My words aren't working, but my emotion is strong. Uncle Al is in CA with his son, GaGa is in Virginia with hers, and most (but not all) of the friends I was still in touch with in Nola are out or on their way.
Someone local was arguing about how horrible society is today, and how Katrina and the aftermath proved that no longer can he believe in the basic goodness of human beings, of their ability to do good and be each others' allies/protection in time of crisis.
Arguments like this -- along with those about gas and politics and others -- infuriate me right now. The problem is not with *people* it is WITH THE SYSTEM! My rage is incoherent, and it's multidirectional. It's that people -- individual and corporate and group -- are trying to do what's right, they are trying to help, and THE SYTSTEM AND ITS LEADERS WILL NOT ALLOW IT. THEY PLAY POWER POLITICS AND CATER TO A MEDIA THAT SERVES UP WHAT OUR MODERN COLISEUM CULTURE DEMANDS, while those of us who live our lives in an ordinary world spend our time fighting the system to get the heroes help, to show their lights to the world, to encourage rather than to tear down the cities and towns that are beloved.
AAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGH!
(coherence perhaps later. I am collecting links and letting it marinate.)
Someone local was arguing about how horrible society is today, and how Katrina and the aftermath proved that no longer can he believe in the basic goodness of human beings, of their ability to do good and be each others' allies/protection in time of crisis.
Arguments like this -- along with those about gas and politics and others -- infuriate me right now. The problem is not with *people* it is WITH THE SYSTEM! My rage is incoherent, and it's multidirectional. It's that people -- individual and corporate and group -- are trying to do what's right, they are trying to help, and THE SYTSTEM AND ITS LEADERS WILL NOT ALLOW IT. THEY PLAY POWER POLITICS AND CATER TO A MEDIA THAT SERVES UP WHAT OUR MODERN COLISEUM CULTURE DEMANDS, while those of us who live our lives in an ordinary world spend our time fighting the system to get the heroes help, to show their lights to the world, to encourage rather than to tear down the cities and towns that are beloved.
AAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGH!
(coherence perhaps later. I am collecting links and letting it marinate.)
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You, I still lub. ((((C))))
Sorry?
(((hugs you tight)))
I need, in a bone-shaking, deep-seated way, to cry. The summer of 2005 has been *hard*.
(((((you are here))))))
Blanket drive on
Monday, 5:17 p.m.
A New Iberia resident is spearheading an effort to make blankets for
infants and children who are victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Local quilter Julia Fleming said infant blankets can be sewn quickly by
machine or by hand. Fleming added that she is hoping to get as many
area quilters and seamtresses to get involved in the effort as possible.
To help or for more information, call Fleming at (337) 560-5187. (from NOLA.com)
After weathering Hurricane Katrina in their McKinley Street home, Sartin, 67, and mom, Julia Bethley, 88, relied on friends and neighbors to keep a steady supply of ice coming in to keep Bethley's insulin cool.
"Without that, I don't think we would have lasted long," Sartin said. "We don't have a car right now and none of our relatives could get to us. We don't have any problems now except that there's no (air conditioning). But without their help we might have died by now."
http://hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050905/NEWS05/509050312
The MidAmerica Housing Partnership is the non-profit organization in charge of local relief efforts. The group is fixing up 20 townhouses in Cedar Rapids, hoping to help those who've lost everything.
Twelve-year-old Carrena Bailey didn't think she'd have to clean on her day off from school. Bailey says, "I'd rather be doing this than staying home, watching those people on TV, feeling bad for them."
http://www.kwwl.com/Global/story.asp?S=3808141</i>
yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes.
Line up all the acts of personal heroism and all the criminal and hurtful acts, and guess which is longer -- far, far longer, guess which is more important in the long haul?
Give good into the world, and good comes out.
http://talkleft.com/new_archives/012158.html
::holds you::
::makes you a stiff drink::
::gulps drink::
That's what ministers do, right??
(hey -- you found me a good outlet for some of this black rage. well done!)
(((hugs)))