A Total Breakdown

Kola Boof
September 1 2005, 5:53PM

It looks like AFRICA down in New Orleans.

To the "T".

niclas
September 1 2005, 7:29PM

Hi KEITH, I discovered your page by chance - first I must tell you I appreciate your focus very much! I'm not a resident of the US, but I have some friends + I have seen many parts of the STATES. I will tell you and your friends some feelings and impressions from the other side of the atlantic: 1. I feel very pity for the people who lost their beloved and their homes. 2. It reminds many to the floodings which swepped over 1/3 of Hamburg in 1962 or the heartland of the Netherlands in 1953 (2000 deads). Since then politic spend enormous money for reinforced and higher dikes - and no new construction in the first coastline. 3. I think catastrophys like today show the true face of a city and a society: they show people, and jounalists talk to people you never see and hear at "good times". There is a german tv-team in Biloxi another with a boat in N.O., and, I didn't believe, even guys who report details out of the SUPERDOME every three hours. And they show us a crowd which is quite different from the average american-tv-type: predominantly black (80%) and apparently not wealthy. I write this to let you know, that people in N.O. are not alone, the entire world looks . . . and some begin to think. 3. I must tell you, that i felt very disappointed when I saw the first speach of Pres. Bush in this issue. He didn't behave as a president, the lines of his face told a totally different language than his words, which were a monotonous, endles account of numbers and things. His behaviour reminds me to the scene of a movie, a second-class actor who obviuosly tries to behave like a president, who believes he is brilliant, and who hardly can hide to smile. (What has he strangely moving his lip?)
The resultat: we hear the voice of a man who is mostly interested in his public reputation - unable to realize the situation of the victims. we see a face of a man: incompassionate and not competent. Sorry, hard words. I love the americans, you did so many good things for Germany - but you deserve a better president.
Niclas living in Cologne / Germany
You can write me, if You like.

Keith Boykin
September 1 2005, 7:36PM

The New York Times said it best today in an editorial called "Waiting For A Leader."

"George W. Bush gave one of the worst speeches of his life yesterday, especially given the level of national distress and the need for words of consolation and wisdom."

"Sacrifices may be necessary to make sure that all these things happen in an orderly, efficient way. But this administration has never been one to counsel sacrifice. And nothing about the president's demeanor yesterday - which seemed casual to the point of carelessness - suggested that he understood the depth of the current crisis."

"Why were developers permitted to destroy wetlands and barrier islands that could have held back the hurricane's surge? Why was Congress, before it wandered off to vacation, engaged in slashing the budget for correcting some of the gaping holes in the area's flood protection?"

"Complacency will no longer suffice, especially if experts are right in warning that global warming may increase the intensity of future hurricanes. But since this administration won't acknowledge that global warming exists, the chances of leadership seem minimal."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/01/opinion/01thu1.html

Simon Otis' Henderson II
September 1 2005, 9:43PM

I Must State That The Way Our Country Leaders are handeling The Situation Is Horriable. Being a Native Of The Region I can State That The Extreme Efforts That Need To Be Taken at The Present Moment Shows That We Are A Nation That Will Act Severe Only To An Un Just Cause. Our President Can Send Thousands Of Troops To Other International Lands For War And Other Simple Minded Deeds, ButIs Unable To Deplow Them To The Apocaliptic Area Of Our So Called Great Country America. Instaed Of United States We Should Just Change Our Heading As The Self States Of America. Our Military Forces Can Build Bridges In Two Days Why Have They Not commanded Them To Build Bridges In Order To Evacuate The Homless Individuals Strainded in New Orleans. Then The Government Has The Ordasity To Complain At The Behavior Of The Hungry, Sick, Sunburned, emotional, Individuals In New Orleans I would React In Just The Same Manner When It Come s to The Lotting Situation In Order To Gain The Supplies That I Need For Survival. It's Been A Week Since Katrina's After Math and America Still Has It's People Traped In Un Sanitary Conditions. We Can Place A Man on The Moon Thousands Of Miles Away, But Can't Rescue Starving Infants and Children. We Can Take Every Other Countries Political Affairs and Wars, but Cant ResCue Our Own From An Imoral Invironment. We Are America The Leader Of The World Come On People We Can Do Better Than This. I Guess OurWeekend Sporting Events And Vacations Are More Important. The Question That I Want To Be Answered Is; When You Time Comes For Another Natural Desaster Who Will Come To Protect And Comfort You. 500 Busses Can Be Sent Now To Take RefuGees, Why Could They Not Have Taken Action s Of That Nature To Evacuate The Less Fortiunate People Of The Big Easy. After This Life In America Want Be The Same.

Simon Otis' Henderson II
September 1 2005, 9:54PM

Sorry, Keith For Not Complimenting You Earlier On A Job well Done And Being A Positive Influence On A Young Creole / African American Male

cmoney
September 1 2005, 10:02PM

I am disgusted, but not surprised at the incompetent/indifferent response of the federal government. The pictures of the suffering people are heart wrenching. The words of Bush and his minions are maddening. Who ever thought we would have dead bodies floating down the streets while the Director of FEMA at his press conference today pretended that he had heard no reports of such things? (the pictures were broadcast on CNN, MSNBC that afternoon) How can our much vaunted Department of Homeland Security have less information than CNN and MSNBC? Why is it that we can build bridges in Iraq, drop food and water to starving Iraqis but can't drop food and water to hospitals and people on rooftops in the U.S.A.? Our government has sent our first responders and their heavy, lifesaving equipment to Iraq. I am disgusted. I am ashamed. I am pissed!

Nyah Molineaux
September 2 2005, 12:18AM

Next week I am going to take Metro and take my car only on the weekends. This situation with Bush is getting ridiculous. When are all of us going to stand the fuck up and go against this crooked administration. This administration time and time again has failed to secure America.

They knew that Bin Laden and his cohorts was going to slam planes in the buildings- there lazy asses stood back. They did not protect the levees-now mostly black people are suffering.

I am sick and tired of this shitty administration. We need to stand the fuck UP!!!!!

Roger
September 2 2005, 1:06AM

A major American city finds itself on the brink, and the president "cuts short" his vacation only just to fly over it?

Does anyone else see anything wrong with this picture?

The president's lack of leadership, sadly, is not new. I fear, however, this time even more people than usual are going to suffer for it.

One thing we should keep in mind is that this disaster was preventable. The NY Times reported on Thursday that the Army Corps of Engineers had been pleading to the Bush Admin. for money to update the city's outdated levee system since as far back as 2001, and that this year the administration answered by making a $71 million cut in the New Orleans district budget to guard against just such a scenario.

Unfortunately, tax-cuts for the wealthy were more important to the president.

I wonder if the overall populace that voted for this oil man will wake up to the fact that slash and spend policy decisions puts us all at risk when disasters like this occur.

My biggest concern is how many lives will be lost as the president's inadequacy as a leader is exposed and the government drags its feet and looks to someone else to tell him what to do.

Amnesia Sparkles
September 2 2005, 8:22AM

Keith my love, there are no words to describe what is happening in N.O. My heart goes out to all those affected. It makes one feel very helpless...

On a positive note, I appreciate your take on the situation and I most definitely appreciate that your readers are sharp in thought and words. At least we know they are well informed passionate individuals.

In regards to the relief efforts, I hate to be the conspiracy theorist or to slap what could be a bit of truth but...from my perspective, simply by looking at pictures of population that is still trapped and dying in N.O. they seem to be lower class BLACK individuals. Since when has this administration or this country for that matter REALLY cared about those people? I'm sure Upper class religious white folk are thinking "Let them die, they are savages anyway."

I mean just take into consideration what Repent America director Michael Marcavage had to say
"Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city. From 'Girls Gone Wild' to 'Southern Decadence,' New Orleans was a city that opened its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. May it never be the same." Pretty ugly huh?

I can see why chaos is breaking out in N.O.: the people aren't stupid, they know no one will come and save them.

alicia
September 2 2005, 8:55AM

eloquent keith!!!

i am parying for everyobe there...

u r my CNN bro!

love
ab

michaeliv
September 2 2005, 9:53AM

Where are the Black leaders?

Why have we not heard from the black leaders in the US?

Why are they not preaching bloody murder to the lack of/slow response from the federal gov?

It is obvious the majority of victims are afican-american. It is no surprise that Bush does not have a clue, but I would like know that they are doing their duty a leaders to light a fire under republicans and democrats asses to rectify this shit as fast as soon as possible.

Keith Boykin
September 2 2005, 10:10AM

Amnesia,

You are absolutely right, but it is no conspiracy. Just yesterday, U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert was quoted as saying we should just "bulldoze" the entire city of New Orleans instead of spending billions of dollars to rebuild it.

Tell me he would say the same thing if Dallas or Phoenix or Denver suffered a major disaster. We can spend billions of dollars to rebuild Iraq but we can't spend billions to rebuild our own cities?

mr
September 2 2005, 10:32AM

In regards to the relief efforts, I hate to be the conspiracy theorist or to slap what could be a bit of truth but...from my perspective, simply by looking at pictures of population that is still trapped and dying in N.O. they seem to be lower class BLACK individuals. Since when has this administration or this country for that matter REALLY cared about those people? I'm sure Upper class religious white folk are thinking "Let them die, they are savages
anyway."

I agree with that comment. I think that is why they are portraying the people in such an inhumane light by showing them looting, spreading stories of rape etc. This is to prepare the rest of America to further write them off and not care when they are abandoned to their fate. I am also bothered by the fact you can get so many photographers in there to take pictures, but can't get food or water in. I am insulted by how insensitive these photographers are, especially with the picture of the woman greiving next to her dead husband. "Too many cameras and not enough food".

Bklynbro
September 2 2005, 2:23PM

I noticed this entry is from Atlanta, GA. I would love to hear how gay brothers and sisters partying down there for Black gay pride took time out to raise money for Katrina victims. You would only want to take pride in knowing that while in numbers in Atlanta Black gays got together to do all they could do. Please - do more than just "party" for a minute.

Speaking of the city Atlanta - isn't it oh-so-interesting how they have not volunteered to house the victims? Aren't they much closer to New Orleans than Houston? HHmmmmm.

jazzi
September 2 2005, 8:11PM

I cannot imagine what those poor people are going through in New Orleans. No power, food, or water. Sick & dying people all around you. A total & complete loss of everything. A complete wipe out. I think a lot of people are desperate, to say the least.

In a situation such as that, I totally understand the looting of grocery stores. In fact, I wouldn't even call that looting. How about survival? Yeah, that sounds like a better word to me. Try as I might, what I just can't seem to get my hands around is why people are breaking into clothing stores. You see people wading through the water with armfulls of shoe boxes, jeans, shirts, etc. Their even breaking into gun stores. Now thats looting. Plus, their even out there shooting at the cops & ohter people that are supposed to be helping them. There have even been reports of beatings & rapings. Why? At first, the mayor of New Orleans chose to ignore the looters & focus on the people who needed to be rescued. But then, shit got so out of hand that he had to reprioritize & focus on the looters. And now their shooting at the police & other rescue personnel? They can't even do their jobs. There are people who will most certainly perish because no one was able to get to them because they don't want to get shot at. Don't these looters realize that? Maybe they don't but don't give a fuck. As long as they got some jeans & shoes.

niclas
September 2 2005, 8:42PM

The catastrophy is getting even worse . . . still people without water + food the fifth day . . . unbelievable. And Bush came to Biloxi and announced "there will be a nice terrasse 3 years later where he will sit + chat with the crowd" - W O H W ! (Thanks to CNN!)
And his office announced a visit in N.O. - but he presented just a speach at the well preserved airport, that's it. Obviously he avoids to see the victims, he avoids to see the faces, the broken eyes, the exhausted voices.
Are there consultants around him saying: GUY, don't go there! This are not your clients? They never give you a vote?
I spent a very good time in N.O., I love the rhythm of the city, so slow . . . I hope and even believe the city will recover (after three years, might be) . . . so many people will not return . . .
I like this blogg very much, very inspiring, and very nice photos, the birthday party . . . so fresh everybody . . . fire island looks like an eldorado of peace and brothership.
I must say see it for the first time. Continue!
Niclas from Cologne/Germany

escritor
September 2 2005, 9:37PM

Since thousands of black citizens from New
Orleans (the word *refugee*, makes it sound
like their from another country or something)
are being dispatched to Texas, it would be
nice to hear that an invitation from those
black preachers with the megachurches in the
South had extended an invitation for
temporary lodging to them. But no one should
hold their amens while we wait.

Laura
September 2 2005, 9:54PM

oh, we won't be hearing a pin drop from them.

the "refugees" obviously don't have the prescribed amount of faith to keep the hurricane away, unlike Pat Robertson.

FRE
September 3 2005, 1:27AM

Here is a link to postings on another web site regarding the situation in New Orleans. You can add your own responses if you choose to do so:

http://www.sportbikez.net/phorum/read.php?f=18&i=28679&t=28679

Patrice Butler
September 3 2005, 7:56AM

By using the word refugee to describe fellow US citizens allows whoever uses it to divorce themselves from the reality that this is our nations response to devastation on its own soil. We divorce ourselves from the reality that this could be your or my fate tomorrow. This is our response to a tragedy that was predicted and who's potential was well documented for years. Is this what US citizens can expect, or is this what the other "refugees" can expect in future disasters?

Benin Dakar
September 3 2005, 9:31PM

Hurricane Katrina’s media coverage exposes need for diverse press

People have different experiences based on race, class, and other social factors.

There is a need for a strong African-American press, Hispanic press, Asian press, Gay and Lesbian press, Jewish press, Arab-American press, etc.

This is not to polarize America, but to ensure that ALL of Americans viewpoints have a conduit for expression.

The mainstream press by and large does an admirable job. However, there are nuances of people’s lives that the mainstream press is not always sensitive to or equipped to handle. Thus, there is a great need for other niche presses to ensure that alternative points of view have an outlet.

The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina is an American story that disproportionately impacts poor African-Americans. In light of this fact, it is a pity that there are few strong African-American newspapers to tell of this unfolding story first hand.

Kenneth Winfrey
September 4 2005, 3:56PM

The fact that the media could get in and build communication infarastructure to report on the situation (truthfully or not) is a greater statement about the failure of our nations emergency response capacity than it is about what was reported by whom. If CNN could get in with people (who undoubtedly had food and water, probably even make-up!), why couldn't FEMA, the Red Cross, and other aid organizations?

I don't think the intention behind the suggestion of an ethnic media should be perceived as polarizing as much as it ignores the need for journalists and media outlets to live up the obligation of truly fair and balanced reporting. For example, the first thought that occurred to me when so much emphasis was placed on "looting" was that the interests of the business community were placed ahead of those who were suffering. Sure, it would be expected that oppressed people were hopeful that the acquisition of a television or some jewelry would outweigh the context, but that's a whole other issue... My thought was "Who gives a damn about it anyway? Eighty percent of the city is under water and looks like a full-sized nuclear warhead had hit it. Should we really be concerned about people stealing?" The answer is "Yes," if you're among those who hoped to profit from the legitimate sale of those items...and are likely sponsors of news broadcasts. I might also be afraid that Wal-Mart wouldn't buy spots on my network if I hadn't shown them that I repsected their interests.

Who's to say that this alternative, ethnically-based reporting would not be full its own pitfalls? I couldn't imagine many of the religious leaders from the Black community that would run for the mic having any more influence over our perceptions. Many of our Black politicians and pundits have learned well the games of Monday morning quarterbacking and arm-chair command just as well as whites. Black media are not above acting in their own interests like anyone else. The incredible implications of propaganda in the ethnically homogenous Arab-Muslim world, former Soviet Union, and China are difficult to ignore as well.

If I were to suggest a revolution in the way media works, I'd lean more towards the establishment of a non-profit, co-op based concept. I don't trust anything that depends on corporate advertising, regardless of the ethnicity of those that manage it. Advertisers have more interest in maintaining the status quo than the journalists themselves. They can pull their money from anything that challenges people to grow beyond our current perceptions because that would create unpredictable changes in the market.

As the article on blogging illustrated, it's outlets like this one that I feel are more effective (and trustworthy) because there is no editorial board laced with interests of sponsors to interfere. It is obviously driven more by donations, including the time of its primary author and web designer, and the money of visitors, than it is by banner ads and other forms of commercialization. I hope it stays that way.

Benin Dakar
September 4 2005, 5:51PM

President Bush’s gross incompetence is an opportunity for Democrats to rebound

The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina as powerful and devastating as it is pales in comparison to the second tragedy of lackluster leadership from President Bush and his administration in handling our nation’s greatest natural catastrophe.

Now that President Bush is fully exposed as an out of touch and incompetent leader perhaps the millions of working class and middle class Americans who voted against their political and economic interests by being hoodwinked by GOP ruses of using emotional issues like the “gay marriage amendment” will finally wake up and realize that President Bush and company have little to offer them, beyond rhetoric.

With the whole nation seeing a bumbling President Bush, who cannot seem to come to grips with the ever increasing and certain to be long-term crisis stemming from Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath; the Democrats have a golden hour to begin making inroads into the hearts and minds of Americans desperate for sensitive and competent leadership.

If the Democratic Party leadership is savvy out of the flood waters of the Gulf Coast; the Democrats will rise again!

Kim
September 7 2005, 9:37AM

The recents events in the gulf coast are just another painful reminder that people who are black and poor are dispensible. The lack of preparation and slow response time of the government would never have happened in a wealthy, white community. The City of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana have known for years that something this catastrophic would happen. The levees were constructed to withstand only Category 3 hurricanes, FEMA has been working on "computer similations" of the response to this kind of devastation. Hurricane Camille was the warning sign and the local, state and federal governments did nothing close to preparing for the eventuality of last week. What has Homeland Security been doing with its billion of dollars? Apparently, their workers need more "training" to address this type of disaster. Some briliant legal mind should be considering a class action lawsuit against the 3 levels of government for failing to protect its most vulnerable citizens. It is heartbreaking and unacceptable. In the meantime, we're are truly screwed.