For every bad, there's a good. I keep telling myself that.
For every story about someone losing a loved one, there's someone finding out that a loved one is safe.
For every idiot saying that the people who stayed in New Orleans don't deserve to be helped, there's a story like this:
Alice Wilder,10, Elena Page, 13, Coco Wilder,12, and Mary Perot, 12, from left, call on passing cars, as they continue to collect funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005, in Brighton, N.Y. The money will be doanted to the Ameriacn Red Cross. AP Photo/ Carlos Ortiz
For every jackass who emails me and asks when I'm going to stop writing about this, there's someone who emails me with links to good news stories, or offers of help with the school supplies drive.
For every looter in New Orleans, there's ten people doing things like this:
photo from Washington Post
For every blogger who has spent seemingly every waking minute using this as an opportunity to drive home political messages, there are ten bloggers doing what they can to get help where it's needed.
For ever religious "leader" spouting off idiocy, there are dozens of pastors, ministers, priests, nuns, doing anything they can to comfort those who need it.
For everyone who thinks someone else will pick up the slack and help out, there's this:
We have PLENTY of room in our house to take in a few families who have survived Katrina. I don't want to put a number on it because I'm sure we can fit more than I could come up with in my head. My kids are willing to combine rooms, so we could probably take in 3-4 families of 4, possibly more.
I just heard the mayor of New Orleans crying on CNN.
The Astrodome is full and can't take any more refugees.
There has been an explosion (possibly hazmat) in the area of the Superdome.
People are dying like animals on the street.
And everywhere - in newspapers, on blogs, on message boards, on tv - there are people who, swathed in safety and comfort and not anywhere near New Orleans, are saying things like "they had warnings, they should have gotten out," or "it's their fault for living there in the first place." It's the equivalent of that absurd line from Airplane! (they bought their tickets, they knew what they were getting into. I say, let 'em crash.) which was so funny because it was absurd - ha ha, who would really say a thing like that? Well, people are.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
(Round of applause)
2 - Liz
Thank you!!! First time I've found your blog and thank you for the "good news thing".
Were mistakes made? Of course. Can we change that? No. All we can do now is help clean up. Everyone can do something. My crochet club is making blankets and baby hats. Everyone can do SOMETHING!!!
3 - Nancy
Crocheting! SUPER idea! Where are you sending the finished items - is there a center collecting them? Thanks.
4 - jenny
is there any website where they are starting to post people opening their houses to victims. I live in a small house with my boyfriend in Massachusetts and we would have room for 2 or so people but i dont even know any info or if they will allow people to do this, if you have any info let me know, it's the least we can do.
5 - Heloise
Moveon.org has the site where you can list if you have a place where someone can stay.
Subject: Emergency housing drive at www.hurricanehousing.org
I'm sure you've seen the horrifying images on TV of destruction left by Hurricane Katrina, and the many, many people left with nowhere to go.
You can help. MoveOn.org just launched a website, www.hurricanehousing.org, to connect your empty beds with hurricane victims who desperately need a place to wait out the storm.
You can post your offer of housing (a spare room, extra bed, even a decent couch) on http://www.hurricanehousing.org or search there for housing if you need it.
MoveOn will pass requests from hurricane victims or relief agencies on to volunteer hosts, who can decide whether or not to respond to a particular request. The host remains anonymous until they reply to someone looking for housing.
I just posted my own offer. I hope you will too, or pass this on to people you know in the Southeast:
http://www.hurricanehousing.org
Housing is most urgently needed within reasonable driving distance (about 300 miles) of the affected areas, especially New Orleans.
Thanks!
6 - michele
Try here and here.
7 - Dakotah
i'm only twelve and i want to help the hurricane victims. Do you have any suggestions.Also I'm very glad that your helping people in need
8 - MIA
Excellent entry. I will be going to New Orleans and performing Law Enforcement duties. I understand desperate times call for desperate measures. I know I am an understanding and compassionate man. I am fair and level headed. I will never understand how these people in need could be deserted by those whom they trusted thier lives.
My daughter and her baton team are collecting towels, wash clothes, and body soap for those in need.
Continue to pass the word.
This is the United States of America and this needs to end NOW!!!!!