My own and our generation’s perception of New Orleans altered forever after Hurricane Katrina. The former images of naked boobies, The Real World, and Girls Gone Wild were replaced with pictures of burning buildings, flooded streets, and convoys of Hurricane refugees. These images illustrate glaring flaws in the Bush administration—those of callous neglect, ignorance and obvious unprepared-ness. These problems are important to remember even as people are returning to their desolate homes. In any case, Mardi Gras will be a lot different this year.
A month after the disaster, the thought remains that many people in New Orleans were abandoned to suffering, imminent danger, and possible death by our federal government and namely by our president. Despite the evacuation notices, there was no transportation provided to get the poor out of New Orleans. These under-privileged families were left behind in a quickly filling bathtub—while President George Bush unwound on his ranch, playing pretend cowboy. Victims were crowded into the Astrodome, stranded on rooftops without food or water, and hospitals were unable to operate, endangering their patients. In the aftermath of the disaster, blame for its devastating affects has been shifted from President Bush, to Michael Brown to Mayor Ray Nagin. Recent reports of inefficiency on the part of state and local officials have taken some of the pressure off the federal government. I’m not sure they should, because the blame train has to stop somewhere, and where better than the White House?
The ineptitude of the government is not the only shocking aspect of Hurricane Katrina. Entrepreneurial attitudes in the aftermath closely followed the ignorance of the government. Fake donation websites such as katrinahelp.com and katrinadonations.com were stealing contributions and were shut down by the FBI, according to the Washington Post. These sites were not charity websites. WHOOPS.
Following the hurricane, oil prices mimicked the water level in New Orleans. The U.S. Senate and the Federal Trade Organization are now investigating the possibility of gas price gouging, according to Associated Press reports. The possibility that already wealthy oil tycoons inflated oil prices just because they’re greedy disgusts me. The lines at gas stations and complaints about the increase in the price per gallon of gasoline only made these men think “Score!”
For all the recent complaining about gas prices, I didn’t see any of these people walking or biking. Consumers sucked it up and paid over $4 for a gallon of gas, complaining before and after doing so until prices lessened. These drivers could have boycotted the skyrocketing prices or at least swallowed their complaints.
The American population is left with little comfort in this financial, political, and social climate, excepting pictures in STAR magazine of celebrities sporting short shorts and rifles helping victims in New Orleans. I was happy to hear, however, that the University at Buffalo, as well as many other universities nationwide, welcomed student victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Although some of us cannot wear short shorts, and we cannot hop into our SUVs and rescue people from infested floodwaters, this human interaction is also important. On top of blood and clothing drives and small donations, UB students can simply support and empathize with part of their own student body.
Sincerely,
Monika Ostrowski
Features Editor
