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Are We Really Helping Katrina Victims?

Michele Paiva - 9/2/2005

It is devastating to see the conditions in New Orleans, as well as the lack of help for these folks. What is being done isn’t enough. Why isn’t it possible for hotels - on a national level – to donate at least ten hotel rooms to these victims? Why isn’t it possible for transportation services to donate free seats to these folks to get them to the hotels?

All of these organizations can use these services as a tax deduction if they are worried about “what’s in it for them”; and better yet, they’d be contributing with more focus, using their assets to help others.

Also, can’t people in the United States who have an extra bedroom or guesthouse open their homes? I myself am volunteering to open my home to a family. I would rather a family with children. I want to open my home to someone so that they can start a fresh life, or at least get back on their feet. They lost it all; so why not help them?

Let them have a bed to sleep in, let the parents go to sleep knowing their children will have breakfast tomorrow morning and even a day to just relax and play. Let the kids enroll in our local school. Help the parents find jobs, find an apartment. Start a life.

Although I have my own feelings about “the war” and the country, I firmly feel that our own must be taken care of, and our own rights to a life of liberty should be the foremost focus.

I’d love to hear from others. I’d love to see change. I’d love an organization like the Red Cross break out of their typical help and aid, which is appreciative of course, but to start a component as I am saying. This is the only way to truly disperse folks who need to be dispersed. The country joins together and turns out in millions for rock concerts and to see the New Years ball drop. Why can’t we have the same turnout for people in aid?

What about all the people riding around proclaiming how they love the USA with their magnets and flags? If everyone with a magnet gave of their home, we’d not have a problem with finding places for these victims.

Our country is one of the few countries that need to constantly show our “patriotism” while many other countries simply live their life and do to help their neighbors. It’s almost that we need to prove to our friends and neighbors that we are “American”. That’s silly. It’s like showing up to church but not being a good person the other 23 hours a day.

By being in this country, we are American. There is no need to propaganda our dedication. Dedication has to do with commitment, and commitment has to do with the foundation of our Bill of Rights. A magnet is great décor, but our actions are the real foundation.

I know that most people who show their loyalty to our country are great people. Let’s really pull together and find a way to extend of ourselves and help our own.