never-ending disasters
only in times of absolute horror and sadness does the truth finally shine its stark, blinding light.. why do so many people have to suffer?
hurricane katrina has battered the gulf coast beyond recognition. from its first blows in florida to the devastated cities in alabama, mississippi, and louisiana to the spin-off tornadoes in georgia, this hurricane has revealed some hard facts –
we have no adequate flood protection or prevention. we’re not prepared, and look what happens. new orleans (or the lack thereof?) is what happens... half a million people are wandering around the southern states, wondering if they’ll ever have a home again. i can’t imagine, for the life of me, having to run away on limited notice with a few days worth of clothing in hand...only to later realize that my car, apartment, furniture, clothes, books, photographs, computers, possessions may be lost forever. good god, i pray for all of you.
gas prices are beyond ridiculous. dc is at $3.15, boston’s supposedly around $3.50…who knows what the west coast is experiencing right now. we’re not prepared for this either, are we? in the past year, retail gas prices have increased over 40%. FORTY percent! shit, it’s practically cheaper to fill my tank with milk or oj or beer. i don’t even pretend to understand what the hell is going on with oil and gas, national and international, economy and society… but really, this is nuts. maybe it’s good though – expensive gas makes us walk, bike, run, and take public transportation. better for the environment, less global warming, weaker hurricanes. you can’t shy away from bleak reality... it makes you aware.
the president, returning a whole 2 days earlier (oh gosh, 2 days!) from his posh month-long vacation in texas, is feigning compassion and action. i say “feigning” because i’m doubtful as to what he’ll actually do to help out. he’s embroiled in the middle of desolately low public ratings, an ongoing and unsupported war, protestors, a supreme court nomination/hearing, scattered national guard forces abroad, and criticism that has risen to a new high. besides looking worried and morose, what else is he going to do?? baghdad just lost 800 people due to an all-out, freak-out stampede. why the stampede? they were all frightened to death (literally) of a rumor of a possible suicide-bomber.. and when i read this news, i have to wonder if this emotional state has been at all produced by constant, US-initiated presence and war. is it time to leave yet? are we done yet?
but even as I sit here and worry, what can i do? nothing? everything?
slate has more.. and with words like “catastrophe” and “nightmare” and “desperation” floating around, it’s even useful to read cnn. But first (or at least, second), look at "waiting for a leader" and "news analysis: hard new test for the president"
hurricane katrina has battered the gulf coast beyond recognition. from its first blows in florida to the devastated cities in alabama, mississippi, and louisiana to the spin-off tornadoes in georgia, this hurricane has revealed some hard facts –
we have no adequate flood protection or prevention. we’re not prepared, and look what happens. new orleans (or the lack thereof?) is what happens... half a million people are wandering around the southern states, wondering if they’ll ever have a home again. i can’t imagine, for the life of me, having to run away on limited notice with a few days worth of clothing in hand...only to later realize that my car, apartment, furniture, clothes, books, photographs, computers, possessions may be lost forever. good god, i pray for all of you.
gas prices are beyond ridiculous. dc is at $3.15, boston’s supposedly around $3.50…who knows what the west coast is experiencing right now. we’re not prepared for this either, are we? in the past year, retail gas prices have increased over 40%. FORTY percent! shit, it’s practically cheaper to fill my tank with milk or oj or beer. i don’t even pretend to understand what the hell is going on with oil and gas, national and international, economy and society… but really, this is nuts. maybe it’s good though – expensive gas makes us walk, bike, run, and take public transportation. better for the environment, less global warming, weaker hurricanes. you can’t shy away from bleak reality... it makes you aware.
the president, returning a whole 2 days earlier (oh gosh, 2 days!) from his posh month-long vacation in texas, is feigning compassion and action. i say “feigning” because i’m doubtful as to what he’ll actually do to help out. he’s embroiled in the middle of desolately low public ratings, an ongoing and unsupported war, protestors, a supreme court nomination/hearing, scattered national guard forces abroad, and criticism that has risen to a new high. besides looking worried and morose, what else is he going to do?? baghdad just lost 800 people due to an all-out, freak-out stampede. why the stampede? they were all frightened to death (literally) of a rumor of a possible suicide-bomber.. and when i read this news, i have to wonder if this emotional state has been at all produced by constant, US-initiated presence and war. is it time to leave yet? are we done yet?
but even as I sit here and worry, what can i do? nothing? everything?
slate has more.. and with words like “catastrophe” and “nightmare” and “desperation” floating around, it’s even useful to read cnn. But first (or at least, second), look at "waiting for a leader" and "news analysis: hard new test for the president"
posted by steph at 9:28 AM
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