What is happening in the hurricane hit areas is NOT something that should be happening in the United States. It is an embarrassament and a total outrage. Even if we consider this single hurricane, we saw it coming, knew it's potential disaster range and yet, the government did close to nothing to prevent this natural disaster from turning into a prolonged man-made disaster--which is what it exactly is at this point in time.
What a shame that even after the Civil Rights Movement, we have continually swept unpleasant racial issues under the carpet. We have known about these people who live below the poverty level--and they aren't all black. Still, the mentality in the South is, "Well, they're no good, non-productive people anyway. And they're mostly black. We'll think about them later." And, now that "later" has come, the dirty secrets of the Southern mentality--and perhaps the mentality of the "class conscious" nouveau rich of America are out in the sun for all of the world to see. Let's hope America learns a much needed lesson from this. (2005.09.04 13:26:03)
And I agree wholeheartedly that feeling outraged is not enough.
My friend C contends with unbelievable frustrations every day. I'm too disheartened to relate them at the moment - maybe soon, though.
He can't stand to see anyone wronged, so he fights hard every day. I can see it's getting to him - and he's one of the strongest people I know. I worry about him.
(2005.09.05 12:11:53)