina. Let's concentrate on helping our fellow man and moving forward.
Posted by: Miss Martta | Aug 31, 2005 11:07:14 AM
I think that CNN is providing a service to all the people who have been displaced. This is the only way that our friends and relatives who evacuated have of knowing what is going on. Also anyone who is thinking of making a donation I strongly urge you to give to the Red Cross. My parents were affected by Hurricane Charlie last year in Florida. The Red Cross was fabulous. They provided 2 senior citizens with with everything they needed: food (both hot and cold), water, flashlights and batteries, occasional cell phone calls to let us know how they were and most importantly, compassion.
Posted by: swc | Aug 31, 2005 11:08:49 AM
And if you donate to the American Red Cross, or other disaster relief charity, don't forget to find out if your employer has a matching gifts program.
Posted by: Captain Vegetable | Aug 31, 2005 11:21:47 AM
LaserMike,
Looks like you got your 'talking points' memo from MoveOn. Ugh. How 'bout a little compassion.
Posted by: Frosty | Aug 31, 2005 11:24:07 AM
Where can we donate? After the tsunami it was fairly easy to find listings on the web of organizations accepting donations for the victims. Anyone know of any similar websites for this disaster?
The coverage in the Times brought me to tears on the subway this morning.
Posted by: gbingr | Aug 31, 2005 11:27:32 AM
I wouldn't donate to the Red Cross. In the past, they've had a terrible record of charging the afflicted for the privilege of some comfort. Might I recommend the Salvation Army? They came up big in NYC during 9/11 and I'd donate to them in a heartbeat. Plus, the citadel's right here in town and likely would accept donations.
Posted by: Notteham | Aug 31, 2005 11:44:41 AM
Watching the news about the hurricane early this morning, liberal me was shocked to hear my thoughts echoed by a Fox news reporter -- "where is the rest of the world? where are our allies?"
Am I missing something, or is there a deafening silence?
Posted by: Agent 99 | Aug 31, 2005 11:49:52 AM
Sorry, but I'm angry and I'm going to get political now. Please read no further if it will make you angry.
My father-in-law, who lives part of the year in New Orleans told me many months ago that funds for maintaining and strengthening the levee that holds back Lake Ponchartrain were being cut back to help fund the war. I didn't think much of it at the time but now it seems he was right...
Did New Orleans Catastrophe Have to Happen?
Posted by: State Street Pete | Aug 31, 2005 12:24:37 PM
Sorry, first time trying the hyperlink thing and it doesn't seem to work.
Here's the article..
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001051313
Posted by: State Street Pete | Aug 31, 2005 12:29:55 PM
Anyone remember the Bound Brook (NJ) flood in '99 from Huricane Floyd? Not quite the same in scope, but its important to recognize whenever people's lives are disrupted, displaced, or even fatally lost.
As much as I'd rather live in the land of palm trees and sunshine, I think I'd rather deal with a NJ blizzard than hurricanes, tidal surges, earthquakes, tornadoes, and sweeping fires.
Posted by: Jim | Aug 31, 2005 12:51:19 PM
(Watching the news about the hurricane early this morning, liberal me was shocked to hear my thoughts echoed by a Fox news reporter -- "where is the rest of the world? where are our allies?")
NO Kidding... nothing from anyone across the pond... no mention of any foreign aid from our State Dept as of late last night.
Unbelievable...
Posted by: Pam | Aug 31, 2005 1:09:23 PM
Nottenham - thanks for the info. i've been wondering where my $$ should go - just not well versed on the topic of who will deliver best.
i am so heartbroken. newscasters are even having a hard time keeping it together.
i remember my freshman year at Tulane, when our RA's has us drag our mattresses into the dorm hallways and tape up the windows for Hurricane Georges. when it missed us, we joked about it. it's not a joke anymore.
Posted by: efs | Aug 31, 2005 1:53:03 PM
[Watching the news about the hurricane early this morning, liberal me was shocked to hear my thoughts echoed by a Fox news reporter -- "where is the rest of the world? where are our allies?"]
Last night the Governors from those states were on Larry King and they all said they've gotten numerous calls from various countries and states offering help and assistance. (And - we are one of the richest nations in the world, so it's not as if we can expect impoverished countries to help us.)
Just b/c the media doesn't cover it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. If you went only by what the media tells us, we'd never know there was an Iraq War or a Darfur crisis!
Posted by: butchcjg | Aug 31, 2005 1:54:16 PM
I have watched several different news channels and have heard nothing about international concern/aid. I did not see Larry King. I have seen some of the states' govs on tv at press conferences, and they've spoken of other states, but not of other countries.
Even the poorest country can issue a statement of concern and prayer.
Posted by: Agent 99 | Aug 31, 2005 2:04:55 PM
On the Salvation Army website, they say a $100 donation will feed a family of 4 for 2 days, plus provide for water and clean up tools. The need is so huge, where do you begin? Well, I guess with a family of 4. Anyway, a word of warning: the S.A. website is experiencing some pretty heavy traffic right now -- it took 3 tries to get them to accept a donation (unless, of course, they accepted 3 donations ...) I advise either patience or perhaps logging on around midnight tonight.
Posted by: gbingr | Aug 31, 2005 2:35:25 PM
Read the news on the internet and you'll see stories saying that all kinds of leaders have spoken out or offered to help, from the French to the Germans to the Chinese to the British to the Dutch to the Swiss - and so on - even Venezuela (who Pat Robertson wants to destroy) offered aid and fuel. And if you read foreign media, you'll see that many newspapers have called out for people to help - even in places like Thailand, which is still recovering from their own tsunami disaster.
Posted by: butchcjg | Aug 31, 2005 2:44:59 PM
NJ and Governor Codey now have a model to follow: Illinois Gov. Blagojevich today took action to assure that students displaced by the hurricane can continue their education at any Illinois community college.
Posted by: cannon | Aug 31, 2005 3:25:30 PM
Oh I so love Nawlins. My heart aches right now. Since de Bienville's day this has always been the fear because it was almost a certainty to happen. This was part of the attitude and spirit of the city. Live today because tomorrow? Who knows?
Yes the finger pointing has begun (by the usual suspects) but it is pointless. All the precautions against flooding that could have been built would probably have been breeched by this size storm. It was not the best place to locate a city to begin with and all we have done since just made things worse. The first levee built started making the risk higher. The levees just led to the demise of the coastal lands that helped to protect the city. Trying to forestall one type of flooding but increasing the possibility of another. Billions have been spent and billions more will be. Nawlins shall be back. It's that kind of place. Unfortunately it will also be flooded again. Read some Mark Twain. The river always wins.
Till then I will contribute and pray. I have family there who thankfully evacuated and survived. Apparently all they had is gone though. This is a huge hit. It's time we should be united again for awhile to deal with it. Plenty of time for the useless politics later.
Posted by: stealth | Aug 31, 2005 3:38:38 PM
