Learning From Katrina

Hurricane Katrina just about obliterated the city of New Orleans and many other parts of the Gulf Coast of the U.S. This natural disaster that was no surprise wiped out many, many families. It also revealed just how entrenched poverty is in our national fabric. For those who are caught in the grip of poverty, for whatever reasons, it is an almost impossible task to escape.

Now the good people that bought us "compassionate conservatism" and major cuts to social welfare programs last week (yeah I know they voted to keep funding at current levels, but the cost of nothing goes down), have decided that now is a good time to kick hurricane survivors out of their temporary hotel/motel housing. These folks are like Scrooge.

While our "leaders" sit down to a bountiful meal this coming Thursday, thousands of our fellow citizens will be wondering what they have to be thankful for. Many of them will not experience their meal surrounded by the comforts of home, but instead will eat in soup kitchens and wretched shelters.

Even more disturbing are the many hundreds of thousands of Americans who disdainfully ignore the ongoing plight of people that have lost everything. Some schmuck named Aaron just commented on the radio about how isn't it time for the displaced and dispossessed to get on with their lives. Touching isn't it? Barely three months later folks. Bootstraps anyone?

Why is it always some white guy, who has never known a real moment of need in his whole entire life, calling for self-help? A guy whose greatest challenge has been getting a piece of a** from time-to-time? A guy who has benefited from his daddy's money, white skin privilege, and having a friggin' penis is supposed to know what it is like to be poor, black, female, or old? A guy who if something this catastrophic happened to, would have a support network at his fingertips. But, he feels free to pass judgment on his fellow citizens for not sucking it up and moving on.

Still, Hurricane Katrina taught me a few things:

1. Do not rely on the government for anything. Luckily, I was born into a family that was more-or-less middle class, so I have never known the joys of needing the govt for my next meal. Still, Katrina revealed that the govt will not be there when you are down on your luck. Forget about after the dirty bomb attack, bird flu pandemic, or any other shit that might jump off. You better have an emergency plan (running car, money in the bank and in the house, a relative to hole up with, etc.) This is not Sweden or Canada...you have to lookout for yourself.
2. Having a disorganized, disordered family is a huge liability. Families are only as strong as their weakest link. Having kids that you can't afford to provide for leaves them and you vulnerable during an emergency situation. In short, if your family is messed up, you are f*cked because you will not have anyone to turn to.
3. Your fellow citizens will send money at first (esp. if you remind them of some refugees from the Sudan) but ultimately they will revert to seeing themselves as taxpayers and not humans that are connected to their fellow citizens, and therefore, start wishing that you would just go off and die somewhere far away from them. Yeah, they will talk about caring, but their actions will let you know that you are not wanted.

So this Thanksgiving, take a moment and truly think about your blessings. Think about how quickly they could all be ripped away from you. Think about how you would cope. Because the folks in D.C., your state capital, and the local mayor for the most part don't give a rats a** about you. Nor do your fellow Americans. Thank goodness for the fake sentiments we will hear from now till the end of the holiday season. Kind of makes one forget the ugly reality.