The images of Hurricane Katrina victims begging for help, led me to believe that this was a nation that lacked both heart and soul. But with a national tragedy such as 'Katrina' comes the goodness in the hearts of our citizens.
People throughout the United States opened their hearts and homes to many who were displaced by the worse natural disaster in American history. Eliminating my theory of an America devoid of care.
However, when a national tragedy comes knocking on our door, comes, not only the good, but the truly ugly.
That was no more evident in the days after 9/11, when Conservative columnist and Professional Opinion maker, Ann Coulter said that of the terrorists, "We should invade their countries and convert them to Christianity." Or, Rev Jerry Falwell's ridiculous claim that 9/11 happened because God was upset with America's acceptance of Gays.
Real Patriots, I say.
The Katrina debacle brought a cesspool of idiocy, insensitivity, and just plain incompetence.
So, to mark this 1-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, let us look back at most ridiculous comments made in the wake of Katrina's aftermath:
"I mean, you have people who don't heed those warnings and then put people at risk as a result of not heeding those warnings. There may be a need to look at tougher penalties on those who decide to ride it out and understand that there are consequences to not leaving." -Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), Sept. 6, 2005
"We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did." -Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA) to lobbyists, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal
"If one person criticizes [the local authorities' relief efforts] or says one more thing, including the president of the United States, he will hear from me. One more word about it after this show airs, and I...I might likely have to punch him, literally." -Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), "This Week with George Stephanopoulous," Sept. 4, 2005
"If you'll look at my lovely FEMA attire you'll really vomit. I am a fashion god ... Anything specific I need to do or tweak? Do you know of anyone who dog-sits? ... Can I quit now? Can I come home? ... I'm trapped now, please rescue me." --FEMA Director Michael Brown, in various emails to colleagues and friends in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
"I also want to encourage anybody who was affected by Hurricane Corina to make sure their children are in school." -First Lady Laura Bush, twice referring to a "Hurricane Corina" while speaking to children and parents in South Haven, Mississippi, Sept. 8, 2005
"Louisiana is a city that is largely under water." -Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, news conference, Sept. 3, 2005
"It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that's seven feet under sea level....It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed." -House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Aug. 31, 2005
"Judge Roberts can, maybe, you know, be thankful that a tragedy has brought him some good." -Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson, arguing that Supreme Court nominee John Roberts stands to benefit from Hurricane Katrina because "inflamed rhetoric in the United States Senate is just not going to play well now," Sept.1
"I understand there are 10,000 people dead. It's terrible. It's tragic. But in a democracy of 300 million people, over years and years and years, these things happen." --GOP strategist Jack Burkman, on MSNBC's "Connected," Sept. 7, 2005
"What I'm hearing which is sort of scary is that they all want to stay in Texas. Everybody is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway so this (chuckle) - this is working very well for them." -Former First Lady Barbara Bush, on the hurricane evacuees at the Astrodome in Houston, Sept. 5
"And that's all we're hearing about, are the people in New Orleans. Those are the only ones that we're seeing on television are the scumbags -- and again, it's not all the people in New Orleans. Most of the people in New Orleans got out! It's just a small percentage of those who were left in New Orleans, or who decided to stay in New Orleans, and they're getting all the attention." Glenn Beck
"Many, many, many of the poor in New Orleans are in that condition. They weren't going to leave no matter what you did. They were drug-addicted. They weren't going to get turned off from their source. They were thugs, whatever."
-Bill O'Reilly
"Now tell me the truth boys, is this kind of fun?" -House Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-TX), to three young hurricane evacuees from New Orleans at the Astrodome in Houston
"We've got a lot of rebuilding to do ... The good news is -- and it's hard for some to see it now -- that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house -- he's lost his entire house -- there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch." (Laughter) --President Bush, touring hurricane damage, Mobile, Ala., Sept. 2, 2005
"And in all fairness to the Department of Homeland Security right now, I mean this is a brand new Department that was formed after 9/11. In many ways this is a 'learn by our mistakes and figure out what to do better' type of scenario." -CNN anchor Kyra Phillips, Sept. 9, 2005
"Last night, we showed you the full force of a superpower government going to the rescue." -MSNBC's Chris Matthews, Sept. 1, 2005
"Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." -President Bush, to FEMA director Michael Brown, while touring Hurricane-ravaged Mississippi, Sept. 2, 2005
From this mountain of crap comes a consistent pattern of complete void of reality. It's as if the folks at the Superdome were having fun in their squalor. And, it made me sick to see those who couldn't grasp the situation at hand, were walking the streets of New Orleans, yesterday, smiling from ear to ear as if nothing happen.
It was a carefully constructed PR move from those who should never recover, due to their absolute incompetence.
In a crisis like Hurricane Katrina comes both the good and the bad. However, the bad seemingly was a mirror image to the complete disregard of human life, courtesy of the Bush Administration.