I cannot fathom the horror of what's happening in New Orleans. I don't even think it's sunk in for most people that a major US city has been completely ordered evacuated because they cannot stop the flooding. I don't think I've ever heard of this happening before. They're going to move everyone out, the prisoners, the ill and dying, those staying at storm shelters, EVERYONE.
That's staggering to me.
Heather and I are looking to find some way to donate food, clothing, and money to the relief efforts but our biggest fear is that if we give these things it won't go to the suffering in the Gulf Coast. I wish there was some DIY charity framework that was transparent and you could track your donations.
Also, speaking of the things happening in the Gulf, I know I'm not the only one that's absolutely fucking horrified and pissed off that Bush was having meetings about Medicare in California while people were dying in their houses. I want to say more but I don't have the composure right now to express it. Instead I'll point you here, which says it much better with pictures than I ever will.
Seriously, Bush is a fuckface.
Apparently I am extremely insensitive. But in all honesty, what would you like Bush to do? It's not as if he has the power to stop the flooding in New Orleans or request a hurricane to take a different direction. Tragedies happen. They are a part of life. I wouldn't have expected him to drop everything and fly down to see the devastation with his own eyes just like I didn't expect him to show up in NYC during or immediately after 9/11. There is a reason things are delegated to others. Bush is not an expert on hurricanes or construction. He wouldn't have been doing anything more than making an appearance. And if he isn't capable of fixing the situation, then what is the point in having him there? So we can all feel warm and fuzzy that our president showed up during a catastrophe that he can't do anything to solve? I think that's ridiculous. But that's just me.
I'm more horrified at the looters. It amazes me that during such an awful time people still manage to bring out the worst in themselves. When people have lost everything, others still want to try and take more from you.
I am leery of the American Red Cross especially when I know that some money has never made it to the intended recipients. Where I used to work, we had to prove that all money we gave to the American Red Cross during a certain time period went to the intended funds as they had a problem with theft within their nonprofit organization. It's a shame when you become distrustful of nonprofit organizations especially when those programs were started with the best of intentions - to assist those in need. I am having a difficult time selecting a reputable organization. I was thinking of donating through the Salvation Army.