RE: Is Anyone to "Blame" other than Mother Nature?

From: Elena Dent <debadger_at_pacbell.net_at_hypermail.org>
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 21:47:49 -0700

It means in a major metropolitan center we have lost the middle class. The
very rich and the very poor contribute very little to the fabric of society;
it's the middle class who have the biggest stake in getting along, making
things work and pulling together. The very rich are a small percentage of
the population, they will of course take care of themselves first and leave
when things are difficult. The very poor have almost no resources to help
out and less incentive - they have never had a lot, so they have a very
short term viewpoint: grab what you can, when you can, and as much as you
can because ain't nobody gonna help you out or leave something for you if
they can take it.

Someone supposedly shot at an aid helicopter. What-thefuck-is THAT?! It
seemed like a cool idea to some dumb gangbanger? A terrorist? Spooking at
shadows?

Why are people just screaming for help instead of trying to help with the
levees or helping their neighbors if they can? Or are they, but we're not
hearing about it? Dunno.

I wonder if Katrina will be a turnaround, if enough people are sickened by
the helpless sheep in the slaughter pens to actually start pitching in in
their communities? I know I won't donate to the Red Cross, too many stories
of greed and mismanagement, but I am thinking I should do more for my own
community. And by extension, perhaps if we ALL volunteer more it will be a
better place here. We used to have a 'can do' attitude as a nation, we were
proud of the fact that we could and did help out, pitch in, get things done.
When did we, as a culture, lose that? Was it a myth, that even the poor here
had self respect and tried to do for themselves? I don't think so.

Elena
Received on 2005-09-01 21:47:46