Dear Residents of Southern California:
It should go without saying that all of us in southeastern Louisiana are concerned for your welfare. We remember the generosity that you showed us in our hours, days, and weeks of need. We are happy and eager to return the favor.
That said, as someone painfully familiar with Mother Nature's increasingly bipolar ways, I can't help but feel jealous of your situation. Or perhaps jealous isn't the word--let's say thankful.
I'm thankful that your state has the financial clout to pull through this disaster relatively quickly. I'm thankful that you've got political clout, too: although you're a tried-and-true Blue State with some important Dems in congress, you've also got a GOP governator. Not a bad combination. (Side note: your elephantine governor and our asinine one often share an iffy command of the English language. Coincidence?)
As such, I'm thankful that you'll be able to get through this without relying too heavily on the federal government--or on the hollow words of a hollow-headed president, who even today seemed to be hedging his bets:
"We want the people to know that there's a better day ahead," he said. "That today your life may look dismal but tomorrow life's going to be better, and to the extent that the federal government can help you, we want to do so."(NYT)
(Sadly, Mr. Bush is the personification of the very FEMA website he subsequently urged all of you to visit: frustrating, unfriendly, and anything but functional. Don't be surprised if he uses you for a handful of photo opps, then speeds off to find the nearest Cracker Barrel.)
Most of all, I'm thankful that the horrors of Katrina may have prepared your elected officials and emergency personnel to provide you with an appropriate level of care. I'm not trying to be a martyr here, nor am I trying to make your disaster all about Me, Me, Me; I'm just saying that the storm was a wake-up call--for the government, for NGOs, for civic activists, and for nice, normal people who live down the block. I like to think that all of them took away a few important lessons from the post-K clusterfuck.
But just in case, we've already started sending help.
Sincerely,
Richard
