Mardi Gras
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by Berimbau » Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:24 pm
Dear Friends,
I am from Waveland, MS., the eye of Hurricane Katrina. Most of our town, all of our jobs, and most of our houses are GONE. But for everyone's information, me and just about everyone in my town who survived this awful thing are GRATEFUL. It was the CHURCHES and individual AMERICANS who came to help us out, NOT the US government. All thanks and prasie are due to ALL those fine folks!!! We love you guys, and God Bless you ALL!!!
Now what REALLY bothers me is the politically-motivated, purposeful dis-information that is spread on the internet and National TV regarding the government response to Katrina. As a survivor, I DO count my blessings and I do NOT think of myself as a victim. But please try to imagine yourself at age 50, suddenly homeless, jobless, with NO resources in a town that looks like it was nuked. Until you've been in MY shoes, or done volunteer work along the Gulf Coast, you don't know shit about this thing. Everyone I know who's been there will tell you that the TV images cannot convey the reality of it.
Now to Bongoron, who might not appreciate my political rantings here, a what if scenario for fairness sake. What if Katrina made landfall in the middle of the Clinton or Reagan administration? It would have been JUST as devastating, Katrina was NOT Bush's fault. I certainly don't blame him for what was a natural act. I'll also guess that the government response under ANY other administration might have been only slightly better. But Clinton could EASILY have gone to the NOLA Convention Center. Reagan and Carter could have easily done that too. President Johnson went to NOLA right after Hurricane Betsy. That's REAL leadership. These were presidents who whether you liked them or not, knew how to shoulder the awesome responsibility which comes with that office. We don't have that kind of leadership anymore.
Bush quite simply does NOT have the necessary character to rise to such a disasterous occasion. He was strumming his guitar in Texas oblivious to the dire warnings he recieved, but ignored about Katrina. Condi Rice was in NYC watching the Broadway production of "Spam-a-Lot." Of course our Mississippi Guard, our REAL homeland security, is dying in Iraq for Exxon.
But what more could one expect from the administration of such a candyass, drug addled draft-dodger who ONLY panders to the rich and powerful? He would gladly zip YOU up in a body bag just to increase oil production for his ultra-wealthy Arab cronies. That's his version of patriotism, and his agenda of avarice is now all too obvious. I pray that you DON'T get activated in any of Bush's military schemes. I pray that you will wake up and smell the coffee, it stinks of Bush's MANY lies!!!
Finally you ask if America is getting spoiled and I would say that YES we are. We stopped paying attention and re-elected a man whose lack of regard for his fellow country men is criminal. We believed EVERYTHING that FOX non-news spoon-fed us about the single most corrupt regime in our county's history. The malls were still open, gas may climb to $10.00 a gallon, but that's ok., we'll pay it!!! America did get what it deserved, and my largely right-wing, conservative, Christian state of Mississippi bore the brunt of our president's carelessness. I urge everyone to come down to Waveland and visit us, help move some debris and then drink a few beers with us at the Bay City Grill. Even my Republican friends will be glad to show you exactly where Bush's limo speeded up to 65 mph to avoid them last month. He was so frightened of potential protestors that he actually fled to a private Christian school and dissed his dwindling supporters. They all ditched their Welcome President Bush signs in the debris piles and went home ANGRY. That's what he did to us, now how much do you think he cares about you?
Peace Out,
Berimbau
I am from Waveland, MS., the eye of Hurricane Katrina. Most of our town, all of our jobs, and most of our houses are GONE. But for everyone's information, me and just about everyone in my town who survived this awful thing are GRATEFUL. It was the CHURCHES and individual AMERICANS who came to help us out, NOT the US government. All thanks and prasie are due to ALL those fine folks!!! We love you guys, and God Bless you ALL!!!
Now what REALLY bothers me is the politically-motivated, purposeful dis-information that is spread on the internet and National TV regarding the government response to Katrina. As a survivor, I DO count my blessings and I do NOT think of myself as a victim. But please try to imagine yourself at age 50, suddenly homeless, jobless, with NO resources in a town that looks like it was nuked. Until you've been in MY shoes, or done volunteer work along the Gulf Coast, you don't know shit about this thing. Everyone I know who's been there will tell you that the TV images cannot convey the reality of it.
Now to Bongoron, who might not appreciate my political rantings here, a what if scenario for fairness sake. What if Katrina made landfall in the middle of the Clinton or Reagan administration? It would have been JUST as devastating, Katrina was NOT Bush's fault. I certainly don't blame him for what was a natural act. I'll also guess that the government response under ANY other administration might have been only slightly better. But Clinton could EASILY have gone to the NOLA Convention Center. Reagan and Carter could have easily done that too. President Johnson went to NOLA right after Hurricane Betsy. That's REAL leadership. These were presidents who whether you liked them or not, knew how to shoulder the awesome responsibility which comes with that office. We don't have that kind of leadership anymore.
Bush quite simply does NOT have the necessary character to rise to such a disasterous occasion. He was strumming his guitar in Texas oblivious to the dire warnings he recieved, but ignored about Katrina. Condi Rice was in NYC watching the Broadway production of "Spam-a-Lot." Of course our Mississippi Guard, our REAL homeland security, is dying in Iraq for Exxon.
But what more could one expect from the administration of such a candyass, drug addled draft-dodger who ONLY panders to the rich and powerful? He would gladly zip YOU up in a body bag just to increase oil production for his ultra-wealthy Arab cronies. That's his version of patriotism, and his agenda of avarice is now all too obvious. I pray that you DON'T get activated in any of Bush's military schemes. I pray that you will wake up and smell the coffee, it stinks of Bush's MANY lies!!!
Finally you ask if America is getting spoiled and I would say that YES we are. We stopped paying attention and re-elected a man whose lack of regard for his fellow country men is criminal. We believed EVERYTHING that FOX non-news spoon-fed us about the single most corrupt regime in our county's history. The malls were still open, gas may climb to $10.00 a gallon, but that's ok., we'll pay it!!! America did get what it deserved, and my largely right-wing, conservative, Christian state of Mississippi bore the brunt of our president's carelessness. I urge everyone to come down to Waveland and visit us, help move some debris and then drink a few beers with us at the Bay City Grill. Even my Republican friends will be glad to show you exactly where Bush's limo speeded up to 65 mph to avoid them last month. He was so frightened of potential protestors that he actually fled to a private Christian school and dissed his dwindling supporters. They all ditched their Welcome President Bush signs in the debris piles and went home ANGRY. That's what he did to us, now how much do you think he cares about you?
Peace Out,
Berimbau
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Berimbau - Posts: 356
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:09 am
- Location: Asheville, N.C.
by Charangaman » Thu Mar 02, 2006 3:14 pm
Cuba endures catagory 5 storms/hurracaines almost annually, they move as many people as is necessary and very rarely are there any casualties.
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Charangaman - Posts: 312
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 11:00 am
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by bongoron » Thu Mar 02, 2006 4:27 pm
I mean no offense to the majority of the disaster victims. I didn't mean to overgeneralize. As usual, a few cast a shadow on the many...and the press contributes as well by what they choose to depict. Like you said, only those who are there really know. My point was simply that we really don't know what anyone else would have done under these exact circumstances, since it's never happened exactly this way before...we can only speculate. My reference to the tsunami victims is intended to contrast with looters who sieze the opportunity for a free TV set...not the ones who need food, or the homeless. The darkness of heart is what gets the most press. There will always be the bad apples spoiling the whole the bushel, and the behavior of rioting people in the superdome is the thing our press shows the world.
Berimbau, my church pianist and her husband (our associate pastor) went there for a couple of weeks with the Missouri Baptist disaster relief team and echoed your words of how impossible it is to describe. I realize I don't have first-hand knowledge, and meant no offense. I would have gone if I could have, though. My self-employment at the time made it impossible. My main beef is with the press and how they make everything worse whenever they can, politically. Only the next election can really change things for the better ...gotta look forward, in my opinion.
God bless!
-Ron
Berimbau, my church pianist and her husband (our associate pastor) went there for a couple of weeks with the Missouri Baptist disaster relief team and echoed your words of how impossible it is to describe. I realize I don't have first-hand knowledge, and meant no offense. I would have gone if I could have, though. My self-employment at the time made it impossible. My main beef is with the press and how they make everything worse whenever they can, politically. Only the next election can really change things for the better ...gotta look forward, in my opinion.
God bless!
-Ron
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bongoron - Posts: 179
- Joined: Sun Jan 22, 2006 1:15 am
- Location: Missouri
by bongoron » Thu Mar 02, 2006 6:51 pm
You are most welcome. As with all our ministries, there's so much left to do when the money runs out...one of my biggest frustrations. I guess our role is mainly to pitch in and God is providing for that until we are suposed to pitch in elsewhere. We have needy people inside our own congregation, and we often struggle with how to help outside of it. That's just where we are, I guess.
I do believe that after this much time the government should indeed be finding the means to rebuild the parts of our country destroyed this way. That's a thing we continue to pray for...current government makes that part even more important to us. It will be frustrating for quite some time...
God bless!
-Ron
I do believe that after this much time the government should indeed be finding the means to rebuild the parts of our country destroyed this way. That's a thing we continue to pray for...current government makes that part even more important to us. It will be frustrating for quite some time...
God bless!
-Ron
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bongoron - Posts: 179
- Joined: Sun Jan 22, 2006 1:15 am
- Location: Missouri
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