...So listen up, if you would allow me to share. Many of you have heard lots of platitudes from this chair, all meant earnestly and a few taken seriously...I thank you for that. One of those that I live by is this: There are times when we all have to take care of each other, because it's the right thing to do. You invest in others, it will come back....Too many times in my own life, that has happened, and I am personally thankful. Maybe because I HAVE lived in my car. I HAVE been without a place to go. I HAVE experienced not eating during a day's time in my life. And this is not about me, so hold your drawers until you hear me out.
Two words: Katrina survives.
The folks on the Gulf Coast still fight to live, still fight to survive, still fight to keep themselves moving forward....still fight. And one wonders how. There are STILL people....three fucking years later....who have no home. No electricity. No jobs. None, zero, empty, nada. In THIS country...the richest to ever see the earth in its green, its blue, its brown, black, yellow, white colors...For any of this to happen at all, let alone continue...I am absolutely ashamed and angry. According to what I saw today, 43%....nearly HALF, folks ... of people who were displaced by the August 2005 hurricane remain in that same state of limbo. There are babies born who have never had a home. There are children who don't know what it's like to sleep in their own beds at night. There are parents who have not been able to get back to work, because the displacement also got rid of employers. There are jobs that will never be regained all along the Coast itself. There are families who -- three fucking years later -- have yet to be reunited.
I personally have never seen a local, state or federal official stand up and share with the world what they did wrong and what they have tried to do to prevent such a catastrophic reaction to such a large-scale emergency happen again. None. And so much of the time we sit back and say to ourselves...."It's not MY job..."
Well....goddammit....YES IT IS.
And this administration sits by and does....??? Eventually it all comes back to politics. I know that unless someone out here has found a senator with a great big cock, or an official with a pussy that can talk to you....that no one wants to talk about politics. And I recognize that...what we do for each other is a release, a sharing, an escape from judgment. But on issues like these, where those who need more are totally ignored, it seems...well, something, somewhere in our lives has to change. Even on a small, let-me-help-this-guy level....Street people and the invisible homeless are NOT the same thing. And we are aware enough in our lives to see the difference. We are NOT stupid. What we are is apathetic. A major rule of life these days: People HATE change....If it doesn't affect us in OUR wallets, OUR families, OUR backyards, then it's happening to someone else. The middle class has disappeared; there seems to be only two now -- rich and poor...and the line on the poor is getting higher every day. Do you know, folks, that until the beginning of this year, the Federal minimum wage in the US was $5.15? And it stayed at that level for nearly 11 YEARS!!! Do some math for yourselves... So you see, what I refer to here was not some heavy thunderstorm. Hurricane Katrina literally changed the way we live our lives. And not in a good way.
If I started a drive to get a donation well of some kind among us, would you be interested? Drop me a line...you see my e-mail address on my profile. I appreciate the fact that you listened this far. I could use suggestion here. I'll be more than happy to coordinate anything. I'll create a new blog for you all to write to... I'll gather some resources in your town if you don't want to do it... You get to a point in life where you simply need to be proactive for yourself. And for your friends in trouble. And yes...for people you don't even know. Please talk to me. Even if you don't agree with any of this, I will respect you for reacting. But somewhere along the way...
...We all have to take care of each other.
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8 comments:
The kindest acts can be of strangers. I'll poke around and see what I can do around here.
poverty at times can be relative, can't it. I may claim to be broke, but i have a home, I can afford food, and have a job that mainly pays the bills.
I do not know poverty, I never really have, tough times yes but not poverty.
I don't have much, and I don't live in the US, but I do live in the same world as others. I give here in the UK, and I'm happy to give elsewhere.
I see clients in my store everyday who are still displaced by Katrina. They are trying to make a life in my city, even though it's 2000 miles from Home and someone promised them it would only be temporary.
I understand your frustrations. Maybe a list of grassroots organizations that are making an impact would help? They still need donations, especially since it's not front page news anymore. I'll do some digging.
I hear you ron and I am sure there are a lot of people out there who like me ha no idea these people were still suffering so badly.
Thank you for brining it to our attention
Ron, having seen the devastation first hand, 2 years after the hurricane, I will definitely be part of whatever you come up with. I already donate regularly through Slumber Parties SPARCAS -Slumber Parties Actively Restoring Character and Spirit that helps not only Katrina victims but all those who may need a helping hand, but I LOVE New Orleans and would like to see the whole area, not just one city, become whole again so count me in.
I am one who agrees...you got me up off my ass again to get back into my volunteer commitment to my charity - thanks for the kick where I needed it!
After snooping around, I'm afraid I haven't found a lot of information on which of the hundreds of charities started in the wake of Katrina, actually still exist.
I did find out that 60% of the relief money was raised by the American Red Cross. Faith based charities, such as the Salvation Army are still doing a lot in the area also.
Ron, I've been away awhile. Sorry. And I'll be completely honest. I read this and thought about it. I didn't come back because I didn't know what to say.
Here's my truth: I am self-centered, spoiled, and fairly uncaring. I'm a liberal. But I'm all talk and no action. I dwell in my private life. I don't think often about helping others. When I do it is with the intellectual snobbery of a highly educated woman talking about how the system doesn't work and doing nothing to change it.
That's not to say that I don't try to change the world with my vote and my pocketbook for candidates I believe will change things. But you see I want them to use my tax money to do those things so that I can turn a deaf ear, a blind eye and pretend those problems don't exist. I am an escapist and I want to do whatever I can to avoid thinking about how very little I do for people less fortunate than me.
So I apologize for not responding. It was because you reminded me of what a piece of shit I really am and like all else, I prefer to avoid that fact.
If you start something, let me know. Maybe you can motivate me to get off my fat, fairly rich, very well fed, lazy, self-centered, greedy ass and do something for a change.
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