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Printer-Friendly ModeGulf Coast rebuilding efforts take backseat
September 11, 2006 —
Death and destruction, that's what we remember. Total chaos is what we saw. All over the news we saw it. The newspapers printed stories on the thousands of lives that were affected by the events of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. There are events that shape our country for years to come and there are events that change our lives forever. These two events have both reshaped our country and changed our lives. While most of the news coverage we have heard lately is about 9/11, let us not forget about the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Let us not forget about the thousands of displaced Gulf Coast residents and the thousands who lost their lives in the aftermath of one of the worst, if not the worst, natural disasters to strike the U.S. in years. Who can forget the images we saw of people standing on the rooftops begging to be rescued? How can we forget the people at the New Orleans Civic Center begging for food and water? These are just some of the images that are etched in our minds.
I think, oftentimes, we as a nation forget our poor and misfortunate. The aftermath of Katrina made people pay attention to the poor and impoverished of the Gulf Coast who could not afford to escape Katrina. Yes, the events of 9/11 were indeed devastating but we cannot forget that Katrina devastated an entire region. 9/11 made us sympathize with the people of New York City, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. And while my prayers and thoughts still go out to the victims and families, I'm still in shock over the fact that it has been a year and we have barely scratched the surface in rebuilding the Gulf Coast after Katrina.
It's been five years since 9/11, and New York City and Washington D.C. have bounced back quite well. Yet, New Orleans and other communities along the Gulf Coast still lie in devastation. I can speculate all along and point the finger at everyone from New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, but instead of pointing the finger there, I'll start at the top with President Bush. We have to start with him since he is the one that sent a budget to Congress that spends more money on fighting wars than on rebuilding our Gulf Coast region.
According to the White House, money for rebuilding the Gulf Coast isn't a top national priority. Yet, at the top of our priorities is fighting wars that are killing our sons, daughters, friends, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, husbands, and wives. It's time we start focusing our energy away from fighting wars and start taking care of home. That means rebuilding one of the crown jewels of the South: New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
We cannot forget about the people of the Gulf Coast who, because of Katrina, were forced from their homes and are now living in different parts of the country. After seeing the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush decreed Sept. 16 as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina. So, on Sept. 16, it is my hope and prayer that while you are taking a brief moment from your busy day to partake in the National Day of Prayer and remember to pray for a speedy recovery for the Gulf Coast region.