New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina, and the day the American Psyche changed
Bruce Springsteen has a new album coming out and his new song hints at New Orleans and Katrina again. A clear change in tone appeared to happen in Springsteen following what he saw in New Orleans and it was certainly understandable. It was the first time that government appeared to not care what happened to its own citizens. Even the networks seemed surprised when their own anchors couldn't ignore the bodies floating by them. Of course much of the national guard wasn't available because for some reason they were in Iraq instead trying to rebuild that country instead of their own back yards. For a time Blackwater, or America's rent a soldier, had to come in and bring law and order. There was some question whether if they shot anybody in New Orleans whether that person could be found guilty under American law as the federal government was contracting out their responsibility.
The first on the scene was actually people from Cuba, Venezuela and Canada just disgraceful. Not only could the US government not do enough but it even prevented other from helping its own people.
Venezuala - An offer of aid from the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez, which included two mobile hospital units, 120 rescue and first aid experts and 50 tonnes of food, has been rejected, according to the civil rights leader, Jesse Jackson.
Mr Jackson said the offer from the Venezuelan leader, whom he recently met, included 10 water purification plants, 18 power generation plants and 20 tonnes of bottled water.
The offer was made in a letter from the Venezuelan ambassador to the United States, Bernardo Alvarez, to the governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco.
It was one of many from governments and aid organisations across the world, despite allegations by many conservative commentators and bloggers that the US is being ignored by countries it has helped during crises.
Mr Jackson said the rejection of the offer from one of Mr Bush's most outspoken political foes was a sign the federal government was incapable of handling the crisis properly. "This may be Mr Bush's worst hour of leadership," said Mr Jackson.
Full story here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/sep/07/venezuela.hurricanekatrina
Cuba - On several instances, Cuba has offered to send free doctors and medical supplies to the United States, and the US has turned them down. Is this right? Cuban doctors are known around the world for the excellent medical care they provide in underserved and recent-disaster areas, absolutely free of charge. Why should we turn them down?
Full Story: http://sustainablemedicine.org/2009/03/cubans-offer-free-doctors-us-refuses/
The full multi-media presentation is here: http://laborspains.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-orleans-hurrican-katrina-and-day.html