Based on what Ol Cranky said in a comment, I feel I should share this here. It is inspired by a post at Eschaton. What I'm about to share is both private and painful.
More than likely my family would not have survived, if we were in the same circumstances we were when I was a kid - and been in New Orleans the day Katrina hit.
I don't talk much about growing up - my childhood - because many would not understand. Some would make incorrect judgments. Others would look down on me. Some would take pity. I've never wanted any of that. Never asked for any of that. And I am proud to have made it to where I am pulling up my own bootstraps.
But as a kid - me and my family lived Social Security check to Social Security check. It would get to us on the 1st of the month. Each month the 1st was a happy day. But as the month wore on - there would be less and less of everything - including food.
Katrina hit on the 29th. We would not have had cash to leave town. We would not have had cash for public transportation. We would not have had cash for food. We would not have had cash for water.
Since we moved so often, and knew no neighbors - our choice would be stark: to give up and die - or be among those foraging for food – "looters" to you hate mongers - and treking our way out of town. I think the later. Because we're fighters.
My family survived the circumstances of our childhood poverty. But for those poor in Katrina's wake - who the Right is vilifying with such a broad brush - their nightmare goes on.
I worry my family will be upset I posted this. When I got reminded about the 29th of the month... I had to share. My heart is heavy for those who have been hit - and those who are fighting to survive.
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This is a re-post from my personal blog.
Karl, Thank you for sharing
Karl,
Thank you for sharing that. Putting a face on what we don't know always helps us understand. Hopefully your post will silence some critics.
Blame the Victim
I've been feeling sick as I've watched many government officials, both Democrats and Republicans, imply that those who did not evacuate New Orleans were stupid and or stubborn, and were responsible for their predicaments because they refused to "heed the warnings."
As you point out, though, and as Will just pointed out so strongly, most people who rode out the storm did so because they had no other choice.
Thank you for putting yourself out there with this post, Karl. I hope it changes some minds and hearts.
That's not Looting...
I think many people understand and have felt the effects of end of the month cash halt and when people are speaking of "looters", I am quite sure they don't mean people that are looking to survive.
Maybe I should only speak for myself... *I* have no problem with breaking through a window to get water, diapers and food. If they have young children it is their duty to do so. My heart truly goes out those people. But it is those very people who are being hurt the most by the ones throwing up the west coast sign as they steal a TV and $200 Polo jeans. By those that would SHOOT at the very choppers that are coming in to rescue them. By those that would rape women and kill cops in the aftermath of this horror. These are the looters of whom *I* speak... Maybe we need to give them separate terms: the first will be the "survivors" and the later the "looters".
Thank you Karl
Thank you for bursting out of the shell of non-personal blogging you've spoken of. And to do so to help clarify what's happening in New Orleans for the ones who have needlessly labelled people as looters for merely surviving. Every time I heard the word thrown around while watching the TV last night pissed me off.
Thank you again for sharing. This is way more than the baby steps I suggested.
Food foraging is one thing.
I hold no anamosity to those that are foraging food or basic need items. and I am sure that those that were like Karls family are the true victims. However I must ask Karl do you think your parents would not have made an effort to get you out before the storm hit as everyone was ordered to do. at that point there was transportation for those that could not afford it. The city was providing it to any that wanted it. The majority of those that stayed behind refused to go inspite of being told that NO HELP WOULD BE ABLE TO REACH THEM. For 90% of those that stayed it was thier choice. I also find it hard to believe that those that were fillmed cleaning out jewlry stores and shooting each other and shooting at rescue boats can be called anything but what they are and thats looters.
You indeed live up to your name
It's parent - not parents. And we were on Social Security. She was disabled.
My mom would not have been able to get us out in time.
Period.
She would not have sent you out to Loot
now would she Karl. If help was offered she wouldn't have accepted it? Why, because she was disabled or on SocSec. I think you underestimate what your moms desire to save her children would enable her to do.
None of the reports I've
None of the reports I've heard or read have substantiated that the help offered (at the proverbial last minute) was that well communicated. That's one of the problems with last minute efforts -- there's no real way of being sure you're reaching that many people.
Do you have reports to the contrary on that? I've heard other people suggest what you're saying about the help being offered to everyone, but so far it tends to be second and third-hand info. If you have a primary source on that, it would be useful for the rest of us to know.
Well I wasn't there
but I did see with my own eyes on TV the Mayor of New Orleans saying that they would help all those that live in the city to leave and that even the superdome would not be safe after the power was lost. Now how much effort the mayor actually put out trying to live upto his own words spoken on national coverage before the storm I can't testify to. Maybe he will have to testify to any lack of effort on his part or the part of his administration in the upcoming investgation.
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