Al and Tipper Gore recently went on a trip to see the devastation that still exists in New Orleans. Below is Tipper Gore's recounting of their trip, and photos she took of what they saw.
More below.
In this article, Tipper Gore recounts a visit she and Al made to New Orleans just a week ago, and provides some photos of the devastation that is still there after seven months.
So Much Left To Do
'So much left to do'
by Tipper Gore
Sunday, 26 March 2006
Al and Tipper Gore are stunned as they see Katrina's havoc
Exactly one week ago today, Al and I went to New Orleans.
Like everyone else who has seen the pictures and heard the stories, we thought we had some idea what we'd find in that devastated city six months after Katrina.
We were wrong.
Al was speaking at the National Wildlife Federation's long-planned 50th anniversary convention at the Wyndham Hotel on Canal Street. The Louisianans thanked the NWF for not canceling their convention, as so many other groups have done.
I asked the bellhop how he made out during the hurricane.
"I lost everything, "he said.
"Where are you living?"
"In this hotel, and FEMA is paying for it."
He shook his head. "I don't know what I'm going to do, but I keep coming to work every day just hoping for a rainbow."
skip...
We expected to see ruined houses and flooded cars, yes. But we also anticipated signs of life, the first stirrings of rebirth.
All we saw were ghosts. Street after street, block after block, mile after mile, ghosts. Only nature is beginning to come back, the yellow heads of dandelions poking through the debris still strewn everywhere.
And the worst part of it all was that, aside from some college students volunteering for clean-up on their spring break, there really wasn't anyone WORKING.
Though it was a Sunday, we expected to see hard-hatted crews racing the clock to repair breached levees before hurricane season starts again in June.
Instead, there was silence. Neighborhoods rich and poor, black and white, working-class and middle-class looked like an abandoned war zone. I saw what I think wartime soldiers must see: ruined towns littered with what is left of homes, businesses, schools, vehicles and other debris left from the lives of people long gone.
But this is New Orleans, U.S.A., not Iraq. Where are the cleanup crews? Where's the National Guard? Where are the people who, I know, want so desperately to reclaim their lives and their city? Where's the ongoing, organized response whose absence belies what I know to be the spirit of the American people?
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Six-plus months later, Hurricane Katrina continues to test the strength and fiber of our national community. The disaster displaced more than a million of our Southern neighbors and exposed racial and economic disparities we had willfully ignored.
It will take years to rebuild the destroyed cities, and it will take even more years to heal the souls, rebuild the spirits and restore the emotional strength of people shaken by this unprecedented disaster.
We as Americans must not turn away from the ruins; we must move ahead and quickly. We have so much left to do.
The photos are very sad. I also just saw a special about students from Howard University who went there on their spring break to clean up peoples' homes. One woman on camera was speaking and then broke down crying saying she was so happy to see these young people because she needs help and she has noone. THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABANDONED BY THIS GOVERNMENT. Where is the accountabilty?
This is America. What has happened to the spirit to bring her back? This isn't Iraq... but hell, maybe if it were we would be sending billions of dollars THERE to help OUR FELLOW AMERICANS. I looked at these photographs and cried. I cannot believe we have abandoned our own people this way! And the levees are not going to be ready in time for the start of the next hurricane season. What will these poor people do should another Katrina hit them?
It is then good that people are documenting the damage that still exists so long after this devastating tragedy. Surely one would expect that it would not be the way it was, but to see all the debris that is still there and houses still encrusted with the deadly black mold that is from the toxic water that enveloped the ninth ward is absolutely disgraceful. This must not leave the consciousness of the American people.
Thank you to Tipper Gore and all of those who are documenting this abandonment by those who claimed they would be there for them. You would think this would have also brought about a strong public debate and changes regarding racism and poverty in this country, and I am VERY disappointed in the Democrats who have just allowed this to seep out of the consciousness of this country's mind. Seems some in this Party have forgotten who they represent as well.
You cannot look at these photos and share in the stories of these Americans and not feel sad, outraged, and embarrassed. Billions going to corporate welfare and wars based on lies, while our own people struggle. This is a disgrace. Where are you, Democrats?