Republicans, have you souls?

[Writer]

I write with disgust, a swelling feeling building in my stomach. It's anger. I spoke to my father today, his business and life now ended as he has known it. His city - the city to which my family immigrated at the turn of the 20th Century - is no more.

My family: the graves of German and Sicilian immigrants, French and Spanish settlers, now drift in their mausoleums beneath several feet of water. This is my life, my history, now washed away by natural calamity.

Republicans, have you souls? To cry foul when your men have failed? To think of playing games, scoffing at supposed politics, when others switch on a light to reveal simple truth? No. The answer to me is quite clear. This hurricane has washed your souls clean from the bone.

A bad job? No, in fact, the federal hands that sluggishly handled this disaster have done more than a bad job. It's an inhumane travesty - cast apart from any notion of civilized men. It's an abomination, within earshot of an echo of genocide. Poor Black Americans have been left to die in squalor, disease, starvation, and dehydration.

Playing politics? I will answer with silence, for it is your voice that God will hear. And He will judge you. And you will understand His wrath. For you have chosen to use your precious, God-given breath to tongue-lash and not voice the needs of the sick, dying, confused, and hopeless walking the streets of New Orleans. They need your help, as Jesus asks, not your venom.

As I write, my family has now scattered to every edge of the Southeast. My father, aunts, uncles, and cousins now are homeless and jobless. Yet they are lucky, for they live.

No one bothered to tell the poor that their lives would be forfeit. No one bothered to tell the poor that their lives would be doomed, tossed aside by sick social Darwinism.

Yet God sees all. God knows. And He will judge you.

[Child_Of_Isis]

1. I am not hearing anything from the Dems either.

I expect this from the republicans. But where are our Democrat leaders? I expected more from them than this.

[wli]

4. The people of New Orleans aren't the only ones abandoned by their govt.

This doesn't look good at all.

[Sparkly]

6. See this...

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/1/123536/7907

[SaveElmer]

21. Maybe they are simply trying to do their jobs...

And spouting off on TV to satisfy a bunch of armchair quarterbacks sitting comfortably behind their computers complaining they aren't being partisan enough, is not their first priority.

[AspenRose]

2. Amen and amen

I am sorry about your family. :-(

[Writer]

7. Thank you.

They are okay... still haven't heard about 1 cousin who we believe stayed in Slidell... but I am a bit emotional right now. Perhaps that's an understatement.

Other than what I have written words cannot crystallize my thoughts at the moment.

[bliss_eternal]

16. It's interesting that you mentioned the mausoleums and graves

--for some reason, I thought of these today. Of all the family members that were laid to rest there over the years. They are just all floating around now.

:(

I sincerely hope that your family is safe. (((Writer)))

Thank you for sharing your beautiful words--

[caligirl]

3. 1st vote. I feel this way too. helpless and angry to help the dieing.

apparently our dem leaders have even less spine than repugs accuse them of.

[Erika]

5. Amen n/t

[Kerrytravelers]

8. Chilling.

Kicked, nominated and I wil wrtie a thread to recommend this for nomination.

I will also send it out to my distribution list.

Thank you and Godspeed to your family for their recovery.

[Writer]

9. Thank you.

I have been in shock for the last few days. I think now, finally, I am feeling like crying.

You know, it's funny. I was working in NYC on 9/11 and the same delayed sadness happened then. I learned then to count my blessings.

[Riverman]

10. Sickening

As I drove home from work today here near Sacramento and listened to the stories on the radio, (NPR, local version of Air America -Christime Kraft), I was literally feeling sick, I thought I would have to pull over as I felt I was going to throw up! Really! The stories are beyond sad, I am more than angry, much of it must be the feeling of fear and helplessness. I can't stand this! Poor people being left to die - right social Darwinism. Where are the religious leaders, where are the calls for national response, why don't te churches offer shelter, the military basis, on and on.

[az chela]

17. I have had the same thoughts

Like you I have wondered the last 2 days why the churches arent opening their doors and having volunteers take care of these poor lost people.Have we grown so callous in this country that we are no longer our brother's keeper???People worry about the cost of gas and everything going up so we need to cut back on out spending and driving and focus on these people who need help now!!!!Most of the evangelists are filthy rich and have private jets and estates so why arent they helping the lost and half dead people that need desperatly to be rescued??Where are they democrats and republicans with all their pork when they could donate millions to rescue these people??
What ever happened to do unto others???How can they sleep at night when babies are starving and people have no water and are mentally scarred for life if they make it thru this??I used to be proud of this country but now it is evident that it is all about greed and no compassion.Is this what people have fought and died for in the wars??
If this is all people can do is say oh too bad ,those poor people and go on with their lives than god help all of us.This could have been prevented to a large extent had bush went to washington on monday and got the ball rolling immediatly but no, he had to go to a birthday party and then spend 2 days on Coronado Island acting like a movie star,that was his priority.How many people did he let die due to his uncaring about his fellow man.He has to be held accountable for this.

[Tsiyu]

11. Nominated

:kick:

[nashville_brook]

12. it was a fully competent culling

[Usrename]

13. the aren't ashamed

like the Japanese at Bataan, just a few nightmarish days and everyone will forget

[Historic NY]

14. I'm just sick over this myself........

I had a gut feeling things were not going right from the beginning when I noticed the interstates were not being fully used to get people out. All lanes going one way should have been used. We now hear of hundreds of school bus's that were never employed in any effort. I question the wisdom of those officials charged with implementing an evacuation plan. I question my government why!!!! or why were La. or Ms any different than Florida, which always seems to have things well in place before a storm. Of course all of this comes down to Leadership, and leadership that should be from the top down not the bottom up. FEMA has failed and failed miserably, when it was most needed. Our POTUS has again proved that his lazie-fair attitude towards administering his office and doing his job, is a determent to us all. Most people prepare for a storm well in advance and our selected leader ate cake and strummed a guitar, when he should have been making phone calls and heading to the situation room. People what we have is a MASSIVE FAILURE of leadership, and it just makes me sick.

I too have about a dozen family members between both La. & Ms. I am hoping one of my other cousins has heard something soon.

[calimary]

15. Kicked and nominated. I am so sorry. I am so sorry.

Every time I think it can't get more heartbreaking, it does.

I only disagree with you on one thing. These people's souls weren't washed away in the hurricane. They already had none. Their souls were already forfeited long ago.

[lala_rawraw]

18. Trick question?

"father forgive them for THEY KNOW WHAT THEY DO"

[rosesaylavee]

19. I am so sorry for your loss...

Nominated.
:kick:

[Totally Committed]

20. I am so sorry, Writer...

For your losses, and those of your family. My heart just goes out to you, and in your grief for what has happened, we are one.

I will keep you and yours in my thoughts, and hope for nothing but the best for all of you.

TC

[Writer]

22. Thanks, everyone, for your well-wishes...

My family is safe, thank God.

Yet who is speaking out on behalf of the beautiful people of New Orleans who are suffering and dying in this calamity? Our prayers belong with them.