I Hate Anniversaries

By Jill Ensley

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

It was my goal to pass this day without adding to the fodder of media-induced remembrances and page 16A coverage of New Orleans and Katrina. Just like relationships, there shouldn't be one day we set aside just to act like decent human beings.

But, there are some things that I need to mention...

Call your congressperson.

Just because we may live a good distance away doesn't mean we don't have a voice or shouldn't care. In fact, as so eloquently stated in this AP article, what happened before and after the storm (the mismanagement, the corruption, the lack of leadership, lack of healthcare and education) is the future of our cities, of America.

And the call doesn't need to be made today, but any day. The people that are supposed to work for us, need to know that we aren't forgetting.

Here's the switchboard number: 202-225-3121

Just tell them what state.

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Posted by godjilla (Jill Ensley) on August 29, 2007 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Uh, and don't read that comment on the bottom of the LJ-World page....really, I mean....don't. I can't unread it.

Posted by godjilla (Jill Ensley) on August 29, 2007 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh, dammit, I couldn't help it. Had to comment.
I mean, seriously?! What is wrong with people?!

Posted by matt (Matt Armstrong) on August 30, 2007 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why did I read Ragingbear's comments?!? My eyes! The goggles, they do nothing!!

That racist, ignorant shite is from the kind of person that doesn't want people to heal, they just want new stories to see on the picture box.

Posted by godjilla (Jill Ensley) on August 30, 2007 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I know! And I foolishly commented. I don't have the heart to go back and check it.

Posted by DOTDOT (anonymous) on August 31, 2007 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hi.

I would have responded sooner, but I had to google "pernicious".

You may apologize now for sending me (salivating) over to the LJW comments, but since I have to apologize for not seeing the racism and ignorance in ragingbears comments we'll call it even.

The jist of the AP article, to me, was that our government is not competent to keep our cities safe. Katrina exposed this reality on a grand scale, but the reality has always been, and always will be with us. Ants would do a better job of rebuilding after a flood. Thats because, as a species, ants don't suck. Democracy and capitalism are anethematic to the drama required to commit to a large scale public works project such as what would be required to "fix" NOLA.

Ragingbear points up that hustlers abound, and every one of them has there eye on how to effectively exploit Katrina victims, whether by taking their money, their property, or their dignity. Pulling the race card on the whole debacle would carry more weight if there weren't so many people making money from it.

I agree, though, with contacting your congressmen. I do it all the time. But on this subject it may help to included a definition of "pernicious".

Posted by ladylaw (Terry Bush) on August 31, 2007 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

National Geographic's August 2007 edition has a lenghty article in it about NOLA and the levees breaking. I haven't had a chance to read all of it (yet) but it looks like it's pretty detailed. http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0...
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Meanwhile, as much as I love(d) visiting NOLA as a tourist, I'm not sure it's really safe for human beings to live in a place that is at minimum 2 foot below sea level and sits in an area that historically gets pounded by hurricanes. At least not until/unless those choosing to live there figure out a way to keep the water/wind out or protect themselves (or property) when the storms come back. Is there any news on how well (or poorly) the poor in Mississippi are being treated after Katrina hit that part of the country? Just wondering how the NOLA versus Mississippi recoveries compare.

Posted by OtherJoel (anonymous) on August 31, 2007 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

When the levee breaks, mama you got to move. Ooooo-oooo...

Posted by godjilla (Jill Ensley) on August 31, 2007 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Once again, I give up (for the rest of the day).

And that National Geographic article blew goats.

Posted by DOTDOT (anonymous) on September 1, 2007 at 1:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

their

Posted by OtherJoel (anonymous) on September 1, 2007 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Go to Chicago...

Posted by godjilla (Jill Ensley) on September 1, 2007 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wait, what? Who? Me?

If so, I am!

Posted by OtherJoel (anonymous) on September 2, 2007 at 1:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I was just throwing out Zeppelin lyrics for dotdot ("When the Levee Breaks"). You can and should stay.

I Hate Anniversaries

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