Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Horrific

New Orleans.  Gulfport.  Biloxi.  Plaquemines Parish.

Katrina.

They’re just words.  On a pleasantly cool evening in a city far away, with all utilities, food supply, and other creature comforts available for the asking, I can’t imagine what it must be like when all the trappings of civilization have been wrenched away.  Especially when it’s clear that things won’t be getting better for a long, long time ... if ever.  Especially when the Republican war on government has progressed so far that there aren’t enough public services to provide even a fraction of what’s needed.  Most especially when the sociopathpresident of the United States can’t be bothered to pay much attention for several days, does a fly-by instead of wading into the disaster, then babbles embarrassingly stupid and heartless drivel in his perfunctory “address” on the matter.

I visited New Orleans three times, once on vacation and twice for business meetings.  Of course, I spent as much time as I could doing tourist things.  Ate a marvelous lunch at Commander’s Palace ... does it still exist?  Sipped chicory coffee and munched beignets at Cafe du Monde ... how many feet of water and muck cover it right now?  Strolled past Anne Rice’s house and dozens of other gorgeous homes in the Garden District ... are they still standing?  Rode the St. Charles Streetcar out past Tulane and back to Canal St. ... will it ever run again?  Pushed through the crowds of noisy drunks on Bourbon St. ... when will anyone be free of cares on that same street? 

And I spent a great evening in the “real” French Quarter (far off the tourist track) with a friend who lived in the French Quarter ... no one has heard a word from or about him since well before the hurricane.  Many of Richard’s friends are holding their collective breath.

UPDATE (11am Thursday):  Richard has checked in!  He and the missus are with relatives in Chicago.  I’m told that he does have tales to tell at a later date.  Whew...

What I can do—and each and every one of you can do as well—is contribute to the recovery efforts.  I’m responding to the skippy challenge:

this is not about red states v. blue states...this is not about left v. right...this is not about liberal v. conservative…

the people in louisiana, mississippi and alabama are americans. this is about america. and americans have historically always rolled up their sleeves and pitched in to help out their fellow countrymen in need.

skippy has donated $100.01 to the red cross for hurricane relief. and now, skippy challenges everyone who writes a political blog, no matter what side of the spectrum they inhabit, to do the same.

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the $100 is to make a difference. if every political blog donates $100, think of the hundreds of thousands of dollars the red cross can use to buy food and supplies for the people that need it now.  and the 1 cent is to let everyone know where that the donations came from blogtopia (yes! we coined that phrase!) and know that for once, in reality, the blogs are making a difference.

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if you can’t contribute $100.01, then make it $50.01 or $20.01, or at least $5.01 (the minimum the red cross requires, plus 1 cent). give up your saturday movie date this week, take your lunch to work instead of eating out, do something!

skippy’s agency of choice is the American Red Cross, but there are numerous other worthwhile NGOs performing yeoman service in providing aid to the unfortunates ensnared in the horrors of Katrina and its sequelae.  For example:

• Mercy Corps
• United Jewish Communities
• Catholic Charities
• the Salvation Army
• the Humane Society
• Northwest Medical Teams
• Feed The Children
• United Methodist Committee On Relief
• Noah’s Wish
• America’s Second Harvest

Just remember to add that $.01 for the skippy challenge.  And while you’re at it, let skippy know that you’ve done so, by leaving a comment on his more recent follow-up post.  Tell him N in Seattle sent you...

For the record, I donated $100 to the Red Cross this morning, before I knew about skippy’s challenge.  I’ll send them more money through payroll deductions at work—my company will match such donations from its employees.  I also intend to contribute something to the UJC, and possibly some of the other organizations on the above list.