Everyone will see it diferently

[Van]

This disaster is hard for most people to watch, its even worse for most to live in right now. Each of us not in the middle of this are going to see and handle what we are feeling diferent from the next person and as such should respect and understand this will be the case. Some people watch disasters with avid fascination while others have most likely spent the last few days crying over the images that they have seen. A certain amount of restraint must be maintained when you may hear or read something that someone may say that does not fit with what you feel is right, I myself have reached a point that I need to find a moment of humour in this dark time to leviate the stress some.

For me as a person I dont find it funny what has happened to anyone in the gulf coast region, I have a great sense of dispair and sadness, specialy for the children that are dying and have died from this storm.... I have an 18 month old and I just cant imagine her in this situation.

 

[asousa]

I agree and if you are referring to the responses to your other post....you also need to realize that not everyone feels the way you do. You cannot expect to post something to a public forum and not get a reaction. Especially a sensative topic such as this.

 

[Chado]

Don't take it so hard. People are quick to judge and flame during these times as well. Let it go bro, I am sure you are a good guy...

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

One of my greatest fears is losing my 2 year old son. I would gladly give my life for him.

One thing that upsets me about this, is when these disasters happen anywhere else in the world the USA is there giving a helping hand, how come now one is coming to help us out?

Give to the Red Cross and Salvation Army, they need it.

 

[Chado]

One thing that upsets me about this, is when these disasters happen anywhere else in the world the USA is there giving a helping hand, how come now one is coming to help us out?

In fairness, I did read a report that the Asia Pacific Countries struck by the tsunami and aided by the US tremendously are offering financial assistance. Found it on one of the CNN blogs I do believe.

Another point is that we shouldn't need that much help. We are the richest country in the world, but can turn something like this into a cluster F&!% real quick.

 

[Matt]

One of my greatest fears is losing my 2 year old son. I would gladly give my life for him.

One thing that upsets me about this, is when these disasters happen anywhere else in the world the USA is there giving a helping hand, how come now one is coming to help us out?

Give to the Red Cross and Salvation Army, they need it.

More than 20 countries offered help and assistance right away. It was DECLINED by the president of the USA - claiming the USA could handle it alone. Well, it sure could have - if it wanted to. When it comes to disasters, the world - the people - aren't as bad as some want to make it believe.

 

[Juan]

More than 20 countries offered help and assistance right away. It was DECLINED by the president of the USA - claiming the USA could handle it alone. Well, it sure could have - if it wanted to. When it comes to disasters, the world - the people - aren't as bad as some want to make it believe.

only 20??? we have helped over 100 diiferent countries

 

[Tom in TX]

- More than 20 countries offered help and assistance right away. It was DECLINED by the president of the USA QUOTE]
Not to doubt you, but what is the source for this. I would like to read it.
Tom in TX

 

[bigrc]

the only person who has not had a news interview from the gulf coast is jessie jackson as he was in south america talking. if all the news reporters would put down their mikes for a moment an quit grand stand pointing blame, pitch in maybe something would get done. i lived in southern california earth quake city, and several month after any of them is was as if it never happen. because they did have to stop and explain themselves to some news reporter from nothing on tv anymore world. as new media i do believe is nothing more than propaganda call girl service for who ever will line there pockets, like the rumour gas in atlanta would be out by 4 pm, created a panic buying fromthe crazy folks who will believe anything, oh yea an boortz tryed to explain that one when prices went from 169 to as much as 6 buck a gallon why? the same reason paper products and many create shortages these modern day companies like to do for record profits. i just wonder how much longer this ship of fools will float before the american public gets wise enough to take all the good ole boys in washington out of office, and in each and evey

 

[Matt]

- More than 20 countries offered help and assistance right away. It was DECLINED by the president of the USA QUOTE]
Not to doubt you, but what is the source for this. I would like to read it.
Tom in TX

Sure Tom, at first I read it in some german papers - today it's in The New York Times, Page 14, ..."by Thursday evening (Mrs. Rice) cut her vacation short and returned back to Washington...to discuss ways of coordinating offers from more than 30 countries AND organizations."
By The Way one of the organizations is the United Nations - representing around 170+ countries- sorry Juan for quoting the wrong number earlier on.
The quote by President Bush himself, at a press conference, regarding that no foreign help is needed, was yesterday at CNN - live and can be found in todays New York Times as well.
I am far away from bashing anyone personal. I am totally disgusted, how government agencies were unable (hopefully not unwilling) to react faster.
Complaining, that other countries didn't offer any help is 1. untrue and 2. serves only one porpuse - to divide humanity in good and bad and 3. to sidetract from it's own incapability. Americans do deserve way better!

 

[Van]

Initial the aid may have been declined, however at this time aid is already on its way from canada, petroleum on the order of 60 million barrels is coming by way of tanker from over 26 countries, aid from other countries is being scrutinized as to its effectiveness and at what point it will be best to accept this. The petroleum report came from msnbc around 2pm est, the rest came from Sec. Rice in a live interview earlier this evening.

During the tsunami disaster it took days to reach the major locations of destruction and weeks to reach the tiny villages, not hours. I doubt that any of us here are experienced in mass search and rescue as well as trying to orginize aid distribution to thousand upon thousands of people stranded across across six states. This country hasn't faced this kind of disaster of this magnitude all at once. Even with last years hurricanes that repeatedly devastated florida the destruction was not on the same scale as what is being seen each day and possibly would not be as bad for nola if the levee's had held.

I cant make excuses for anyone nor can I profess to be an expert and I doubt that any of the self proclaimed experts on msnbc, fox news, cnn, and what ever other news agencies have had them on. Frankly Im suspicious of anyone that comes up and proclaims to be an expert on any news program after all anyone one of howard sterns followers can call in and pose as an expert, whats to say that they cant get on the show infront of a camera. Regardless Im confident that every agency is doing its best to try and help all of the refugee's get food and water and medical treatment and some shelter.

 

[vurbano]

Im all for aid and getting people out. But rebuilding this place is just a stupid idea IMO. Second only to building it in the first place 10 feet below sea level and sandwiched between the gulf and a lake. If they rebuild it it will only happen again eventually.

 

[Van]

Well if they were to back fill the below sea level area's some of it could be done with the constant dregding that they do of the mississippi river. Dredging has been successful in reclaiming lost land and in adding land to bay area's in places like japan and in the mediterainian. The only problem with this is the amount of time it takes to use dredged sea floor to fill up the required area. In the instance of the reclimation that took place in japan it took 15 months to create a 1 mile by 1 mile or so land mass, to do that in nola would take a decade so the effort would have to be supplimented with normal backfilling efforts of land soil but even then it would take years.

Another thing to consider would be the cost of such an effort, how much would it cost to level the city, backfill to raise it above sea level, and then do a rebuild, Im guessing that it will be cheaper to repair the levee's, reinforce them, drain the city, level the buildings that must be leveled and renovate those that can be renovated. Writing off the city all together just isnt an option, the financial loss would be so incredibly staggering, more so than what has already happened.

 

[vurbano]

If you rebuild it, it will be destroyed again. IN the long run Id rather see it made into part of the gulf and the port and refineries moved. Unless we want to rebuild it again in 20-40 years maybe sooner. In any case its no place for residents. If you think this is the last hurricane hit you are fooling yourself. And the elevation on the place makes it impossible to respond too. Remeber this could have been even worse. IMO only a fool would live there.After the hurricane cripples you, broken leeves drown you while you sit there in a bowl. let it be the marsh land that mother nature intended. they drained the water from it, built walls around it and it has sunk. new orleans has been sitting there thumbing its nose at hurricanes for years. Now we are seeing the results of our human stupidity. But thats my opinion.

 

[Van]

I agrea but the cost to relocate a city of that size, all the residents, all of the business's, could very well send this country into a recession. There are high rise office buildings down there, theres also the refineries wich do provide 1/3 of processed petroleum to the country, how long can america's low and middle class aford to pay high fuel costs and still mantain a daily existance. I have to take my side on that of all of America for the most part, there has to be a way to relocate nola gradualy over a course of 20 years without having a devistating impact on our economy.

 

[vurbano]

I agrea but the cost to relocate a city of that size, all the residents, all of the business's, could very well send this country into a recession. There are high rise office buildings down there, theres also the refineries wich do provide 1/3 of processed petroleum to the country, how long can america's low and middle class aford to pay high fuel costs and still mantain a daily existance. I have to take my side on that of all of America for the most part, there has to be a way to relocate nola gradualy over a course of 20 years without having a devistating impact on our economy.

All of the residents have to be evacuated now. The smart thing to do would be to relocate them now permanently. Theres nothing to go back to anyway.

 

[Van]

Well as of last night estimates of people that are homeless ( most likely not in shelters ) is at one million people, it is also estimated that %90 of all the structures along the gulf coast have been leveled, thats the entire region from the nola area east towards pensacola if Im corect. I still havent been able to find any information as to how far inland the devistation went.

 

[mperdue]

More than 20 countries offered help and assistance right away. It was DECLINED by the president of the USA - claiming the USA could handle it alone. Well, it sure could have - if it wanted to. When it comes to disasters, the world - the people - aren't as bad as some want to make it believe.

That's a bit of a mischaracteriazation. The offers are being evaluated and the ones that make sense will be accepted. So far the following contries have offered assistance: Australia, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, China, Columbia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.

Mario

 

[Matt]

That's a bit of a mischaracteriazation.
Mario

What is there to mischaracterize? It was George W Bush himself, who refused to accept foreign aid - on CNN.
Evaluated by who?
Hopefully not by the same people, who didn't move their asses for 4 - 5 days!

 

[CPanther95]

Some people grieve, some people help, and some see it as a political opportunity

BTW: Afghanistan pledged $100,000.