The Human kindness we've seen

[JNelson6563]

Throughout this horrible tragedy called "Katrina" I have managed not to cry. I've gotten angry every time I've watched coverage on TV. It's all made me more determined in my political efforts.

Finally, last night, I broke down. What did it? Footage of human kindness I saw in montage form on one of the cable news channels.

Clip after clip of people using innovative items and methods to transport those who couldn't transport themselves. I saw sick people being floated on air mattresses, in large storage tubs, wheeled down the street in shopping carts and, when there was nothing else, carried by hand. I saw black people being carried by whites and vice versa, a part of the picture I found to be especially beautiful. I'm sure many were pictures of total strangers helping each other.

I was struck in this time where survival kicks in and it's every person for their self kind of scenario how many also took the time to try to save others.

I also saw where nurses and doctors of one of the hospitals worked in third world conditions (or worse) and didn't lose one of the 29 babies in their care.

Yes, the government failed miserably but the people not only didn't let us down, they displayed the heartbreaking beauty of human kindness among a backdrop of total devastation. I stand in awe of these people.

Julie

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. kicked and nominated

[babylonsister]

2. What a lovely, positive post. Thanks, Julie. It's nice

to see a ray of sunshine occasionally.

[Pobeka]

3. And this is what makes america strong.

It it people working together. Recognizing themselves in another's face. Making a communtity that serves the needs of everyone, and everyone give a little for that noble purpose.

And this is the difference between the progressive agenda and the conservative agenda. Progressives see that strength comes from a little giving for the good of the whole. Conservatives promote a dog eat dog agenda, where everyone is on their own. You can't have a strong commitment to society and the government when everyone else is out to get you and the government enforces that rule.

I'll cast my fate with those who learned to share and show compassion in kindergarten.

[JNelson6563]

5. You're so right!

It gives me hope that there are more of us than there are of them and that we will prevail.

Julie

[murray hill farm]

4. Recommended!

and thanks..i needed that!!!

[1932]

6. Americans wouldn't let other Americans down, but our government

lets us down.

We do not have a government today that reflects the values of the Amerian people.

We have a government driven by greed, whose project it is to make a few much better off while others suffer. It is so unrepresentive of the way we all lend a helping hand to each other.

We deserve a government that reflects those values.

[Lindsay]

7. Amen, 1932.

And that kind of government was stolen from us.

This is what humanity is all about. It's why we have communities. It's people banding together for the common good. It's helping each other. It's one of the many reasons there are so many African Americans in New Orleans - they have family there. The kinds of families that make the kinds of communities that stick together.

[JNelson6563]

11. I'll second that

That "village" acted more like a family. They showed us what "culture of life" really means. Unlike this band of thugs who play their holy-roller parts claiming all life is precious to them but acting otherwise.....

Julie

[SmokingJacket]

8. Thanks for this post.

I believe in the goodness of people -- it's why I'm a liberal --

[MadeinOhio]

9. Kindness is the heart of our country. It is the end of Bush's political...

Image.. :mad: :mad: :mad:

He knows no kindness and has never understood it. Nor does any of his clusterfuck secretaries. Its time for their end, their political end!!!!!! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[IndyOp]

10. We MUST push this information to the forefront!

FEMA is lying about the extent of the lawlessness. Why? To cover their negligent asses or, possibly, for more sinister reasons. FEMA is saying that the Red Cross would not go into NOLA because of the lawlessness. The Red Cross says that Homeland Security (FEMA) would not let them in because people given water and food would not evacuate. Shepard Smith (on FOX) said that the National Guard has prevented some NOLA citizens from walking out of the hellhole at gunpoint.

FEMA wants us to buy into the lawlessness perspective - and we MUST push the positive stories to the forefront!

========================================

LA Times: National Guard met by despair, not violence.
<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1749293>

========================================

FEMA LIE: (A FEMA worker) also said something that was very disturbing, She has worked at many of the disasters that we have faced, Oklahoma City, floods and other weather issues, 9/11 and so on. She said this, “Every disaster that I have ever been apart of the people are at their wits end, but they band together and help each other out, it is not happening in New Orleans right now.”

TRUTH FROM EYEWITNESSES:

Early in the day, we witnessed a black man in a boat with no motor paddling with a piece of lumber. He rescued people in the boat and paddled them to safety (a mile and a half). He then, amidst all of the boats with motors, turned around and paddled back out across the mile and a half stretch to do his part in getting more people out. He refused to give up or occupy any of the motored boat resources because he did not want to slow us down in our efforts.

...in a really rough neighborhood and we came across five seemingly unsavory characters. One had scars from what seemed to be gunshot wounds.... These guys stayed outside in the center all day, getting everyone out of the rec center onto boats. We approached them at approximately 6:30 p.m., obviously one of the last trips of the day, and they sent us further into the neighborhood to get more people out of homes and off rooftops instead of getting on themselves. This at the risk of their not getting out and having to stay in the water for an undetermined...amount of time. These five guys were on the last boat out of the neighborhood at sundown. They were incredibly grateful, mentioned numerous times 'God is going to bless y'all for this'.

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4591778#4593121>

[MadeinOhio]

12. Politicizing this into Iraq....Another clusterfuck, is his undoing.

We're not stupid lemmings, we know what the fuck you were doing in there. :mad: :mad:

[spooky3]

13. Here on local news in DC: pictures of huge loads of toiletries, house-

hold necessities, clothing, etc., were being donated by people who live in a very poor part of the city. Carloads and truckloads of stuff people managed to buy or give up to help the even less fortunate. These people have so little themselves but they were there for others.

The more fortunate are also giving. The DC Armory is being opened and buses are being sent for several hundred refugees. Students at Georgetown University are organizing to help at the Armory at noon today.

[JNelson6563]

14. The kindness will keep coming

from the people while our "leaders" will be busy portaying the victims as animals who are to blame for everything.

Julie

[melody]

15. evidence all over

Even on the Katrina board on Ebay - not known as the dairy farm for the milk of human kindness - there were countless posts of love and good wishes from abroad, and strangers offering to help strangers and strangers asking for help and getting it. It takes this awful kind of experience to fully appreciate how good we can be as individuals and how awful government can be when it serves itself and not its people.

[eauclaireliberal]

16. "Christianity" in action

and to think, these are the same folks the right-wing fucktards are screeching about how they are all animals, roving bands of armed maniacs. "Shoot to kill." Neo-con, heal thyself.

Faith without works is dead. Those who claim moral authority should pay attention to those they condemn.

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. The true heroes in all of this are the victims, the ones whose lives

were in jeopardy and the ones who put their lives in jeopardy to save lives and the ones who put their own problems aside, dropped everything and rushed to help, even while being turned away. The very best of America. I finally broke down this morning too.