I've been watching the news reports about the aftermath of hurricane Katrina with much sadness. Every station shows footage of the devastation left in the wake of one of the most destructive storms ever to come onshore in the U.S. When I saw video of the people looting in New Orleans and Biloxi I at first felt pity because I felt that perhaps they were hungry, and wet, and needed clothes and food, but after watching for awhile, I noticed that it wasn't only food and a few clothes these people were hauling by the arm loads out of the shops and stores.
Many of the evacuees have made their way north to our doorstep. Every hotel and motel in Eastern Arkansas, Northern Mississippi, Memphis, and many other areas, are full and beyond. The Grand Casino just across the river in Tunica, Mississippi has opened their doors and provided their grand ballroom for as many of the refugees as they can hold. Although safe from bodily harm, these people are running out of funds to pay for food and shelter and they have no idea when they'll be able to return home or even if they have a home to return to.
Although many of the hotels have reduced their rates for the evacuees, there have also been cases where they increased them "to keep the wrong sort of people out". It sickens me. I have to question why haven't they set aside a few rooms to offer these people at no charge? Had this tragedy not occurred they would have the empty rooms, right?
Another reason for my fury is an announcement made on Channel 3 news last night. They had to ask for many of the area churches to open their doors and their coffers to help. They had to ASK, people! There was a time when the Churches would have been the first in line to give aid in a tragedy such as this. What have our southern claims to Christianity become?
I'm proud to be a southerner with a southern claim to hospitality but at this moment I feel so ashamed.
15 comments:
It takes something that big and horrible to bring out the best, and the worst, in some people. That is shameful.
As Rusty said, it does bring out the worst in people too, and maybe since this is a HORRIBLE disaster, the rest of the country will take a good hard look at the state of our society and start us down the long long road back to decency! We are a Long way from it right now.
I wonder how many other countries are offering help? PHHFFTTT!!!
It's sad that times like this brings out the best, and the worst, in people. I watched the videos of people looting and felt that same anger that you did.
This disaster is beyond belief. We have THOUSANDS of evacuees pouring into Shreveport. 20% of our police dept. has been ordered to go south. The crime and unemployment rates in North LA. are fixin'to go up, you can bet on it. The long-term repercussions of this are staggering. Looting in New Orleans is totally out of control. I am also embarrassed and ashamed. What in the world must people think of us down here? Meanwhile, my sweet 16-yr.-old spends all her spare time at the LSU-S gym, playing with and reading to the small children of evacuees, so the grown-ups can have a break. There are far more of us who do right than wrong. When will the media report that?
They had to ask the churches to help? What is up with that???
Yes, the looting is just disgusting. And while it's sad they had to ask the churches, you know that there are millions of people who giving, helping, and volunteering. Hooray for those who are doing the right thing!
I couldn't agree with you more Brenda although the relief efforts seem to be speeding up. At least, our local news tonight showing many tractor trailer loads ready to move that way, and our police & fire & rescue are already there. It's such a devastation; I can't stop thinking about those poor souls, and yes especially the ones who have no money to call their own, and no home to go back to.
I know that good, decent, people from all over the U.S. and the world are going to do their part to help these people. I went today in search of a church here in our area that was helping the evacuees and after asking in several places I was directed to one. I drove there and gave them a donation and left my phone number. It's just so terribly, terribly sad because there is nothing left for so many of them to go home to.
I totally agree with you. People who steal from others drive me crazy, but in this situation they make me furious. Here America will be reaching out to hundreds of thousands and yet the world will see those who are stealing on their news programs.
It's indeed very sad that you have to ask a church for their help
During 9/11, a lot of the hotels in Manhattan doubled or tripled their room rates, too. God bless capitalism.
It is sad when selfishness comes into play when this sort of tragedy happens
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