Coming to Terms with Katrina

I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment -- hints I haven't been updating my blog. Beyond the several ongoing telecommunications policy, and community networking projects which I'm actively developing, I've just been outsourced to help with the information challenges that have been posed by Katrina.

Katrina -- that bitch.

Last Monday, I actually flew over Katrina on my way to Boston. In an odd foreshadowing of how our goverment responded, the pilot choose not to tell us that the giant, larger than life thunderheads which surrounded us was the hurricane. Once I arrived at my VISTA orientation, I was kept busy for all waking hours of the day monday through friday. Long story short, I didn't really get a chance to read the news reports until yesterday. The crisis in New Orleans seems to shed a very unflattering light on what a barbaric, racist, and utterly uncaring of a society we live in. America as a whole, it would seem, can only be brought together by the drum beats of war.

Objectively speaking -- in terms of loss of life, cause of misery, and property damage -- Katrina will prove to be far worse than 9/11. However, the difference in our country's response to 9-11, and Katrina is a good indication of what Americans really value. The giant sparkling twin towers vs. improvished, dingy neighhourhoods. Victims who died in a brooksbrothers suit, vs. those who died wearing something from the thrift store.

Black vs. White. The standard is disgustingly based on appearence. And if you think that that the appalling situation has nothing to do with race, and class, than you -- my friend -- are a fool.