“The psychological rule says that when an inner situation is not made conscious, it happens outside as fate. That is to say, when the individual remains undivided and does not become conscious of his inner opposite, the world must perforce act out the conflict and be torn into opposing halves." —Carl Jung
Friday night a friend urged me to get myself in front of a television set. She said that she had never seen the media reacting as emotionally as it was that night, which was five days into the aftermath of Katrina. She described the on-air behavior of various broadcasters and insisted that I see for myself. She said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a race war.â€
Well, I don’t have a tv, so I missed all of that, but I have caught sound bytes from various radio pundits and shows, and I’ve read Michael Moore’s open letter to Bush, Molly Ivins' much-read piece, etc. I’ve been voyeur, listening in on the conversations of other commuters, shoppers, library patrons and other people who've been places I've gone. I’ve talked to coworkers, my dad, a Nigerian cab driver who dropped me off at a friend’s place.
Basically, everybody’s talking about what’s going on in New Orleans. Everyone is talking about race, poverty, the Iraqi war, and President (whether you like it or not) Bush in ways that aren't usually so public or so consuming. I have been asked to share my opinion, but I haven’t been forthcoming because while I have an opinion, it’s imprecise. Still, I suppose it’s worth stating aloud.
For me, there are two emotions running at hand: hope and fear. My hope is that regardless of which side you’re on, regardless of who’s to blame for what, regardless of what could have or should have happened or been avoided, people will keep on talking and talking and talking and talking it out. My fear is that like HealthSouth (Scrushy who?) and Enron, the Florida and Ohio counts, and about a gazillion other situations and events that tarnish and diminish the good of this country, we’ll forget.
Article comments
1 - Strait Talker
Lotta hurricane commentary out there. I'm feeling punch drunk just from that, but yours is certainly unique. What made you connect everything with Memento? Great film by the way. Well, I don't know if I agree with a hundred % of your flow, but definitely you've got me thinking about this stuff in a whole another way. Thanks. Peace to the surviors, man.
2 - catclaire
lovely connecting of random dots! you've got an unorthodox way of seeing things.
3 - EddieGrrl
Again, you tap into something so fundamental about the whole situation, thanks. I'm pleasantly amazed to wander onto your blog -- speechless and depressed with images of the destruction -- and emerge thoughtful and with the strange sensation that I've been engaged on a level of feel even if I don't have the words to make myself heard .
So thanks again for sharing your impressions. Keep on, keepin on.