God I wish I had something else to write about.

[pecunium]

An author friend of mine once said he wrote about things which pained him, this seems to be one of the times this is what moves me.

What we did on our vacation by way of Making Light

Words fail me.

Gretna, well right now I want to wipe them from the face of the map. It's not a good response, nor a rational one, and one which; if induldged wouldn't really make me feel any better; but the more I see of the venality of those who might have helped the colder runs my blood, the more coherent becomes my rage and the more I want an Old Testament God of wrath and smiting to manifest himself and show these people how they have failed their fellow man.

"If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am for myself alone, what am I? If not now, when?"

When indeed, and what are they?

Comments

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

No, but they are at least half of what makes it such a great blog. I almost wish I was able to generate the same.

TK

[lietya.livejournal.com]

Oh - yes, they're a marvelous bunch. This comment in particular :
"Matt Austern ::: (view all by) ::: September 07, 2005, 08:55 PM:

It's easy for me to believe that it's true, and you don't even have to believe that all of the authorities in New Orleans are engaged in a coordinated effort to increase the misery of people who are already miserable.

Believing that this is true "only" requires you to believe that the people who are supposed to be providing help and order are completely uncoordinated, that those nominally in charge don't care one way or the other what happens to the people in the city, and that each local cluster of officials is thinking of nothing more than its own local convenience.

I doubt if anyone set out to create the nightmare where each place the refugees went, they were told that they had to be somewhere else. It's the sort of pattern that emerges from selfishness and the absence of leadership."

pretty much precisely sums up how I feel about it.

Shame: Gretna Police Department

[skeetermonkey.livejournal.com]

Send your mailed comments to these fine examples of American can-do and helpfulness at:
Gretna Police Department
200 Fifth St.
Gretna LA 70053

From http://www.gretnapolice.com/
"The City of Gretna Police Department's mission is to prevent crime and maintain order while affording dignity and respect to all individuals; to protect lives and property while safe guarding constitutional guarantees, committed to the delivery of police services in the most efficient, fairest, responsive and ethical manner possible to impartially enforce all laws and ordinances, while enhancing the quality of life for all citizens through new and innovative approaches to problem solving and crime prevention; with a sensitivity to the priorities and needs of the people; and to promote professionalism and pride among employees of the City of Gretna Police Department."
Chief Arthur S. Lawson, Jr.

So this statement, "...[N]ew and innovative approaches to problem solving and crime prevention..." means stopping refugees from entering your town. Shoot them, if you'd like. Violate their rights to freedom, to move about freely. Shoot fellow Americans to protect your property because your property is worth more than their lives. Shame.

Re: Shame: Gretna Police Department

[lietya.livejournal.com]

Oooh, thank you for that information!

Yes, let's let them know how much we appreciate their sympathy, compassion, and problem-solving. (/sarcasm)

Re: Shame: Gretna Police Department

[skeetermonkey.livejournal.com]

Oh, I just spotted this in the statement from the police dept:
"...[T]o protect lives and property while safe guarding constitutional guarantees..."

Ironical, considering the situation.