Thursday, September 1

Words Just Fucking Fail Me

I just watched the most harrowing thing I'd seen yet, edited footage from the New Orleans Convention Center, where people were instructed to go. That is, I thought it was the most harrowing thing, until they talked live with the MSNBC photojournalist who took the pictures, Tony Zumbado.

The people there have had no food or water in four days. There's no sanitation. Zumbado said he watched two men die of dehydration.

"These people are behaving themselves," he said. "They're taking care of each other." He said he covered the aftermath of Andrew, and people there behaved much worse even though they had more.

Zumbado was told that police and National Guardsmen had all left the day before; he saw no evidence of any official presence. The only thing like an official who had appeared, he said, was Harry Connick, Jr. He also said that some aid truck drivers had apparently refused to go in because of fears of violence, but that those fears were "just not true".

Look, I consider myself fairly rational. I don't expect miracles to occur. But this is the United States of America. I heard a report yesterday that the I-10 is open to New Orleans from the west. Why are we watching people die on our streets for lack of water?

4 comments:

handdrummer said...

WHERE THE HELL IS THE ANY SENSE OF LEADERSHIP IN THS COUNTRY?

Where are the great moral leaders who step forward in times of crisis?

I know that I speak most harshly of Chimpy McRezident, but I guess in my heart of heart's I always thought he'd step it up when he tryly had to. Sadly not a single member of his cabal has any real humanity, it appears.

I am just mute with anger and fear over the images and words I've been seeing. I can't even pretend that blogging about it is not simply all about me and this sense of hopelessness and helplessness.

God, Doghouse, what the hell are we going to do? I feel like such a callous ass sitting here experiencing the worst disaster my country has ever faced from the comfort of my den.

Anonymous said...

I saw that same report. The reporter seemed pissed, really outraged about what he had just been sent to check out.

Anonymous said...

Hats off to Tony Zumbado for being a truthful journalist rather than highlighting a few bad apples, a few opportunists. The media loves to highlight the few bad people in order to perpetuate the age old belief that people of color are less moral.

Anonymous said...

Thanks to all who responed to the Convetion center story.. Peace and God Bless...

Tony Zumbado
Journalist