I'm so, so sad about this.

[jabberwocky]

I loved New Orleans Can't imagine what's going to happen....

As much as a dislike the America Government (please note NOT people, just their leaders) particularly their foreign policies and the massive amounts they've spent on the war which I'm totally against. I see no reason why we shouldn't donate to the relief effort.

Imagine if London were to be hit by a freak storm, leaving basically the whole city (and surround counties) uninhabitable, with little chance of some people being able to move back in for months (perhaps even ever?) and most had lost everything they owned........we'd be up in arms if the Americans turned round and said "well they've got plenty of money - we don't need to help them".

Of course I'm sure there's a minority, like Londoners, who have 2nd homes around the country and will go off and live there.....but most - as in London (and any other city aroudn the world) are just like you and I.

They reckon the cost of the damage is going to exceed $25billion (£14 billion) and I don't believe ANY country can realisitcally afford that no matter how 'rich' they are.

Not to mention the people are just as much at risk of death from disease as they were after the Tsunami - or any other major incident.

yeh well..just my opinion..i'm not saying 'don't give' or 'they don't deserve it'
it's just my funds are limited and i can think of many more worthy causes

more worthy causes than children, women and the elderly dying of diseases??

all i am saying is if they have billions of dollars and enough man power to 'rescue' rando mcountries that never asked for it, then they are more than capable of helping themselves

But ..sorry, i got a bit heated about this..I am not saying I am not deeply sorry and saddened by what has happened..it is devestating, and will no doubt take a lot of time and money to recover from...

I can't believe I'm reading this! This isn't about the American LEADERS, this is about real people - like you and me - people that have little money, many were probably against the war in Iraq (or at least in the growing number of American's who no longer support it).

"With most of the low-lying city now submerged, its remaining residents have no electricity and are running out of fresh water and food."

""Many people didn't have the financial means to get out," Alan LeBreton, a Biloxi resident told Reuters news agency."

I bet you'd be the first to jump up and down in anger if the same happened to the UK and Americans said "well they've been able to afford the war in Iraq too so we don't need to help them"

BABIES AND CHILDREN (among others) are at risk of dying of diseases, dehyrdartion and starvation! Can you honestly stand back and tell me that you don't wnat to help because they're "capable of helping themselves"??

My mom's best friend is from New Orleans - although she now lives in Houston. Madeleine just typified everything that city always was in my mind - a mix of class, grace, mystery and sophistication, all with an accent as flowing as the river. I used to call her Madame Madeleine. That woman can wear a flour sack and make it look graceful. 5ft., 9 in. and size 8 even after 5 kids and in her 60s. One of her beautiful daughters looks like Tyra Banks.

Her granny was an 'octaroon' - 1/8 African - and Madeleine got her green eyes from her and her cafe au lait skin.

She makes chicory coffee like no one's business.

I heard from her today and she just said 'Aw, honey, it's all gone now.'

New Orleans has a LOT of poverty. Just like here. Just like any other capitalist society. Believe you me, I've lived in both, and one's no better than the other.

If you've ever spent anytime there, you'd know, New Orleans felt magical. It truly did. And a lot of her people felt almost like the place was charmed and didn't want to leave. Storms have happened there for centuries.

Still many others are working poor, just like here, and didn't have the means.

Indeed ..London has a lot of poverty, but I rarely give to u.k charities either..except the nspcc
a lot of the world is far less well off and able to cope with such a disaster..
and aid oraganisations are often a bit dodgy themselves anyway..
just my opinion

Gees, I dunno, but I can say QoQ and I have seen what it's like to be poor in the UK, too, as millions have. I'm grateful there are people more financially fortunate than my family is who give to UK charities. A lot of people I know have benefited from places like Shelter, women's refuges, etc. funded by UK charities right here in Britain.

BBB - so because other parts of the world are worse off than them people at risk of dying of diseases shouldn't be helped???

You can bet your bottom dollar that even people in poorer countries (which funnily enough have their share of very rich people, just like rich countries have their fair share of very poor people) will be wanting to help...

And what sort of an attitude is that - well you've helped us lots of times before, donated large sums to aid efforts for various natural disasters and sent teams to help............but now it's happened to you we're going to sit on our ar*es and do nothing because you can afford it!

anyhow, I can hear the sounds of carnage in the boys bedroom so must get on and sort some stuff out

argh..i need to go have a cup of tea before i can comment further on this...

What you need to realize BoB, is that many of us in the US never supported the war in Iraq. So, now that our money and resources have been diverted by that idiot Bush you feel that the rest of the country should just suffer the consequences? Frankly, I am shocked and dismayed.

No ....no thats not what I meant..surely the u.s has the resources still to deal with this? that is all..
many countries are living just like me and my family..from day to day..and not to mention the ones whose governments keep the rich rich, and don't give to the needy..
i just think they are worse off..thats all..and given my limited income i would rather give to them

"many countries are living just like me and my family..from day to day..and not to mention the ones whose governments keep the rich rich, and don't give to the needy."

Well guess what - many Americans live just like you and your family too - from day to day. I don't think the American government is exactly 'clean' when it comes to giving to the needy - they don't have the benefits we do over there (although I stand to be corrected if nessecary).

One could easily argue that the US government has spent MUCH more on the "War on Terror" than the money required for the relief effort - BUT lets not forget that money is BUDGETED - even in a vast economy as the US ( So just like us with our household budgets massive amounts of money aren't just "there" for the using (they have a very large budget deficit in the US too). Also the money spent on the War has been 'spread' over the last couple of years, so as people pay their taxes - the money is there to spend as required.. I don't think ANY country in the world - no matter how rich - can just "pick up" the tab for over £14 BILLION ($25 billion) just like that.

Also I believe the $25 billion is for the "Damage" so doesn't include the massive rescue operation that is currently underway!

I don't like the American policies on things like Iraq etc at all, but I will happily give when and what I can because it's about the poor people, and there are a lot in New Orleans I'm told, not their Government on anything else. I will give to the Red Cross whom I believe in fervently, in the knowledge that it will make a vast difference to someone, somewhere.

It always seem to be those who had little anyway who are worst affected.
I DO hope however that the American Government learns a little empathy from this tragedy for the future.

Cynical me suspects that very few of the affected people vote republican.

Lovely piece here from a former NY Times ed.

good point bubble: cynical me thinks that many of the people affected have been disenfranchised from the vote. it is happening more and more in the states, especially to black people.

Absolutely, alux. Anyone who thinks the US has a fair voting system is kidding themselves. It's absolutely ridiculous what goes on.

It's just so so sad that reactions to a disaster that has killed and will kill hundreds or thousands of people like you and me are tainted by the curent anti-american feeling that seems prevalent. I personally will be helping in whatever way I can, regardless of how I feel about Bush (yuk) and the current US government, because it's not them who are going to be effected in the long-term - it's the ordinary man/woman/child in the street who is homeless, without food and water.
It's just so sad...

pooka, I agree. News here carries images of the people who are hungry, tired, homeless, desperate; tiny babies who are dehydrated; seeing corpses in wheelchairs and wrapped in blankets. I see all this and I wonder how a thread that started about how someone felt sad to see such a disaster can have degenerated into slagging off the US political system.

I was gobsmacked by the news reports last nights.

Are these people getting any aid? There just seemed to be a huge lack of 'on the ground' help......a woman carrying three babies saying they'd had no food or water after 4 days . And three old folks living in a car again having not eaten for 3 days.