*
We have all watched national Television in horror as ten thousands of people were left stranded and starving on the Gulf Coast. We have all been amazed at the evil in the hearts of men, as we witnessed gun toting vandals take to the streets, and snipers shoot at rescue teams just days after Katrina had passed. Of course Mr. Bush was on vacation during August, and cut it short two days in order to get back to affairs of state such as his visit to New Orleans to assess the damage. Congress has met in an emergency session and voted ten and one half billion dollars in aid. Americans are donating money, time, and effort toward relief in unprecedented fashion. However, the question remains, what happened? Why wasn’t the United States prepared for this disaster?

It was predicted over and over again. I personally listened to a PBS broadcast during last year’s hurricane season in which a retired FEMA administrator, scientists, weather experts, and others discussed the worst case New Orleans scenario that we have watched unfold during the past week and one half. FEMA itself has concentrated on terrorism since September 11, 2001. Hurricane search and rescue operations are on the back burner, unless they are in some way related to an act or acts of terrorism. The nation and its president have focused attention on foreign invasions and war instead of problems here at home, including home brewed terrorism. I feel as though I’m beating a dead horse. Never the less, the nation and the American people seem to have their priorities misplaced. We are more interested in creating a second class of citizenship for women, and GLBT people than we are in protecting all of our citizens from the vicissitudes to which nature is disposed.

As stated before, I am personally donating money to the American Friends Service Committee for relief along the Gulf Coast. The Quakers are much more likely to do good things for the unfortunate people of the region than anyone I can think of, and they will not proselytize while doing so.

* “Index of /government/govgraphics,” http://www.doce.lsu.edu/government/govgraphics/. Modified June 25, 1998, 2:00 PM. EDT. Visited Sunday, September 4, 2005, 9:48 AM EDT.


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