Thursday, September 01, 2005

A Time for Sacrifice

Like many of you, I've been trolling the web for the latest updates on the horror show that's playing out in New Orleans. This is what happens when politics trump good government. Disgusting.

I checked out Daily Kos and read an entry that makes a lot of sense. He talked of skipping Christmas gifts this year, and instead donating money to aid the victims of this national tragedy. I have already donated my would-be Christmas gifts for family and friends to the Red Cross. I know the refugees will need my HBO screener of the miniseries "Empire Falls" more than anyone in my social network--ditto my autographed "Will & Grace" mouse pad.

The devil on my shoulder told me this would be the perfect excuse to avoid the relative nightmare of Christmas shopping, what inevitably turns out to be a whirlwind of anxiety in the final days to the Big J's birthday. And I rarely actually send gifts off on time. So this year it crossed my mind that I could send out a card saying, "In lieu of a scented candle/sweater/DVD, a donation in your name has been made to [An Important Relief Effort].

But then I peruse the message board on Craig's List New Orleans and read post after post of Americans all across the country offering their homes to strangers, and the generosity gives me pause. And I wish I could offer that kind of help.

Since I'm an imperfect and somewhat selfish being, I'm thinking of compromise. I am going to make a donation to the Red Cross, AND I will blame Katrina (and George Bush, by extension) for a lack of gifts this year.

I don't know what else to say.

5 comments:

Butternut said...

Katrina is such a lame name for a disaster. I'm sure if I had a psycho girlfriend named Katrina I would feel differently.

We don't get warnings about earthquakes, so mustering up feelings about hurricanes is a little tough. Meteor hits your house, I feel for ya. Aliens abduct your children, who saw that coming? Hurricane warning, hurricane's coming, big winds, you live below sea level in a swamp near the ocean with nothing but gators and cajun BBQ between you and flooding death. No really. You've got a couple days, go to Alabama or something. Motel 6, pretty cheap. Take the kids, call it a vacation. Canada is nice. No? OK... I guess no one is scared of "Katrina" coming to town. Call it "Hurricane Instant Death", or "Hurricane G.W. Bush". Oh now yer scared ain't ya!

Gas will be $3.50 soon. Chris Rock will hit the roof.

In other news... another baby reference was heard. This time as a praise about the sound of a guitar amplifier being like "babies dying". I'm telling ya, new catch phrase. That's the ticket!

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VagabondLoafer said...

I wrote quite a lot but decided to pare it down to just one thought.
Inheriting a phrase from my grandmother -- Our government is "Big and good for nothing."

duboisist said...

Thank you Velvetta.

Our President and federal government is doing everthing possible. They had to stop to get directions, but the troops have arrived to restore order.

The feds aren't at fault. As our First Lady said, poor and black people dieing is just what happens in a disaster. Suggesting the Mayor of New Orleans didn't do all he could is more of the racism that this event exposes.

Somebody's responsible. Every time someone kills their wife or children or a bride runs away they blame a black man. I want to end speculation and confess. I'm sorry Bush had to end his vaction a day early. Next time I'll be more considerate.

Butternut said...

I'm not unsympathetic, just less sympathetic than say the recent tsunami victims. Plus I'm micro-venting because work has been a bitch-and-a-half this week.

I'm serious about the hurricane renaming. Get the idea wizard that does our war naming so we can enjoy Hurricane Wet and Windy.

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