CLAY CANE // GET YOUR LIFE

Thursday, September 29, 2005

I've noticed something with gay Black/Latin men - it seems we no longer know how to socialize with each other. Maybe this isn't a new thing, but five years ago things were extremely different. I feel this has to do with the accessibility of the internet and all of these “high-tech” devices. Gay/bi people have always had "alternative" ways of meeting and connecting with each other, but with the internet, emails, text messages, blogs, etc. -- we're quickly abandoning direct communication.

I was never a fan of the “party line,” but you had to eventually exchange numbers and God forbid, meet face to face (that was too much anticipatory anxiety for me). Now everything is extremely impersonal. Some people will express in their BLOG how they want to do the monster mash on someone's back, or detail an argument they had with their best friend, but never speak with the person directly. I have friends who will send me a diatribe of text messages until I call them and say: “You know I barely talk during daytime minutes so why would you send me text message at NIGHT – knowing I pay for every text message! Is ya’ slow???” Their response is: ”Well, it’s just easier to talk through a text.” Really?

Eighty percent of communication is non-verbal and to minimize personal interaction to typing is strange to me. Due to all this technology people, especially our community, cannot express themselves non-verbally -- if they do it’s so evasive that you don't know if someone wants to fuck you, cuss you out and become your next stalker.

For example, recently I went to a club and I noticed the pretentiousness of many people - caught up in their crafted (in more ways than one) images, personas and rehearsed attitudes - very few seemed authentic or genuine. I remember the days of going to a black/Latin gay club and people were dancing from their SOUL, but now that passion seems to have evaporated into being a homothug, fear of rejection, or doctored vanity. If there were genuine people the night I went to the club they were so contaminated by the image that one is suppose to uphold in that type of environment that they were not visible.

Even with loud music and tons of alcohol to cloud one's view, it's still challenging to be authentic for many black/Latin men. Regardless if someone is single or in a relationship it's obvious to notice these are elaborate productions of images that boys/men work themselves into a frenzy over. The lustful stares that say: "I think you're fine - but not as fine as me!" Or the scary stares that say: "I could love you - just give me one good date and you'll see I'm the man of your life - or at least for the weekend." And the ever-popular: "We could just chill" aka "Let's fuck and hope my boyfriend doesn't find out." All of this without ever breaking the iceberg and saying hello …

When the club lights are off and the computers on sleep, the possibilities of connecting with someone are as thin as a Toni Braxton comeback (PLEASE let it go Toni – the new nose job is very Michael Jackson circa 1988)! Most gay/bi people missed out on the cheese-ball dating experience that the straights go through in elementary, middle and high school. If Keisha has a crush on Raheem - Keisha can flaunt her tossed weave and wear her tight around the way jeans from Easy Pickins -- while Raheem can knock her head in the head, steal her lunch money and spreads rumors that she sucked his dick in the gym locker room -- by the time Keisha reaches the 9th grade she'll be saying, "That's a good man!" However, if Abdul has a crush on Montez he can't, and will never say that. It's not till after high school, or in college that gay/bi people can hopefully date and discover what it means to be stood up, not get called back and childishly rejected. These shallow experiences are an integral part to socializing and teach you how to weed out the imbeciles.

I was talking to a friend about meeting guys on-line and he said: "I met three guys online and all three of them looked nothing like their picture ... So, I had to say, 'Maybe I don't look like my picture!'" Obviously if some of these men/boys are behind a computer screen they can open up more, but without digital enhancement they aren't as confident. People can detail over instant messaging what various savage, vulgar and elaborate sex acts (that are illegal in most states) they will do with someone, however, when it comes to a face to face interaction they are as stupefied as Bow-Wow looking for Ciara’s cat-trap! Not saying this never happens among straight people, but the straights are allowed to meet anyone, anywhere without stigma or fear. For gay/bi people there are rules that must be broken to go beyond the comfortable bounds of "alternative" methods. Communication is diminishing in our community - and detailing your latest threesome on your blog and describing how your timbs were flying in the air like a war flag waving to surrender -- DOESN'T COUNT.

This epidemic of lack of communication needs to be deeply thought about in our community, or any community that suffers extreme repression from a racial, gender, class or sexuality aspect. I’m concerned about the generation coming up who are being taught that this impersonal way of communicating is the ONLY way to reach out to gay/bi men – especially from a dating aspect. I remember the days of youth/adult meetings/discussions, which aren’t as big anymore because if you want to chat with someone you can go in a chat room knowing that even if you are judged it doesn’t matter because the person has no idea who you are.

That is why I respect people like Derrick L. Briggs (please check him out for his Books Are Sexy meetings and discussions) who encourage US to come together and commune. The moral of the story is -- Break the ice – take a risk – stop typing for a minute -- stop the texting –- don't email -- leave your blackberry/sidekick at home AND pick up the phone – hang out one on one and get to know people (or get to know a new person) that you have lost touch with more than you know!

Labels: Relationships, Sexuality

Posted by Clay :: 3:20 PM :: 20 comments

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Thursday, September 22, 2005

FIONA!

mood: happy-happy!
music: "Oh Well" by Fiona Apple "My peace and quiet was stolen from me ... "

On Tuesday I completed one of my goals in life...to meet FIONA APPLE. Anyone who knows me, knows that Fiona has my hetero card with no expiration date! She is like an Angelina Jolie but with innocence. I was overwhelmed when I found out Fiona would be signing her CD booklet at the Virgin Megastore on Tuesday, September 20th. Some of you may not have heard of Fiona (maybe that's what's missing in your life), but this woman is the most incredible musician, lyricist, vocalist and passionate artist -- in the most ORIGINAL WAY --that I have ever heard or experienced in my adult life. Fiona has more soul in one of her farts than Beyonce Knowles has in one millisecond of a riffing and running note!

When I listen to her music I hear myself, she is the white female version of me, and I would lick her coochie on my mammy's birthday if I had the chance! Her music speaks to me like no other piece of art has in my life (well, running neck and neck with Prince and Janis). I don't even think I could DATE someone who didn't appreciate this woman. Here are just a couple lines from some of her iconic songs:

Your hungry flirt borders intrusion -- I’m building memories on things we have not said, Full is not heavy as empty, not nearly my love

No thing I do don't do no thing but bring me -- More to do, It's true, I do imbue my blue unto myself, I make it bitter

You were kissing me once more than once -- And you looked as sincere as a dog - Oh you silly stupid pastime of mine -- You were always good for rhyme

The day started early with me arriving at Virgin Megastore Union Square at 8:15am and standing in an endless line with what seemed like transplants from the Midwest -- I swear, most of the people I saw in that line didn't look anything like New Yorkers. They were very plain janes and boring john does. Of course there were the alternative gay and straights - but I definitely stuck out like a sore thumb with my hat to the back and locs to my shoulders.

This early morning line at Union Square was only to buy the CD, which I won't get till October 4th, and get the wristband to come back to Union Square at 6pm that evening to actually see Fiona perform. I was in the line for me and Apollonia (due to work she could not make it), who I met at a poetry spot years ago where we bonded by spitting Fiona Apple lyrics at each other. So naturally, we had to see Fiona together. However, I find out in line that you can only buy ONE wristband per person - NO EXCEPTIONS. I didn't know what to do and tried to think of every hustle in my head to get Apollonia a wristband - I couldn't imagine experiencing Fiona without her.

Once I got to the cash register I was blessed to have a cute Latin girl as my cashier -- I begged her to let me have another ticket for my girlfriend (I said Apollonia's real name in the ultra-hyper-latin pronunciation that you only hear news anchor do - you know you got to pull the good race/ethnicity card whenever needed!) who would be so upset if I didn't get her a wristband. I gave her the lusty, banjee trade look making her feel like I would bang her out in the Virgin Megastore bathroom if she only asked! However, she goes: "Aye papi, I can't - but you can speak to my manager ... " As she said that her manager walks by who is another Latin girl ... out of desperation I made up a vicious lie (well, it's a little true) on why my "girlfriend" needed a ticket ... I refuse to say it on this blog for fear of putting bad energy out there, but I did would I had to do! Lawd knows, most of you all would've done the same thing for Beyonce to meet her face to face and bring your best friend!!!! The manager whispered: "Give him another one." I thanked them both deeply and grabbed my two wristbands !!! As I left there were already people waiting in another line to see Fiona at 6pm - mind you it was 9:30am!!!

The whole day I overdosed myself on Fiona music and read an article

from Interview magazine with Fiona interviewing Kanye West. Kanye explained how he puts Fiona on the same level as Lauryn Hill, which in case you all didn't know that is an excellent comparison ... I would actually say Fiona is better since Lauryn doesn't want to release an album!

I figured I might as well wait at least an hour in line so I would hopefully have a good spot for the show. I was back at Virgin at 5pm and it was already crowded. Every black or Latin person who walked by obviously came to me and asked who we were in line for. At one point, a pack of about five thugged-out around the way boys walked up hollering and screaming: "Why all these people sittin' on the concrete???" They come right up to me and a twenty something white girl next to me CRINGES like it was 1803 and she was about to scream rape to save her from the nig'ras!!!! They say to me: "Yo, why they sittin' outside like this???" As if I wasn't part of the group -- I explained, Fiona Apple. They shrugged their shoulders and walked away. I felt like asking the white girl next to me who was cringing: "Was that your first experience being that close to so many black men at one time?" I didn't think she would get it ...

Later this gay guy walked by who was obviously half in drag (you know, heels with jeans, no make-up but has all the hair) - when someone told him that we were out here for Fiona Apple he yells in the most flamboyant voice saying: "WHOSE FIONA?????" he kept on repeating it as he walked away patting himself with a napkin because it was hot. It was hilarious ...

Apollonia arrives and we are acting up like two crazy coloured folks talking about racism, the first black female President at Brown University in Rhode Island, Hurricane Katrina and everything else in between. Everyone around us stared and looked completely uncomfortable.

A long line continues and we finally make it to a tiny space in Virgin where we could barely see anything. I didn't mind that, but what really bothered me is that somebody was WING-DINGIN' (smelling like a mothafucka!) right next to us! I understand if you wanna be dirty, greasy, rock star boy but you can at least wash your shit-hole!!! It was horrendous -- it was so strong, like getting repeated uppercuts by Mike Tyson in 1987! Apollina was delirious-- every thirty seconds we were complaining to let whoever that person was know that they needed to wash their stinky azzzzzzzz before they go in public and keep in clean even if they are sitting in the hot New York sun for six hours -- we are not the Hamptons crowd who won't say anything!

When Fiona hit the stage it was amazing!!!! She was so beautiful -- it was incredible. She began her first song and I gave her life like she was a gospel singer at a black church -- I waited till it was dead quiet while she was singing and roared: "GO ON, FIONA!! YOU BETTA' SANG!" Apollonia is in tears laughing at me ... while everyone around me is once again -- extremely uncomfortable! Later on this girl in front of Apollonia turns around and goes: "Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Right in Apollonia's face! I said to myself: "Oh lawd - Apollonia is about to throw a bitch to the ground and get the only few people of color kicked out of a concert!" Mind you, Apollonia wasn't really being loud - she was just singing along to the song like the rest of the crowd. Thankfully, Apollonia ignored her and bonded with a girl next to her who purpsoely sang louder to irritate the girl. I didn't understand why the girl did that -- i mean this is a concert .... granted Apollonia has a voice that I've heard clearly over booming speakers in a club .... even when I was all the way on the otherside of the room -- but i'm saying!

Fiona went on to sing an acoustic set and moved our spirits to the edge. I helped some gay boys (who were dry humping each other during the whole damn show) take some pictures because I am tall and was a little closer to the stage. It was nice to see us Fiona fans bonding ...

After a long wait in ANOTHER line to get Fiona to sing our CDs, Apollonia and I are acting up again .. Apollonia was suffering residuals from the horrible body odor we endured during the performance, while I was looking for any sign of Fiona. After thrity minutes of waiting we finally sat on the floor - as I hit the floor I said: "Oh lawd, I feel like an old black woman in 1901 Tennesse baptist church during a three-hour long revival!" The people around me once again gave the: "Should I be laughing at this?" look -- they were extremely uncomfortable. A Rican boy who was behind us in line threw his hands up in the air and lets out in a high-pitched falsetto: "What's going on?" correctly singing the notes of the 4 Non Blondes song "What's Up?" ... it was funny as hell -- of course it had to be the black and Latinos acting up!

Finally we met Fiona and I was awe-struck...Apollonia said: "Your music is the soundtrack of my life!" Fiona said: "Really - the soundtrack?" I tried to slip her my demo, which I haven't gave to anyone in a minute -- she was about to take it, but her verbally violent security guards snatched it from me like it was tainted with anthrax. She said: "I'm sorry." I said: "It's all right - thank you for your music." She stared at me with those piercing eyes and I almost nutted on myself! Lawdddddddddddddddddddddddddd ... it was amazing. I was high like heaven and strong like music. The album Extraordinary Machine comes out October 4th. I encourage all of you to buy it if you want something fresh, original, creative, passionate, soulful and TRUTHFUL.

Labels: FIONA APPLE, STORYTELLING

Posted by Clay :: 10:00 AM :: 30 comments

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Saturday, September 03, 2005

I AIN'T ALL BLOG - you wanna help someone directly? Now you can ..

I've been worked up about everything going on so I 've been brainstorming for days on WHAT I CAN DO. I heard a woman on CNN who said she was in a hotel in Baton Rogue, Louisiana called the Baymont - she had been living in her car for days, someone got her a hotel and she has nothing. She detailed that FEMA and American Red Cross has done NOTHING. I went to superpages.com, got the hotel's number and called nonstop, but it was either busy or saying: "Due to the hurricane your call cannot be completed."

I began calling ALL the hotels that were listed in the Baton Rogue area and finally got through to a Best Western. I asked the receptionist if she had any hurricane evacuees - I think she thought I was looking for family. She said: "Yes, we are overwhelmed." I told her that I wanted to help, but I refuse to donate to the Red Cross, or FEMA because I don't trust them. I asked her if there is any family I can speak with that I could send clothes to and help - I wanted to help a family directly. A woman named Denise Cross got on the phone -- she told me her home was flooded, she has no job and has lost everything. I cannot tell you the HEAVINESS in her voice.

Trying to not let her hear me crying, I asked what I could do and she gave me the number for her sister, Trina Cross, in the Dallas area. She recommended that I mail everything to her sister who is driving between Dallas and Baton Rogue, dropping things off.

As of now me and some friends are shipping clothes/shoes/cell phones to them TONIGHT at the 24 hour post office in New York City. If you would like to help please contact me! I don't feel comfortable sending/giving money to American Red Cross (last I heard they wont accept anything but money) or any other BS organization who take 10 percent of administration fees. Nor do I feel comfortable mailing things to the Salvation Army who will have things sit in a warehouse for weeks. These supplies are going directly to a family that I spoke to - if you're interested in sending something please email, or call me. I don't want to post Denise's sister's address on a blog for it to be all over the Internet.

We can whine, scream, shout and roar racism (although it is) and class (although it is) - BUT doing something, even if it's a little, is what really matters. You don't have to send money -- lawd knows, I don't have it. However, we all have clothes (especially you coutre butch queens who are reading this! lol) and other things that can be given away.

If you already have a family to help directly (or your own family in the area) then I understand if you can't do anything for this family -- however, if you don't know anyone in the area and you feel like Red Cross/FEMA and stupid benefit concerts are not enough and too slow -- NOW you know Denise Cross. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Peace,

Clay

PS. If you would rather do this on your own -- start calling as many hotels you can in Baton Rogue and the surrounding areas (just like I did) until you get through. For those who don't mind giving money, you can western union it, get an address to send things, or whatever the case may be. I didn't feel comfortable going through the internet to find someone because it might be a scam. Stop saying, "I wish I could do something!" YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ..... I JUST PROVED IT.

Labels: Politics

Posted by Clay :: 4:28 PM :: 9 comments

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HERE IS THE VIDEO - I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL WORK, SO CLICK ON IT NOW. ALSO, CLICK BELOW TO HEAR THE SCATHING RADIO INTERVIEW FROM MAYOR RAY NAGIN.

THE KANYE VIDEO WORKS BETTER WITH AOL - MAY TAKE A MINUTE TO LOAD WITH INTERNET EXPLORER.

http://movies.crooksandliars.com/Kayne-West-Bush-Black-People.mov

MAYOR RAY NAGIN INTERVIEW

I LOVE KANYE!

I have to say this is a true risk with his career - I'm sure his record company is reeling in fear he's completely cutting off his "diverse" audience -- and we all know what that means. I have NEVER seen a mainstream hip-hop artist truly take a risk with his career like this - THIS is what music is all about - THIS is a revolutionary statement. Kanye said what probably 90% of Black folks feel about President Bush (and a lot of white folks) to America's face. Congrats - finally!

PS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR POSTS/COMMENTS/COMPLIMENTS ON MY WORDS OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.

Labels: Politics

Posted by Clay :: 12:00 AM :: 14 comments

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Friday, September 02, 2005

BLACK FOLKS IN HELL -- WHERE IS OUR COMMUNITY?

mood: still sad
music: "Stay On The Battlefield" by Sweet Honey in the Rock - "Moving to a higher ground even though our hands were filled with slaughtered teeth, but we held out our eyes - delirious with grace"

I only heard one good thing today and that was from Anderson Cooper letting Senator Mary Landrieu HAVE IT:

I've been seeing dead bodies in the streets here in Mississippi. And to listen to politicians thanking each other and complimenting each other, you know, I got to tell you, there are a lot of people here who are very upset, and very angry, and very frustrated.And when they hear politicians slap -- you know, thanking one another, it kind of cuts them the wrong way right now, because literally there was a body on the streets of this town yesterday being eaten by rats because this woman had been laying in the street for 48 hours. And there's not enough facilities to take her up. Do you get the anger that is out here?

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Now it's time for me to let some people HAVE IT.

WHERE ARE THE BLACK FOLKS?

WHERE IN THE GOD-GOOD ARE AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO HAVE MONEY, POWER AND RESOURCES?

It's a damn shame that a reporter said the only person close to any official who was down in that hell was HARRY CONNICK, JR. He walked the streets with NO police and simply TALKED to people, which they deeply appreciated. People fail to realize that so much of this is mental - not just physical, and having someone to talk with to explain what is happening is paramount. Many would not be as worked up if they were being informed and at least felt like someone, especially our community, cared.

SO, WHERE ARE THE AFRICAN-AMERICANS????????????? Don't tell me they can't do anything because everything is so "out of control" -- if HARRY CONNICK JR., a white jazz musician, is out there then OUR people should be there assisting. Tony Zumbado, NBC Photo Journalist reporter: "Harry Connick, Jr. is the only person who told them it would be okay." He also said: "People say it's unsafe, but it's not unsafe to help people." Even if it's not New Orleans - we could AT LEAST BE IN MISSISSIPPI! I'm not talking about a boring and useless BENEFIT CONCERT that raises money for the Red Cross, which the Red Cross takes ten percent of for administration fees. I'm talking about HELPING -- I am DISGUSTED at the response from the Black community.

B.E.T. SHOULD BE THERE IN DROVES - THEY ARE STILL SHOWING 106 & PARK AND SOULFOOD!

OPRAH WINFREY SHOULD'VE FLEW HERE WITH JOHN TRAVOLTA'S JET, PICKING UP PEOPLE AND STOCKING THEM UP IN A HOTEL !

PATTI LABELLE SHOULD'VE BEEN IN DOWNTOWN NEW ORLEANS SINGING HYMNS!

T.D. JAKES AND REVEREND JESSE JACKSON SHOULD'VE BEEN PREACHING ON A STREET CORNER WITH BOTTLES OF WATER!

LAURYN HILL'S WHINING ASS ON UNPLUGGED -- SHOULD'VE BEEN ON A CORNER READING FROM A JIM CROW BIBLE THAT SHE ALWAYS LIKES TO QUOTE ON STAGE!

AL SHARPTON SHOULD LEAVE CINDY SHEEHAN ALONE AND GET HIS AZZ AT THE ASTRODOME IN TEXAS OFFERING PEOPLE A PLACE TO LIVE!

JOHN LEGEND SHOULD GET HIS BOYFRIEND'S TONGUE OUT OF HIS AZZ (you know he likes that!) - BRING HIM AND HIS PIANO DOWN THERE TO ASSIST!

KANYE WEST SHOULD'VE ABANDONED HIS VAIN PROMOTIONAL TOUR THAT SHOULD BE TITLED "THE KANYE WEST SHOW" AND HELP THE OVER 30,000 PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY ALL BOUGHT HIS ALBUM!

WHY ISN'T G-UNIT MEETING PEOPLE AT THE ASTRODOME - OFFERING THEM A PLACE TO STAY IN ONE OF THEIR HOMOTHUG MANSIONS?

WHY ISN'T LOUIS FARRAKHAN AND THE NATION OF ISLAM MEETING PEOPLE AT A HALF WAY POINT TO TEXAS OFFERING THEM SHELTER?

ALICIA KEYS SHOULD TAKE HER FEMME CLOTHES OFF -- PUT ON HER REGULAR BUTCH ATTIRE AND HELP HER FANS!

I COULD GO ON FOREVER!

Don't tell me it is too chaotic for them to be there -- if dying children, raped women, injured men, pregnant women, the elderly, angry teens can endure they CAN -- especially, once again, and I REPEAT -- if HARRY CONNICK JR. can, they can! Even if they are not directly there - they could be outside the area. Please don't ask me why I'm not down there -- I'm not talking about you or me, who may be in the same situation as many of the people in New Orleans BEFORE the storm hit. I'm pinpointing Black folks who have the money and resources. Toussaint and other friends of mine have already gathered clothing to mail -- if we could do more we could -- I KNOW SPIKE LEE'S AZZ WHO RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE X MOVIE HAS THE RESOURCES. If dainty, white women journalists can be there, risking their lives to tell a story --- OUR COMMUNITY CAN BE THERE.

If there would've been a BLACK CELEBRITY/POWER/MEDIA/MONEY presence things would have moved faster. Do you think President Bush would've tolerated Beyonce "Pop My Coochie for Jesus" Knowles reporting people are dying? For all of you bloggers who know "celebrities" please be sure to forward this to them -- and like I said if HARRY CONNICK, JR. can help OUR COMMUNITY- we can. Now people are being turned away from the ASTRODOME in Texas -- WHERE ARE WE? Not only am I ashamed of AMERICANS - I am ashamed of BLACK AMERICANS!

Labels: Politics

Posted by Clay :: 1:00 AM :: 25 comments

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Thursday, September 01, 2005

ANOTHER AMERICAN FAILURE

DISTURBING VIDEO - CLICK HERE - PLEASE WATCH ALL AND FORWARD

mood: SAD
music: "Burnin' and Lootin'" by Bob Marley - "All that we got, it seems we have lost ... We gonna be burning and a-looting tonight - To survive!"

It upsets me to hear people say this is a sign of the end of the world, and quoting verses from the Bible. AMERICANS, LETS NOT BE TOO VAIN ... other countries have endured unspeakable hardships like African countries such as Sudan and the Congo -- people are dying, starving, rape and enduring a civil war for years.

Please don't forget the CONTINUOUS suffering Haiti has sustained for ions with NO sign of relief. America is catching up with the rest of the world and of course poor people are bearing the brunt of the pain! If THIS is a sign of the end of the world then the world should've ended when millions of Native Americans were ANNIHILATED off the globe, and especially the United States, (Louisiana is a Native American word) by disease and the Trail of Tears. How about when Rwanda suffered complete genocide and NO ONE did anything -- considering the genocide occurred due to the structural underpinnings of colonization? Let's not forget when West Africa was completely KIDNAPPED from the 1600s - 1800s. THE WORLD SHOULD'VE ENDED THEN ................. Lets not jump on the biblical route of the "end of the world" just because America is suffering. This is a BLAZING sign of an AMERICAN FAILURE - not the end of the world.

Larry King reported a year ago in "National Geographic," an article stated the Federal Emergency Management Agency lists a hurricane in New Orleans as one of the most dire threats in the nation equal to a large earthquake in California or a terrorist attack in New York City. Wow ... this sounds familiar -- kinda like "Bin Laden determined to attack the United States" less than a month before 9/11 and our adminstration completely ignoring the warning. Now look where we are ..........

I don't know how to go with this -- I understand FEMA, American Red Cross and other organizations cannot instantly fly there and make things happen. However, I do not understand why there wasn't more preparation - JUST LIKE 9/11 ... if National Geographic reported this unprecedented catastrophic storm a year in advance why weren't the levees (damns) better prepared? This hurricane wasn't a shocker --- I laid in my bed all day Sunday suffering from wisdom teeth removal, and there was NONSTOP media coverage of the storm -- while they were insisting upon people leaving their home and damning those who didn't, they could've strengthen the levees, moved stocks of food/water closer than New Jersey/Pennsylvania in preparation - THEY ARE INSISTING UPON PEOPLE PREPARING, BUT WHY WASN'T THE GOVERNMENT PREPARED???

Jeanne Meserve, CNN Correspondent reported: "People were taken out of the water and off rooftops and left on a highway without any transportation into town. They were dying by the side of the road. Elderly people who had no water who desperately needed health care, they had nothing."

The horrendous conditions described in the Superdome (New Orleans) are terrfying - one woman detailed how no one in the Superdome knew that it was going to flood ... when the first floor flood, people trampled over each other. She described the conditions as mentally damaging -- people dying in front of her, only having a sandwich and water for four days, living on top of each other AND not being allowed to leave. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SLAVE SHIP. Another reporter detailed that people are being turned away from going to the Astrodome in Texas if they weren't waiting in the Superdome in New Orleans ... so where are they supposed to go????? One survivor said her and her family hitch-hiked their way to Texas and were turned away! People are making it to Texas on their own because of the unstructured exodus from New Orleans -- one pack of people made it on a stolen bread truck! I remember when President Bush said the areas hit by the Tsunami should've been better prepared .........................

How could a category FOUR (was downgraded) storm have MORE of an effect from a category FIVE storm (Hurricane Camille) in the 1960s??? You would think since the 1960s hurricane methods would have upgraded!!!!

NO amount of looting touches the vile, savage, incalculable, inexcusable failure that the American government has done to these people. Reporter Kevin McGill reporter: "Thieves chased a state police truck full of food." Well, really???????????? Thieves because they are running after food ............. Now, there are reports of people shooting at helicopters and cops. All of the anarchy that is occurring in New Orleans is reminiscent of a SLAVE REVOLT. Angry, poor, exhausted people who are tired of their conditions - EVEN PRE THE HURRICANE. Sadly, some people are ready to kill even if it injuries people in the same predicament as them. As of this morning there are no buses leaving the New Orleans because of unruly violence.

The government knew this storm would be catastrophic ... either people in power didn't care, didn't take seriously, or the people they knew would suffer were not IMPORTANT enough to take seriously. This isn't the rich, elite coastline of Florida .... this is the gutter of the South.

Of course there are no right answers, but my soul is aching hearing these stories of loss, anger, frustration and a monstrosity of excuses from RICH people who tell "survivors" to be patient. Most of these people were survivors of their environment even before Hurricane Katrina.

Labels: Politics

Posted by Clay :: 8:04 AM :: 18 comments

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