Fording the flood waters. Photo courtesy of FOX News. 

Katrina Burnout

I know that the catastrophe in the Gulf states is probably the worst single disaster in U.S. history, but after a week of wall to wall coverage by every single media outlet, I am suffering from Katrina burnout. I think it stems from the way the media covers the event and insert their own feelings into the story instead of covering the facts. Thank goodness for the Internet.

The media has taken this event and used it as a vehicle to slam the Bush administration, who in most cases they blame for the hurricane developing in the south Atlantic in the first place. I don't think that I have ever been so ashamed of my fellow citizens.

Instead of focusing on the rescue and recovery effort, the media and politicos are calling for heads to roll and answers to questions which most likely will have to wait until the recovery effort is at least structured to move forth on its own.

What really gets me is the blame game over who was supposed to respond and how that process happens. With all the pundits screaming that the Feds responded ever so slowly, no on seems to be putting any blame on the shoulders that sqaurely deserve it, the Louisiana governor. Many people seem to believe that the Federal government is "king" in this fair land of ours, when actually it is a mighty servant of the states when it comes to domestic issues.

According to the Constitution, the President of the United States cannot arbitrarily send troops into any state without the express consent or invitation of that state's governor unless there is a national threat. In this instance, the Governor of Louisiana failed to react, timely,to the devastation in her state and activate the request for Federal aid, even after being forewarned and urged by the President to begin an evacuation prior to hurricane Katrina coming ashore.

But I contend that no one, not the Governor, not the Mayor of New Orleans, not Michael Brown( head if FEMA), not Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff and not even President Bush wanted a single person to suffer and die as a result of Katrina. Some terrible things happened as a result. but none of them had ever encountered an event of such magnitude. Monday morning quarterbacking by the media and its political yahoos is at the very least unproductive and at the most shameful and obstructive to relief and rescue efforts.

Help Arrives. Photo courtesy of FOX News. 

Blame Game Begins

In this time of need and response, some leaders and politicians have already began to point fingers and lay blame for the worst natural disater in U.S. history. It is unbelievable how soon opponents of the Bush administration attempt to turn this catastrophe into a political issue.

I can assure you that over the next century there will be plenty of blame to go around for the unpreparedness of New Orleans and its infrastructure, namely the levies. But id you really want to get down to it, we could all lay the blame at the feet of Jean Baptiste who decided, against the advice of engineers, in 1718, to build a settlement on the site of the now devastated city.

Shame on anyone who decides to point fingers under the guise of concern for political advantage. I won't dignify the comments that I have heard and read with names because I think that we should ignore them and deal with them at a later date.

There is no way that anyone could have forseen the devastation that occured as a result of Katrina, no on wanted it to happen and the response to such an event is unprecedented. It is a logistical, military and governmental nightmare.
So instead of criticizing we must be supporting. We must overcome the political loathing and disdain and cling to the one thing that truly binds us together, our humanity.