e-Claire

Welcome to a Glimpse of the Apocalypse

time to watch and learn

N’ Orleans is flooded. Before the storm hit, gangs were planning where and how to loot the best stuff.  The nicer neighborhoods have been stripped, as has everything for which one wouldn’t have to SCUBA dive.  That will be next.

Now begin the fires.  First the Projects where people were waiting for rescue, attempting to cook or boil water on BBQ grills.  That’s what did in San Francisco in 1906—they called it the Ham and Eggs Fire.  The fires are in deep water areas fire trucks or rescue of any kind are unable to reach.  The fires will spread.

N’ Orleans is like any city; banks, jewelry stores, art museums and galleries.  ...what else?  With all that world-class temptation, it will only get more dangerous there.  Police and rescue workers have already been forced by roving, armed gangs to stop rescuing stranded people. Someone actually shot at one of those big military choppers.  What was going through his mind? And who is now on their way in to town to make that ‘big score’ from this disaster?

The area affected is two-thirds the size of California.  And Iraq.  Currently Iraq is in better shape than the Gulf Coast.

Watching the political pot-shots is mind boggling.  I wonder if some of these shot takers actually comprehend what is going on.  “The Government should have gotten these people out before the storm!” On what?  Brooms?  Didja want the mayor to pull those busses out of thin air?  And what do you do about those who don’t want to go?  “The Government should airlift supplies in now!” Where do ya land it?  And will landing supplies for 100 people make a riot break out in a crowd of 1,000?  I got an idea—why don’t the pot shot takers shut the hell up and help somehow?

What did they do with the folks who were in the jails?  Did they bus them out ahead of the storm?  Or did they hafta let them out ahead of the flood waters?  That ain’t a whole lotta help.

I see Dubya is sending out the 41 & SlickWillie Show again.  I wonder how much aid they’ll raise from Indonesian countries.  Maybe we can get some of that loot back that we sent over last Winter.  Maybe we can cut down on foreign aid by 10% for a while.  At least the UN isn’t tryin’ to force Blue Helmeted rape squads on us.  Seems the indigenous gangs have that concession wrapped up anyway.

Seems like the much maligned ‘faith-based community’ is coming through in stellar fashion, coming up with and cooking food to be distributed by the Red Cross in those giant refugee coliseums.

Gretta VanSusternanatunan is really hammering on the “these are the poverty people” note. I wonder if, or how, that will help anyone or anything.  ‘Cept the whine in her voice when she says it makes me want to smack her even more than usual.

[written around lunch time]

1. Claire,
   Followed over fron KIP.  My wife has been totally shocked at the reaction of some of the folks in N.O. as they come on camera and scream, “Where is the government?” That coupled with the violence, looting and arson has her really wound up.

   My response? When you have people that have been, generationally, forced into a system that makes them beholdened to government, whose shelter, daily bread, healthcare and education are at the execution of said government officials, I expect nothing different.

   One side of the politic spectrum believes that this nanny state is what is required to ensure all have a sufficient quality of life. The other end of that spectrum believes that any government assistance should be of a short-term nature, thus allowing citizens to build self-reliance and practice self-determination.

   I have, over the years, spent much time in New Orleans. It is a shame that much of its beauty will be gone but, this may be an opportunity to change the model, clean up the official corruption and allow the people there to move forward.

   That’s my rant.  I await your reaction.

   Posted by  on  09/02/05  at  09:25 AM

2. I’m in complete agreement.  You put it well.

   If there can be created a silver lining to this disaster, maybe it will become clearer that those of us decrying the ‘nanny state’ aren’t just oppositional/defiant disordered but actually advocating the state of being that is most healthful to individual humans and to society as a whole—self-reliant, self-determining, capable and educated individuals.

   I, too regret the loss of N.O. and it’s particular beauty.  Pete Fountain, hurricanes - the kind in a glass, Antoine’s… N.O is where I discovered the Divine Grace of browned butter.  Beniets....  so much to lose.  Let us not allow this loss to go. Let’s make this into an opportunity to redouble our efforts to convince—or override, if necessary—the advocates of the nanny state and the weakened individual.

   Good to have you around here, MCPO Airdale.  I hope ya come by often.

   Posted by Claire  on  09/02/05  at  10:06 AM

3. BTW the only way I can stand Greta Van Sistern is to mute the sound and turn on Closed Captions!

   Who told her she was suited for TV????

   Posted by  on  09/02/05  at  10:16 AM

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