Where is OUR support?

[night2day]

night2day: "unpredicated"? Do you mean unpredicted ? If so your arquement falls right on its face.

I had assumed individuals here on the net would discern a typo/mispelling when falling on in literary skills. Not use error it to avoid commenting on what was said in the post.

We were warned that the levys needed work way before the hurricane struck...

As well as the draining pipes? The same ones which were designed to drain only 2 inches per hour and 1/2 an inch each hour after? Tell me then how both the levies as well as the draining pipes can withstand a draining 9 inches of rain per hour as well as a near 30 foot storm surge?

Do you really think working on the levies would have helped the situation? Can you really imagine what damage, overload, immediate erosion does durring a catagory 5 hurricane? Especially to a city which is under sea level?

We were also warned of this particular hurricane. Our nation did not spring into action...

Then you missed all the reports and warnings that were given of a mandatory evacuation that proceeded the hurricane. However, the evacuation was for 48 hours when it should have been 72. But then, a majority of people, even meterologists, didn't take Katrina seriously until they noticed what path she was taking and she was already in the midst of strengthening rather quickly.

Do you really think relief aid and workers would arrive on the scene right during or right after the hurricane? Wanted more casualties?

BTW : I am a republican and I voted for Bush. It is not about politics. It is about accountability!

It is about a very large storm, one this nation has not encountered ever before, leaving devestation within this nation that has not been encountered before.

It is about the authorites; local, state, national, and federal; are all doing their utmost best in sending relief and aid to the survivors and evacuating them to someplace safe.

And it is about people who aren't there, aren't a part of any government authority, aren't a part of the relief efforts first hand, yet sit in as judge and jury of all those people in our nation.

This is a near impossible task to work through. Instead of constantly criticizing the relief efforts, all Christians should pray for all those involved whether they be a survivor, bringing relief, or both.

 

[Ginny]

They are doing what they are paid to do - report the news.

With no bias?

What planet is this on?

 

[MoodyBlue]

Anyone going into the troubled area can help. Clean off roads so more aid can get in to an area. Get food, blankets clothes to collection agencies, don't drive into the area just to wonder around without helping.

Any human in the area should be helping the people around them, are reporters human?
They ride through looking for photo ops, and then drive away helping no one.

Money is not the issue. We have millions of dollars and very little to show for it. We need to get supplies down there. We need to get people into these areas to deliver the goods. We need people to help get trails cleared so vehicles can get in and out.

If this is something for trained people then we are a poor society.
We have enough rubber neckers, how about getting help in there and getting the reporters out that aren't helping.

Well, we really don't know if they are helping or not, do we? I would assume they can help folks and report the news too. Perhaps getting the word out is just one way of helping. Would everyone be happier if we had a news blackout, and nobody around the country knew the extent of the catastrophe? Honestly, I don't understand why you are attacking the press. Ever hear the term "shooting the messenger"?

 

[Ginny]

Would you prefer to receive no information?

No information or biased information? Which is worst?

 

[rosenherman]

I'm very angry right now. We are the wealthiest nation on earth and we can't even provide for our own people. NBC Today show was just airing reports on how horrible the conditions are at the New Orleans Convention Center, and how they STILL have no food or water. People are DYING. The NBC Today Show news anchor just said he saw THREE people dying JUST THIS MORNING.

What the HECK is going on? What if this were a terrorist attack? We'd be screwed! And Bush is supposed to be the protector of the people? Obviously he's proven to be the complete opposite. Worse, the official word from the White House is that we are NOT REQUESTING the aid of other countires. Canada, France, Venezuela, Russia - all have offered help. But we rejected it. Why?

Why can't we care for our OWN PEOPLE here in the RICHEST COUNTRY ON EARTH!!

As citizens of the wealthiest country on earth, why are they SHOOTING AT HELICOPTERS TRYING TO RESCUE PEOPLE AND PROVIDE SUPPORT?
When it's safe to do so, more help will certainly be forthcoming.

 

[Scribbler]

After five days, he finally will tour and set food in the affected states. What a lack of reponsibility! After five days, he is doing this... This whole situation sickens me....

After five days? Five days ago, the hurricane hadn't even hit yet, SmokeScreen. I pointed that out to you already in another thread, and you continue to repeat it.

 

[Arwen Undomiel]

He is very mad, too.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/katrina.nagin/index.html

What was his city's emergency plan? Did it consist of one sentence: "Get people to go to Superdome"? A city below sea level between two bodies of water should have an iron-clad disaster plan that has been practiced, re-practiced, and practiced at least once per year. Did this happen? What was HIS CITY's contingency plan to evacuate the elderly, sick and disadvantaged? What was HIS CITY's plan in case of flooding and widespread power outages?

Yeah, I'm mad as heck too. Don't get me wrong, I think aid could have gotten to NO in a more organized way, especially once the human condition started to deteriorate. But Mayor Nagin, keep those pointing fingers down until you can say with a clear conscience that YOUR CITY had a plan that was executed flawlessly.

 

[night2day]

LOL!- Guess yours was struck as well since you're repeatedly responding

Nope. I'm just wondering how anyone can seriously trivialize a catagory 5 hurricane and the destruction it leaves enough to to blame fellow human beings.

...that doesn't mean everyone who mentions a politician or the government is politicizing ....

It does when they blame a president or government for a natural disaster. But, play the blame-game, judge and jury all you like. It doesn't change a thing.

Prayer, however, does.

 

[I <3 Abraham]

Nope. I'm just how anyone can seriously trivialize a catagory 5 hurricane and the destruction it leaves enough to to blame fellow human beings.



It does when they blame a president or government for a natural disaster. But, play the blame-game, judge and jury all you like. It doesn't change a thing.

Prayer, however, does.

"The blame game" in democracy is called "accountability". People have every right to know who dropped the ball so that we can get them fired. That's the point of democracy, the government works for us. Each of us. Natural disasters happen, wars happen, huge outbreaks of disease happen :that's why we have a government. If people dont pipe up and be heard, nothing will change.

Send your prayers to God.

Send your complaints to your congressmen.

 

[night2day]

Edit - wasn't helpful to try and add reason to this conversation. It's lost.

I'm taking your cue.

 

[Buckeye]

Where was this mayor's contingency plan? I'm a moron and I knew this could happen...he's the MAYOR of the city and again....where is the warehouse full of food and water that he stored? Where is his plan? Was his plan to not show up at all in his city but rather go on talk shows? This guy is unbelievable and should be fired immediately.

Glenn Beck made a good point on his program this morning. This is the type of leadership you get when you don't pay attention to local politics or you elect a mayor for his/her entertainment value, not leadership skills.

This guy was beaten before Katrina made landfall.

 

[UberLutheran]

My parish is putting up 50 people/families in our homes (one person/family per home). This Sunday, our bishop is sending out an appeal synod-wide asking people to do the same.

Granted, 50 people is a drop in a bucket -- but if lots of people get together and do this (which, incidentally, we are told to do in Matthew 25:31-46) that comes out to an awful lot of drops.

And remember: a full bucket consists of nothing but many drops of water.

I'm very angry right now. We are the wealthiest nation on earth and we can't even provide for our own people. NBC Today show was just airing reports on how horrible the conditions are at the New Orleans Convention Center, and how they STILL have no food or water. People are DYING. The NBC Today Show news anchor just said he saw THREE people dying JUST THIS MORNING.

What the HECK is going on? What if this were a terrorist attack? We'd be screwed! And Bush is supposed to be the protector of the people? Obviously he's proven to be the complete opposite. Worse, the official word from the White House is that we are NOT REQUESTING the aid of other countires. Canada, France, Venezuela, Russia - all have offered help. But we rejected it. Why?

Why can't we care for our OWN PEOPLE here in the RICHEST COUNTRY ON EARTH!!

 

[k]

Are any of you on your way to help?

I've done more for the US than Bush, and yes I've sent what I could for the victims.

I'll bet Bush won't open any of his properties so some victims may have a place to stay, neither will cheney, kerry, rice, rumsfeld, etc, etc, etc.

How is the question conducive to the OP since it seems to be talking about the lack of response to the victims of Katrina...Defense is the main reason for taxes...where is all that money?

 

[Scribbler]

"The blame game" in democracy is called "accountability". People have every right to know who dropped the ball so that we can get them fired. .

Provided that 'accountability' extends to politicians in the State, Parish, and Local level from the past several decades, where the majority of culpability lies.

Because if you're just looking to connect this tragedy to a President of the opposing party, that's generally considered 'partisanship'.

Which one did this thread do?

 

[k]

There are many frustrations happening right now...feeling overwhelmed is one of them. However, this is not a nation short on resources, Katrina was NOT a surprise, and if it would have hit at the Hamptons or Cape Cod or on communities more affluent than the Gulf then I am sure we would be witnessing something markedly different in the preparation and response.

 

[bostonlass]

Now when a major disaster hits they want to know why major planning wasn't done. It has been to the best of our abilities but there is a major deficit in funds. We have to choose between emergency preparedness and welfare for our poor, funds for our schools and medical care for our uninsured. Now hindsite is 20-20 and now we see what has happened. But I need to give you some info from the front lines!!! Do you think 2 days is enough time to evacuate at least 1 million people.? That is about how much time we had. I have friends in that area. They packed up and got out as soon as they could but were stuck in traffic for 10 hours!!!!! That was just to get 300 miles. The roads down here are not that big. 4 lanes is a big highway to us. Now we are trying to get in aid. Also the roads south of Jackson, MS are littered with debrid and power is still down in alot of area. Please realize that it takes gas to run a transport vehicle and power to run a gaspump!

How much money does it really take to sit down with the relevant people and make a plan? Sure it's difficult to evacuate people but how do you think Florida has done it year after year? No money in the budget? You get the corporate sponsors that you need to say ok, in times of dire need here is what we will donate to you so that you know those busses will be ready for their necessary convoy. This simply is not brain surgery here. Planning does not cost that much money. A piece of paper and a pencil will do along with phone lines to get the people to communicate.

 

[EIChief]

So, my question is, if you "don't need to make this stuff up," why did you then?

Quotes are Quotes. Some of them from leaders quoted in the respective country papers. Others from editors themselves. No matter, I said I didn't make up the quotes and I meant what I said. Posting the links to all the local papers is not necessary in a post. If you would like to look them up as you did for South Africa so be it.

The point is that this is representative of the view of some Governments, and the "Man on the street". The thread is about why all countries do not coming running to the aid of the U.S. during a tragedy. Although there are other factors, this gives some answers. Not everyone out there likes us, or wants to help us

My post included Good comments as well as bad. The topic of the thread was not asking about all the countries that are offering help, but those who are not. Never did I say that Nobody offered to help

 

[EIChief]

What I will do is post the BBC article (UK edition) giving the papers that are using the quotes, and those wish to browse these papers can do so online in their own time. I find very little bias in the post which is not even from a US feed from what I can tell, and I would not say the BBC is Pro Bush in many respects. The BBC translates the quotes for you so it is convenient
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4207542.stm

No need to make things up when there is more then enough given to us

 

[Kalevalatar]

Quotes are Quotes. Some of them from leaders quoted in the respective country papers. Others from editors themselves. No matter, I said I didn't make up the quotes and I meant what I said. Posting the links to all the local papers is not necessary in a post. If you would like to look them up as you did for South Africa so be it.

The point is that this is representative of the view of some Governments, and the "Man on the street".

I do get the regular press feed (the very same that BBC does, I imagine) and Government press feed "on my desktop," if you like. I have no quarrel with that. However, point is, you stated: "... but these are simply quotes from the leadership of the countries presented. I don't need to make this stuff up."[emphasis mine]

An editorial, an opinion piece, or even a press article, is just that, one woman's (or man's) opinion. It does not (have to) represent the official line of the government. I can write an opinion piece (and have); however, it does not in any way represent the official line of my country. The BBC's quoting papers around the world does not tell us anything about the governments' position; it only gives us a picture of the individual papers, be they left or right, up or down, or wherever on the political map. Do you understand the difference?

If you do, my question is, what is the point of your claiming that these are "simply quotes from the leadership of the countries presented," when they clearly are not? Why not just say, these are opinion pieces from around the world (representing 10 different views out of 6,000,000,000 possible)?

Wonders, Kalevalatar

P.S. Okay, edited to ask this, is it so hard to accept that despite all the differences of opinions, THE WORLD has yet again offered its sincere condolences AND material help, or what is the point you are trying to make?

 

[kamikat]

How much money does it really take to sit down with the relevant people and make a plan? Sure it's difficult to evacuate people but how do you think Florida has done it year after year?

Yeah, we can all play armchair quarterback, but in all honesty, has the entire city of Miami been evacuated in recent history? I doubt it would go much better. Once everyone hit the bridges across the Intercoastal Waterway, it would turn into a bottleneck. NO is a city of over quarter of a million people. Once you tell everyone to leave, you get gridlock on all the major roads out of town. I live just outside of DC. When 9/11 came and we were told to evacuate, many did not get out of the city. You wanna know why not? Because all the major streets were filled with cars, the beltway looked like a parking lot, as did I-95 and 270. At one point, when the fed police went to my mom's office and told her to leave, she asked if she was safer staying in the building or in her car in the middle of Georgia Ave. She decided to stay in her office. I heard on the radio today, that even after taking 11,000 people from the Superdome to the Houston Astrodome, there are an estimated 50,000 people still waiting on roofs and in shelters. That's more people than the total population of the town I grew up in. FWIW, I do think there was some incompetence on the mayor's part, but then NO is notorious for having corrupt local politics. What major city doesn't have it corruption?
kamikat