Well, I finally joined the ranks

[beam me up scottie]

of posters with threads on the greatest page.

I wish the thread could have been about something other than death.

But Vera's story needs to be told, no matter how painful.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4622712#4623312

I'm going to bed now.
I hope I don't dream.

[trotsky]

1. Way to go, BMUS!

Yeah, would have liked to have had better subject matter but thank you for bringing the story to the forefront.

[beam me up scottie]

6. Thanks.

That one got to me.

[NMMNG]

2. A tragic story

I only wish I'd read it in time to nominate it.

[beam me up scottie]

7. SF Gate is my home page.

For so many reasons.

[Gelliebeans]

3. I saw that one

and I bawled my head off :cry:

Vera's story was the epitome of the American realization that they were abandoned. Our government has left us high and dry and the blood is all over bush's hands.

Your post and another post has been haunting me. It's the one with the president of one of the parishes speaking with Tim Russert this morning on Meet the Press. This man fell apart with raw emotion.

I, too have been dreaming a lot this week but I fear the nightmares because I can't get the images out of my head. I think part of it is that I feel guilty. There was nothing I could do personally to prevent this obviously but those babies and the elderly left behind makes my stomach churn.

You know I spoke with my best friend today (the one whose house burned down)and she was so grateful that all she lost was her home. She made the comment that at least she had plenty of homes that would welcome her and the kids but these people lost not only their homes they lost their cities, their dignity, their communities and most importantly their lives and the lives of their friends, neighbors, family, and pets.

We cried for them today. :cry: We hope that they find the strength within to attempt to rebuild what was lost. I think the buildings and roads will be the easy part in all this. The emotional toll will take decades to heal for some, if not more.

[beam me up scottie]

8. You said it much better than I could.

I'm glad your friend is doing better.

I'm still not really sure why this one haunts me so much.

We owed Vera so much more than this.

Some people think this is tragic because she was an American.

That's not it.

It's tragic because she mattered, dammit.

They all matter.

[shrike]

4. I saw the picture, but not the story

Thank you for posting it. So very heartbreaking.

[beam me up scottie]

5. It was.

And yet, the dignity and compassion of her friends was so touching.
The story and picture just devastated me.