tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9807717.post112586149039409023..comments2023-11-17T09:22:21.949-07:00Comments on Jerome Arizona: New OrleansContact Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01542112423734738405noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9807717.post-1146642213318861872006-05-03T00:43:00.000-07:002006-05-03T00:43:00.000-07:00I just posted a note about Maynard's winery, and r...I just posted a note about Maynard's winery, and ran into this part of the site. Being from New Orleans I think I have a good opionion towards this question. In a perfect world yes everyone should be taken care of and moved out of mother natures destructive path. I had a unique situation which I think god smiled upon the decision my family and I made. I went to my father's house one day before the storm to meet my brother and our friend to plan with my father what our options were. We usually stay, but this time felt different. Knowing my sisters and mother were in a safe place at this time was comforting. We were set on staying until our elderly neighrboors were planing on staying as well. My father grew up with the 50something widowed woman across the street and around the corner were her 80 something year old parents. They depended on us if things got bad, so we decided to leave at that point. Thankfully we made it out of harms way only 8 hours later just to travel 60 miles to Baton Rouge. I am glad we got out and the elderly made it though like troopers. However, they have both passed within the past 3 months due to different reasons. Its good knowing they passed comfortably once things got back to somewhat normal, but the stress I think accelerated alot of people's death. Even our 8 year old bulldog FOXY seems to be losing more steps now, even though she was the strongest of us all it seems.We were fortunate to have lots of good people to rely on, yet many people in poverty don't. I think the answer not only lies in politics, but with community. In New Orleans we are known for friendliness supposdly, but so many people are raised to this old time racism that it may never die. Would I pick a stranger up while leaving for a storm? The answer unfortunately is no, because in times of panic people do stupid unrational acts. I have worked with all shapes, colors, people of all ethnic backgrounds, and all have been a good and bad image of their heritage. Sorry I am rambling I am trying to make sense of this, but it takes time to get the whole picture. My answer is that humankind as awhole failed here. We cant point a finger at one, two, or 6 billion people. I would of lived in regret if we had left my neighboors behind or stayed with them, because they would of died that week of the storm due to no power, water, and whatnot. Someone in every community has the power to save a life if even only one. The greatest story I've heard is of a young black man hotwiring a bus and driving a good amount of people in his community to safety. I think he has a movie deal now. The word to be spoken is that shit hit the fan, and some of us where there to stand and take care of our brothers and sisters. Those who are in poverty do have ways out, but they are not easy ones. Communities need to get together and have a plan of action in case of a threat. I am 22 and since I was a child my father had a plan passed on from his father and so on in the case of a hurricane. I felt sorry for those stuck there and I know some. The government failed to see that emergency supplies should be ready in this case, but people fail to realize when you live so many feet under sea level you better not rely on the government more than you already do. They provide the basics, if you want everything handed to you pay 100% tax on your income and dollar spent, communision maybe. I love the people of this city and nation, but it seems the big picture is never looked at. Big brother won't always be there for you. The people in the SuperDome and others were victim of circumstance, yet also victims of ignorance. Transformed all our worlds have become. One thing everyone must look at is that instead of 10,000 people dead, its right over 1,000. For being the storm of our ages I think most of the people that were dealt this card of disaster did a damn good job. God bless all help that came. Things looked bad, but a lot of those people live like that everyday down here. So lets look at everyday life before we blame it all on a storm. The storm is not about a hurricane, it is about people losing faith in each other, losing brotherhood, and losing morality. Sorry if this is too much, I just get rattled by both sides of the fence on this issue. <BR/>Thanks if you read this.<BR/>Mitch W.<BR/>jwiseca@hotmail.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9807717.post-1125862506922029452005-09-04T12:35:00.000-07:002005-09-04T12:35:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com