A Good Katrina Story
Heard this nice story about the Katrina disaster. This hefty guy with a ponytail and somewhat of a "can't get it together type" (my interpretation) lives alone, somewhere in the NC mountains(I think). Anyway, he hops on his old motorcycle with no money, rides 900 miles, and gives out of gas. By fate, I guess, he ends up at the site of the Salvation Army where they are preparing things for the Gulf Coast. They take him in. He is befriended by this older lady who puts him to work preparing food, baskets, etc. He is renewed; and, by his own admission, his time with the Salvation Army has "turned him around." So, he has decided to stay with the organization helping as long as they need him even though he is not religious.
Things Most of Us Never Think About
Heard a media interview with a guy who kept his money in a shoebox and was overwhelmed at having a debit card. (program is now discontinued although sounded like a good idea to me). He was pretty sharp and said the bank might now give him a chance to have an account. I am amazed at folks who don't even have a bank account. But, it is true, often those in poverty simply grow up in a way of life that is very different from the rest of us.
This reminds me of the time I taught adult education when I was in the Seminary. I needed some extra money so I landed a job at the local community college helping folks at or below the poverty level to obtain an 8th grade equivalency. It might have been one of LBJ's Great Society programs, who knows. I had about ten women in my class and we were getting nowhere. They ranged in age from late twenties to fifties. Finally, I said, "OK, what do you want to do?" One said, "All my life I've wanted to have a checking account at a bank and be able to write checks." So, we spent an entire semester getting them a checking account and learning how to write a check. It was pretty inspirational and the stories that came out of that class were legendary. I learned much more than the women. Going to the supermarket and writing a check for groceries was the final exam. They all passed. I guarantee you that similar situations existed in New Orleans and now they have a chance. Stories like this are going to come out of the disaster along with the sadness.
She Was Just Making Conversation
Laughed a bit at the press or PCers (politically correct) who got after Barbara Bush for saying "The poor folks may end up better off" even though they lost their homes and way of life and who knows what else. Better things are happening, like the kids going into new schools. Really other good things might be happening of which none of us know the end; and, based on what I have read about New Orleans poverty, the Barb. may be right: Folks might be much better off with a real possibility to break the cycle of poverty.
Heck Of A Job Brownee
Bet the George W. wishes he could take that praise back. Brown had to go and I don't think the President will get off the hook on this one either. The image of watching those poor people at the Super Dome is going to last for a long time especially the first seventy-two hours they spent with no food and no water. And, "heck of a job Brownee" was said after two days, and Brown was not even aware of the mess at the Superdome. Please!
Bureaucracy Rules
Still think the Katrina aftermath had so much to do with bureaucracy. I listened to NPR the other day and they were talking about the layers of bureaucracy that the federal government goes through before it can respond. Add this to poor or no leadership and we had a tragedy. In the Army, the difference, I think, is on occasion, in a potential disaster, a decision is made; and, later on, if protocol is violated or whatever, the guilty party falls on the sword(apologizes). If the original decision works, those above shrug their shoulders. If the Army had taken over immediately, even without the authority in the disaster, I don't think anything of major consequence would have happened and would surely have been so much better for the people. But, as it turned out, even the military didn't look so hot in the beginning. KT
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