How Bush Failed a U.S. City
Lan Nguyen from New Orleans, takes part in a candlelight vigil on the levee of Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans Monday, Aug. 27, 2007. The event marked the upcoming second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
29 August 2007
Video
By CAIN BURDEAU
NEW ORLEANS -On the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, anger over the stalled rebuilding was palpable Wednesday throughout the city where the mourning for the dead and feeling of loss doesn't seem to subside.
Hurricane Katrina made landfall south of New Orleans at 6:10 a.m. Aug. 29, 2005, as a strong Category 3 hurricane that flooded 80 percent of the city and killed more than 1,800 people in Louisiana and Mississippi. It was the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States.
On Wednesday, protesters planned to march from the obliterated Lower 9th Ward to Congo Square, where slaves were once allowed to celebrate their culture. Accompanied by brass bands, they will again try to spread their message that the government has failed to help people return.
"People are angry and they want to send a message to politicians that they want them to do more and do it faster," said the Rev. Marshall Truehill, a Baptist pastor and community activist. "Nobody's going to be partying."
At New Orleans' Charity Hospital, a 21-story limestone hospital adorned with allegorical reliefs, public officials will attend a somber groundbreaking for a victims' memorial and mausoleum that will house the remains of more than 100 victims who have still not been identified.
"It's an emotional time. You relive what happened and you remember how scattered everyone is now. There are relationships now that are completely over," said Robert Smallwood, a local writer. "The city has been dying this slow death. In New Orleans, you can't escape it. It's bad news everyday."
In Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour saw progress. He said Wednesday in Gulfport that about 13,000 of his state's families are still living in FEMA trailers, down from a peak of 48,000, and he expects they could all be out of the temporary housing in a year.
"We made a huge amount of progress," Barbour told NBC's "Today" show. "The character of Mississippi was revealed and it was very positive."
New Orleans churches planned memorial services, including one at the historic St. Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square, and ring bells in honor of the victims. People throughout the city will hold their own private ceremonies to remember where they were when Katrina hit, and what they lost.
"Everyone who gives it any thought, and I can't imagine who hasn't, has to reflect on his or her own personal experience during that time, and also look at how far we've come," said Larry Lorenz, a journalism professor at Loyola University in New Orleans.
A candlelight vigil is scheduled in Jackson Square at dusk, right around the time the French Quarter may start getting tipsy with street parties and anniversary revelers, as happened last year.
The anniversary is an opportunity for the city to recapture media attention to tell the nation what's happened to New Orleans since Katrina. Reporters, television crews and photographers have, once again, flocked to the city.
The day has also attracted a passel of politicians — President Bush chief among them. He and Laura Bush arrived Tuesday night and dined with Leah Chase, the Queen of Creole cooking, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and musician Irvin Mayfield.
Several presidential contenders, including Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, have visited in recent days.
While politicians have used the anniversary to pitch policy, think tanks, scholars and activists have released a steady stream of reports on the state of recovery.
Meanwhile, an international people's tribunal has been convened to take testimony from victims. The tribunal is being spearheaded by legal activists trying to build a case under international law accusing the United States of human rights abuses during and after Katrina.
Video Introduction's
Disconnected
Two years ago President Bush said he would "do what it takes" to help New Orleans to recover from Hurricane Katrina, and even gave a toll-free number that displaced families could call. Today, that number is disconnected, just like all of the other promises President Bush made days after the storm.
Visit "Our Future" to learn more.
Two Years After Katrina
It's been two years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region, and still there are tens of thousands of families without homes. 30,000 families are scattered across the country in FEMA apartments, 13,000 are in trailers, and hardly any of the 77,000 rental units destroyed in New Orleans have been rebuilt. Support the Gulf Coast Recovery Bill of 2007 by signing the petition at : "When the Saints Go Marching In".
Dedication to Hurricane Katrina
Dedication to those who have died in the storm. The person that did this video was a survivor of Hurricane Katrina.
Labels: Bush, Human Rights, Humanity, Katrina New Orleans, United States
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 5:05 PM
1 Comments:
False perceptions of reality have deceived the America populace far too long while ignorance runs rampant throughout. While fostering a perception that change must begin with the White House, which is a lie! Change must come from within the individual, the American people and then change will come to the White House, if change is whats needed. Hilary Clinton for president would be the worst mistake America has made in recent years and would spell the end of the Democratic party as a functioning entity. With the American infrastructure deteriorating at an alarming rate with bridges collapsing, cities decimated while the socioeconomic structure devastated by the influx of illegal immigrants and neither the Presidency, Congress or local politicians taking appropriate action to safeguard the American people. Then there are the existing presidential candidates spouting illusionary promises while claiming to or will be something far more than any are capability of providing. Neither the Democratic or Republican parties have anything to offer the American people nor until America takes stock in and of itself will matters continue to degrade to the point of no return. New Orleans is not a one sided issue as Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama would have America believe. Both city, state and federal governments are equally the blame while it is easy to point the finger what did Louisiana, Illinois, Virginia and other cities do to ensure the protection of its citizenry? If the truth be told these cities did little if anything while blaming federal government for its individual shortcomings. Only a fool would believe the garbage being spouted by Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama, Giuliani and the likes thereof. China is rapidly overtaking America and why? Simply put, China for years had a closed door policy as relates to foreign intervention and involvement until China was secure in maintaining itself as a nation. What is America’s excuse? Why is Congress so inept in its duties and responsibilities while placing total blame on the Bush Administration? Again, only a fool would believe this is the case because constitutionally both Congress and the Bush Administration are equally responsible for mess America is in and can seemingly do nothing to revert things still yet to happen. Lastly, what are we, the people doing to ensure that we, the people have a fair and honest representative in government? Why are we, the people so caught up on gender and ethnicity that we cannot see that racial profiling is an evil destroying America from within? A “NO VOTE” for both Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama, Rudy Giuliani is an honest and correct vote anything less would be to further the atrocities befalling We, the people!
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