Left and Right Moving Forward

Bloggers Do Their Best for Katrina Victims (and bravo to Kevin Drum).

Meanwhile, help has arrived.

NEW ORLEANS - Thousands of National Guardsmen with food, water and weapons streamed into Louisiana on Friday to bring relief to New Orleans' suffering multitudes and put down the looting and violence. "The cavalry is and will continue to arrive," said one general.

But this next is quite hyperbolic.

The assurances came amid blistering criticism from the mayor and others who said the federal government had bungled the relief effort and let people die in the streets for lack of food, water or medicine.

(Emphasis mine.)

People don't die from the lack of these within four days, as we should know from a certain prominent story from earlier this year.

In related news, the president will tour the Biloxi area, which, from reports, was hit much harder than NO. GWB is also scheduled to overfly NO in Marine One, but may or may not touch down there. Additionally, he criticized federal relief efforts.

"A lot of people are working hard to help those who've been affected. The results are not acceptable," he said. [SNIP]

"What is not working right, we're going to make it right," Bush said. Referring to rampant looting and crime in New Orleans, Bush said, "We are going to restore order in the city of New Orleans."

*****

Last night, as I was standing under a warm shower, soaping my head down with shampoo, I thought of dirty, itchy hair with vermin; I thought of how many women like me in NO hadn't had a bath in days and how some of those women will never again feel clean after being raped by the animals housed with them in the Superdome. Later, as I drank several ounces of fresh water before retiring in relative safety to my comfortable bed, I thought of how thousands of New Orleans and Mississippi and Alabama residents did exactly that one week ago, never thinking that there would be an interruption.

None of us is promised a thing on this Earth. It's easy to forget that in a country like ours, but, every now and then, we get a jolt of reality.

Don't forget to do what you can, even if it's confined to prayer.

UPDATE: Donate via the NAACP.

UPDATE: Yogimus comments:

And do NOT donate to the NAACP. Have your cash go to the red cross. Unless you WANT to finance the "Whitey did it" campaign that is sure to follow.

Well, people can make their own choices here. The NAACP's animosity against Republicans in general and the president in particular is well known. However, some people were wondering why organizations dedicated at least nominally to the uplift of black people weren't stepping forward to assist in a disaster that has obviously affected so many black people. So I felt it necessary to point out that this one was trying to do something, all partisanship aside.

Comments

[Yogimus]

These people act as if the WAS no 2 day warning. They made the decision. They pay for it.

[Yogimus]

And do NOT donate to the NAACP. Have your cash go to the red cross. Unless you WANT to finance the "Whitey did it" campaign that is sure to follow.

[DarkStar]

Grow up.

The Urban League, Black America Web, and Tom Joyner Morning Show are also pitching in.

[baldilocks]

Grow up.

Excuse me?

The Urban League, Black America Web, and Tom Joyner Morning Show are also pitching in.

You might want to read the most recent post, before making assumptions, Darkstar.

[Yogimus]

The NAACP is not a disaster relief organization. Their spokesmen have already alluded to Nawlins being the great purge, orchestrated by the white man.

If you want to help, HELP. But not because the people are black. Help them because they are people.

All in all, I strongly believe your money would be better spent elsewhere. More cash on site with other organizations.

[baldilocks]

Look here, you two. I'm giving props to ANYONE who is doing something constructive. Now save your animosities (Yogimus) and your lack of ability to understand a purpose (Dark Star) for some other time.

I'm in no mood for anyone's BS today.

[DarkStar]

My comment was directed towards Yogimus, not you. I believe you think I was responding to you. I wasn't.

[Yogimus]

I am deploying to N.O. in 12 hours. Wish me luck!

(NAACP is fine as a POLITICAL organization, but it is NOT set up for disaster relief. <- the crux of my argument)

[Nancy Reyes]

and remember to mail money for other victims of disasters...
I send money to my friends in Zimbabwe...who are also lacking food...and some of them housing...

[blackoutloud]

It's important that we not only share our frustrations with regards to Katrina, but share our relief efforts.

We must all play apart in aiding these victims in need.

http://msoy.blogspot.com/2005/09/hurricane-katrina-african-american.html