Sep

3

Katrina’s Political Watershed

September 3, 2005 |

Michael Brown: FEMA Director

“I don’t make judgments about why people chose not to leave but, you know, there was a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans,” he said.

“And to find people still there is just heart-wrenching to me because, you know, the mayor did everything he could to get them out of there.

As the political blue machine attempts to drown the nation in its rhetoric it would be helpful to remember the events prior to the storm hitting New Orleans (not forgetting that this storm affected more than just them).

President Bush said August 28, 2005

“We cannot stress enough the danger this hurricane poses to Gulf Coast communities,” Bush said as the storm roared across the gulf toward New Orleans (search) and other communities. “I urge all citizens to put their own safety and the safety of their families first by moving to safe ground.”

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered evacuation of the Crescent City less than 24 hours before the Category 5 storm was expected to hit.

Nagin’s order came moments after President George W. Bush told Gov. Kathleen Blanco that he wanted everyone to get out of New Orleans, if possible.

Nagin acknowledged that many New Orleans residents, particularly the many poor people who live in housing projects, couldn’t leave the city.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco

“This is a very dangerous time,” the governor said in a visit to New Orleans encouraging evacuation. People are in “awesome danger” because flooding from the storm surge could dump 15 to 30 feet of water on a city that’s surrounded by levees because it’s six feet below… I am gravely concerned about reports coming in regarding those who are choosing not to evacuate,” Blanco said at about 6 p.m. “I strongly urge you to get to safety while there is still time to do so…”

While Senators use the opportunity to call the effort an ‘immense failure‘ I doubt you will hear much comment from the democrats about the democrates who could have done the most help in ‘planning’ to evacuate those without transportation. Instead of blaming everyone else for what they knew was needed prior to Katrina’s landfall. That might be asking too much in the wake of today’s plitical climate.

If you don’t think that this isn’t being framed as a political watershed moment, think again. Already the nation is using the term refuge. This word is being used intentionally and don’t dismiss what might be excused as a too casual use of the term. Words do have meaning.

Definitions of ???refugee,??? from Dictionary.com:

??? One who flees in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression, or religious persecution.

??? An individual seeking refuge or asylum; especially an individual who has left his or her native country and is unwilling or unable to return to it because of persecution or fear of persecution (as because of race, religion, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion).

We might dismiss it except for the political posturing and rheteroric already in full swing.


Comments

3 Comments so far

  1. grahamsw on September 3, 2005 8:02 am

    a refugeee is, obviously, someone seeking or receiving refuge.

    Kinda humiliating for the world superpower.

    Can’t maintain order in Iraq.
    Cant maintain order in NO.

    way to go, you guys. Remind us to listen to you really carefully next time you tell us all what we ought to do.

    The USA is now revealed as empty and incompetent.

  2. BizzyBlog.com » Words Mean Things: Katrina Survivors are NOT “Refugees” on September 3, 2005 3:30 pm

    [...] UPDATE: Conservative Culture agrees: “If you don???t think that this isn???t being framed as a political watershed moment, think again. Already the nation is using the term refuge(e). This word is being used intentionally and don???t dismiss what might be excused as a too casual use of the term….. We might dismiss it except for the political posturing and rheteroric already in full swing.” [...]

  3. Conservative Culture » Katrina’s political watershed still shedding on December 4, 2005 3:49 pm

    [...] Either you are in charge and responsible for executing the plan to evacuate those in danger or you ceded control to the Federal government. Katrina’s Political Watershed is still shedding its water and long after New Orleans dries out we may find that the politicians in the state are still wet. Perhaps after all the paper chasing is complete they will hang out Blanco and Nagin to dry. While Blanco’s office wanted to blame the federal government, the documents show that her staff did not want it to appear as if the federal government was seizing state power. [...]

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