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New Orleans: What U Can DO!
Sovereign Society Bob Bauman comments on the disaster and the real malaise of this disaster. Bob pretty much hits my nail on the head!
Date: 9/3/2005 11:04:15 AM ( 19 y ) ... viewed 1537 times COMMENT: New Orleans: What YOU Can Do.
Dear A-Letter Reader:
Generally speaking I tend to be an introspective person, having lived
a lonely interior life for most of my years (even though surrounded at
times by crowds, family or friends). I tend to over-analyze, contrasting
potential outcomes, comparing possible or probable results.
Eventually I awake to the reality that I have very little control over
most of the events swirling in my mind; that others will do as they
please; that all I control, if I am lucky, is my own pitifully small
sphere of existence, and that I don't always do a very good job of that.
All of which goes to say that watching the television images beamed
out of the infernal swamp that New Orleans has become is highly
frustrating. These scenes of death, disorganization and disorder produce
in me, as perhaps it has in you, a deep sense of my total impotence
to alter the horrifying events unfolding inexorably there.
Yet, I wish I could do something to help those in need -- and stop those
who recklessly take advantage of this monumental catastrophe. Or
punish those who have contributed to the sad aftermath by their failure
to prepare -- or to respond within a reasonable time.
There are many problems presented by the rise of 24-hour TV news
coverage, not the least of which is its ability to trivialize truly
important issues while concentrating on the inane. (Whatever happened
to Natalie Holloway?) But it also provides a continuing, if distorted,
view of what's happening, events that in another time would have taken
weeks or days to be reported by word of mouth or telegraph. (In 1814,
when Col. Andrew Jackson led outnumbered Americans to victory over the
British in the Battle of New Orleans, the war had been over for several
months, though they didn't know it).
But I must say that what has struck me with the greatest force about
the New Orleans and the Gulf Coast disaster has been the obvious
lack of preparedness of government, especially at the federal level.
Readers know my libertarian views about government in general, but
in my view, if it has any proper role, government must protect the lives
of its citizens. Thus it is stunning that a government that can send
tens of thousands of National Guard troops to Iraq in an ill justified
war, cannot command a few thousand guardsmen within 24 hours to
patrole the streets of one of American major cities in distress.
A friend tells me that in some ethnic circles in New York City the
New Orleans disaster is talked of as one of the portents that "The End
Is Near!" Indeed, there has been an apocalyptic tone to the TV talking
heads assessing this cataclysm. "Biblical" they call it.
The Book of Revelations speaks of wars, famines, disease epidemics
and heavenly signs that will alert the world when that end is near. But
it also contains a promise: "God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying;
neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed
away." Revelation 21:4.
As with Chicago after the fire, San Francisco after the earthquake,
Galveston after the hurricane and Johnstown after the flood, I
believe that this massive distruction and loss of life will not stop the
people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast from ultimate revival
and triumph.
In the meantime, each of us should considering doing all we can to
help those who are suffering. That's something we can do.
That's the way it looks from here.
BOB BAUMAN, Editor
COMMENT LINKS:
* American Red Cross telephone donation hotline: 1-800-435-7669.
* American Red Cross web site LINK: http://www.redcross.org/
* Episcopal Relief, LINK: http://www.er-d.org/
* Salvation Army. LINK: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/
* Catholic Charities, LINK: http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/
* B'nai B'rith Disaster Relief, :LINK: http://www.bnaibrith.org/
* Baton Rouge Area Foundation. LINK: http://www.braf.org/
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