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Katrina
ZenLunatic
Veteran
Didn't know where to put this, but since the hurricane hit the US, I'll put it here.
The Mayor of Biloxi has that Katrina "...is our tsunami"
Is this a fair comparisson? Any time life is lost is a moment of great sadness. But comparing Katrina to the tsunami is a bit off, I think. First, residents knew days in advance that the hurricane was coming and had plenty of opportunity to evacuate. The tsunami came without warning. The hurricane struck on section of the US; the tsuanmi struck one section of our globe. If we're lucky, the death toll will only be in the 100s (it's at 70 right now). The tsunami claimed almost 1/4 million people.
For some reason, I feel that the mayor calling this "our tsunami" demeans and belittles what happend in South Asia last December. Any thoughts?
The Mayor of Biloxi has that Katrina "...is our tsunami"
Is this a fair comparisson? Any time life is lost is a moment of great sadness. But comparing Katrina to the tsunami is a bit off, I think. First, residents knew days in advance that the hurricane was coming and had plenty of opportunity to evacuate. The tsunami came without warning. The hurricane struck on section of the US; the tsuanmi struck one section of our globe. If we're lucky, the death toll will only be in the 100s (it's at 70 right now). The tsunami claimed almost 1/4 million people.
For some reason, I feel that the mayor calling this "our tsunami" demeans and belittles what happend in South Asia last December. Any thoughts?
0
Comments
This is not our tsunami. This is our hurricane.
Leave it to the media to overdramatize a given event
I remember watching the news yesterday morning as the hurricane was approaching and one "talking-head" was saying "this is Hell on Earth."
And I remember thinking, "How could it be Hell on Earth" and he's just standing there reporting the news?
I just have to remember that, IMO, anything that makes it to the news has to be sensationalized - at least here in the US. Saying, "Boy!, it sure is windy and rainy here" just isn't as effective.
As for comparison of these two - both are horrible and I wish nothing but the best for the people in these tragic incidents. But, that tsunami... that was awful. I can't imagine. I remember thinking the same thing when that tsunamic hit the coast of Papua New Guine (I believe) a couple of years back. Hit in the dead of night. Scary.
-bf
P.S. does anyone know when Katrina became so huge? I remember seeing a blurb about it a couple of days ago and it was like a category 1 hurricane. Next thing I know, Boom!, it's a whopper!
It's the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico that helped it strengthen so quickly. It was barely a cat 1 when it hit the southern tip of Florida, but a few days in the Gulf increased its strength!
I agree....my husband and I are always talking about the media here and how they blow things WAY out of proportion. And I don't know if all countries are like this, but ours is obsessed with Actors/Actresses, and those people usually make the news more often than anything else. It's frustrating. Why are those people any more important than the rest of us? Ok, I guess I have started my own rant here....anyways.....I agree with you, Zen!!
I would have thought it would have been relevant and indeed accurate to be highlighting the effect that global warming is having on the WORLD climate.....tsunami's, earthquakes, floods, droughts etc...prehaps a good time to focus on the current US policy of not signing up to the Kyoto agreement...despite producing 25% of the worlds CO2 emissions. I am not a member of " Friends of the earth"...just not one of its enemies.
And, in fairness, the death toll for Katrina will be FAR higher than the current numbers we have. The mayor of New Orleans stated, "We know there is a significant number of dead bodies in the water, and other people dead in attics", Mayor Ray Nagin said. Asked how many, he said: "Minimum, hundreds. Most likely, thousands."
I've heard some more liberal estimates say that after the body counts are finally determined, and the ill-effects of the disease which is to surely follow, when all is said and done, it could be over 10,000.
So is it a fair comparison? To some degree it is. Both were natural disasters which completely leveled large areas of dense population.
I think some of the comments here demean the victims of Katrina.
Disease is unlikely given the amount of medical aid available on the doorstep......
I certainly meant no offence by my post but I do think now would be a good time for the US Goverment to take a good long look a climatic changes as a result of Co2 emissions. Instead of pandering to big business, perhaps it is now a good opportunity for the USA to show it really is a Superpower by taking the lead in stopping this world from self destructing..We all of course have a role to play in this!
Lots of them.
And, in New Orleans in particualr, they lived right next to the levees that broke. In fact, it has been an ongoing problem within the city for years. Everyone was aware that, at some point, this would be a problem; however, as it affected primarily the poor people (which, should add, is the majority of New Orleans populace) nothing was done about it.
So yes, it some cases they rode it out because they didn't realize it was as bad as it was. In others, it was because of hubris. In a large number it was because, more than likely, they had no where else to go and no means to go there.
And disease is VERY likely. New Orleans sits 10 feet below sea level. The water which fills that entire area is contaimated -- heavily contaminated. Between the new dead bodies of both humans and animals alike, and adding to that the gas, oil, and assorted sewage (plus the hyrdoexhumed graves) disease is a horrible problem. Medicine is only good once you can get to a person, and when an area the size of the Florida panhandle is essentially a toxic dump there WILL be disease problems. Ever hear of mosquitoes? They'll carry it. Rats? Oh yeah, they'll carry it too.
There are countless people trapped within areas of the wreckage that are still far to difficult and/or dangerous to get to.
As far as emphesis placed - that depends entirely on who you talk to.
And, at this point, you can take your political agenda (which I happen to agree with, by the way) and shove it up your ass. These are most certainly issues to be dealt with, but to use them to belittle a situation simply because you are critical of the county is inane.
The point is, instead of being over-sensitive about one stupid reference made by one stupid politician, maybe you should be more sensitive to the gravity of the situation and the astrnomical suffering associated with it.
For example:
We have satellite, and Reality TV. One advert for this channel, is a bunch of guys (dressed as cops) "playing" with a criminal, hiding behind cars, and shooting at each other, making 'blam! blam!' noises with their mouths.... picture, if you will, six to ten-year old boys playing in the yard.... well, the next slogan that comes up is.... "It's much better when it's real"... and switches to an aerial view from a chopper, of real cops having a real shoot-out with a real criminal.... my horror-filled question, is - It's MUCH BETTER(?) when it's REAL" - !!??!!
I hate to say it, ZanyMike, but the USA has a global reputation of being extreme - big in this, big in that and larger-than-life. Everything that happens States-side is magnified... either through reporting, and the media, or by the sheer clout America has.
Without taking anything away from Katrina - and as Abraham said, even the loss of one life is tragic - it just shouldn't be happening in this day and age, especially with the warning received!! - There are disasters of epic proportions happening around the globe on a daily basis. So the original comment given at the time it was, was both inappropriate and ill-timed.
The true death-toll of the Tsunami will probably never be known. Yet very precise figures are already being bandied around here and there, with regard to Katrina. And they vary, according to which report you read, watch or hear - !!
Statistics and figures - both to human and financial cost - will always be given out, and will always be too high, whatever the situation.
I will not deny or argue that there will be long-term repercussions to this situation. But I firmly believe, even if the risk of disease does exist, that it won't remain as hazzardous or life-threatening as it would do in less developped countries.
THis is a highly emotive subject.
Let's stay calm, people. remember who we are.......
A number of us, from many different traditions, feeling the helplessness of distance, will meet today and for the next nine days to sit together in prayer and solidarity with the refugees from the area of devastation.
Our thoughts are with you all. We wish we could do more.
The Catholics are praying a novena which is why we chose nine days. Our local Catholic priest has provded space for those who want to 'sit' and all are welcome.
I am saddened by your response and your less than eloquent terminology. I have no political agenda in any shape or form, therefore asking me to insert them up my rectum is not appropriate or indeed constructive....especially as you happen to agree with them. I am not a card carrying activist, communist or radical...as for using these " issues " to belittle the situation as you put it, is to miss the point entirely. Should you wish to engage in an arguement, then you will be a one man band, I am not interested. Out of respect for the current situation lets leave it at that, if however you wish to take the time to get to know me better, I feel sure you will realise that you have misunderstood my intentions.
I remember thinking about my post concerning the 'talking-head' making reports on the hurricane a couple of hours afterwards and thinking that my post may have made what was happening in the south US inconsequential.
That was not my intent. Any death in any violent (whether by Nature or Man) is awful. And the US has it's own difficulties as do other countries. It was not that long ago that the nation was struck by the inane violence of 9/11.
While I still do have a problem with our sensationalized media in this country - Trajedys that happen ANYWHERE in the world are awful. These people, regardless of race, creed or color, need support from the rest of the world.
-bf
I feel very selfish writing this post, as this thread was not supposed to be about me but the poor souls who have been so badly affected by Katrina. I am still trying to reconcile how a man who has studied " Buddhism " for six years and is currently taking a masters degree in English feels the need to use such language.
I am therefore naturally questioning his being a follower of the Eight Fold Path in part or as a whole....this has left me wavering a little as to whether being part of a forum like this is of any benefit spiritually, I am currently feeling a little bemused
The thing a lot of people forget about Buddhism is practice. We still get mad and day things to people. It is a misconception about us. People think we sit around meditating and being serene with the universe when that isn't true at all. I find that understanding why I feel this way is the moist important thing and then one day I won't even feel a certain way at all. It is all about practice. We all go through different stages and different precesses.
I agree. My brother (as far as he knows at this time) has lost his house because of Katrina. :sadc: Luckily, he and his kids got out in the nick of time to my place. We are all crowded since I only have a two-bedroom apartment but he and my nephews are alive at least. ZanyMike, I heard the same thing on the Weather Channel---that Katrina got so big because of the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Sorry, people! I am just a little touchy on this subject right now. Please forgive me.
Adiana
Like I said in my earlier post, I am somewhat touchy about this subject right now. That is why I asked for people to please forgive me. My brother figures his house is a total loss at this point plus he won't be able to go to New Orleans to even find out for sure for some time according to the latest reports. On a positive note, I just wanted to add that the kindness and compassion being shown to my brother and my nephews is amazing! My Buddhist and Wiccan friends here in Indiana, as well as some others that we don't even know here, have donated all sorts of things that my brother and the boys will need---I have had to rent a storage space for it all! We both started to cry at all the generosity and kindness being shown to him and the boys. It is just truly amazing and mind-boggling!
Adiana :usflag:
...And I'm not criticising or being judgemental - it's just an eye-opener to see and watch how people behave.... :scratch:
whew............. i feel so much better after criticizing my country!! :mullet:
i wouldn't believe everything the media feeds you. There are still people in the Andaman and Nicobar islands that haven't seen zip.
Please keep in mind that you do not know what the situation was for each person that did not leave the city. There are plenty of reasons why some of those people could not leave, or tried to, and were not able to, so let's refrain from calling them "idiots". I think they have been through enough!