Katrina - One Year Later

I just finished watching the Spike Lee documentary WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS on HBO about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

While I can honestly say I have thought about New Orleans from time to time over the past year, and read articles on the bureaucratic nightmare for the survivors, I did believe real progress was being made to rebuild. As of June 2006 when Spike Lee last filmed, the 9th Ward in NO still had rubble in the streets and condemned houses that had not been removed. It looked like the hurricane had happened yesterday. The repairs and rebuilding of the levees wasn't complete with the start of hurricane season upon them. They were still finding dead bodies in abandoned houses that had been marked as being checked and cleared. The people aren't coming back...there is nothing for them to return to--no houses, no schools, no jobs. It is a travesty and a true American tragedy.

It was depressing to be sure, but it is another one of those situations that I believe the least we can do for our fellow citizens is watch the documentary and get informed about conditions in Louisiana. There is no excuse for ignorance and the American public should get a grip on what's happening down there. If it can happen there, it can happen any where.

I wish them well in pursuit of a percentage of gas and oil profits from the off shore drilling in their suit against the federal government. Other states get a share of the profits from their gas and oil leases, Louisiana deserves theirs.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the people of the Gulf Coast, New Orleans in particular, as hurricane season gets into full swing.