My last post for the weekend, as watching the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has reduced me to a weary sadness…but at least we’re ending on a high note, with the humanitarian effort FINALLY in full swing:
1—Large units of the National Guard have entered the city, along with other military personnel; New Orleans and its safety have been put in the hands of Lieutenant-General Russell Honore;
2—The Canadian Government is sending 3 warships and 1 coast guard vessel, full of supplies and personnel ready to help. I never thought I’d see the day when Canada would send humanitarian relief to the United States!!
3—The Superdome has all but been evacuated;
In the midst of all this, aside from New Orleans’ tough-talking mayor, my new hero is Congressman Elijah Cummings, chairman of the Black Caucus, who was scathing in his indictment of the delayed relief effort, and the treatment of Americans. It was very uplifting listening to his passionate voice on CNN yesterday. His stand against calling victims refugees was a fine sentiment, as he believes (rightly so) that such people would be treated as refugees, instead of being treated as American citizens.
He called for citizens and governments to come together “with a force equal to that of Hurricane Katrina” to meet the needs of the hurricane victims. I only hope his call to action is realized effectively…
