Friday, September 02, 2005

 

I am brokenhearted for the city of New Orleans. The video from the disaster is truly devastating. The initial destruction was catastrophic, and daily the situation worsens as refugees starve, die of disease, and at the hands of the lawless. I fear that the loss of life will surpass that of 9/11 when the full accounting is known. And, of course, the loss of lifestyle and of personal property is already far beyond that of the 2001 terrorist attacks. I fear that the city of New Orleans is no more, and that is heartbreaking.

However…

Do you remember the news coverage and comments during the hours and days following the 9/11 attacks? The major story was how the “cold, hardened, impersonal” people of New York pulled together and helped each other out and became family, and how they, “pampered city folks”, became “survivors”. Members of the NYPD and FDNY became, and are to this day, national heroes! The nation was inspired by the actions of the people of New York.

It is hard to be inspired by many of the people of New Orleans. I’m not talking about the looters and gangsters—that sort of crap happens all the time—I’m talking about the vast hundreds of people sitting around yelling at the TV cameras, “nobody is coming to help us!” Instead of seeking shelter, loved ones, food & relief they are yelling that the government isn’t sending busses to pick them up, feed them, and wipe their bottoms. Meanwhile, in contrast to the heroes of the NYPD, there are reports of New Orleans Police turning in their badges and joining the masses of the “helpless”.

And while the cold, callous Big Apple turned into an inspiring city on a hill; the cool, laid-back Big Easy is rapidly descending into a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Perhaps New Yorkers were already conditioned for survival by running down taxis and buses.

Perhaps New Orleanos were softened to helplessness by too much party and gumbo.

Perhaps the difference is merely the fact that after the 9/11 attacks much the city’s infrastructure was still intact.

But more troubling: Perhaps New Orleans’ actions are a picture of the eventual outcome of the welfare state—where people are so conditioned to being cared for that they lose the ability to care for themselves.

That picture is truly heartbreaking…

posted by huggy 5:20 PM