After hearing that rescue efforts had been suspended because of concerns of the safety of the rescuers, I was compelled to offer these observations to CNN via email.
Dear CNN Journalists:
I have been following your coverage from the beginning of this tragedy. Now, this morning, you announce that rescue efforts have been suspended.
HOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW CAN THIS BE? As this story continues to devolve, I really hope that race and class are not impairing the government's ability to help these people.
Why is it that we have NO PROBLEM AT ALL ENTERING AND REMAINING IN A VERY DANGEROUS VOLATILE IRAQ, WHERE FOLK ARE INDEED ARMED AND DEFENDING THEMSELVES.
However, in this instance, the government, police and national guard are scared on the streets of New Orleans?????????
Why can't they at least leaflet the area to give folks some sense of what is happening and what the evacuation plans are? These are people who are lacking everything...but especially INFORMATION that may help allay fears and calm things. I understand that people are taking advantage of this situation via "looting" and such, but can food and water not reach folks gathered at central locations where there is some military presence.
Again, I am utterly, utterly disappointed by the response and the lack of creativity being exercised to provided food aid, med aid and assistance to sick, struggling, dying New Orleaneans who seem to be overwhelmingly black, young, poor, old and female---scared and angry---in many instances.
In the mean time, I will begin to contact other of my colleagues to begin discussing the implications of some of these issues on the lives of the poor and black who seem to be the ones suffering most profoundly in this situation.
Eyes open and thinking critically about this nightmare,
Nicole Anderson, Professor of History and Media9/1/05 9:41 AM
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