I, admittedly, have been fairly ignorant in the goings on in Louisiana and Mississippi. Mostly because I knew the gravity of the situation, and seeing it would be too much for me, and I'd lose my (already fragile) mind. I have seen little bits and pieces, and heard bits of conversation, but I've kept myself pretty uninformed. I am not admitting it with any pride - I just didn't want to deal with the reality of it, which makes me sound stupid, I admit.

Reading the absolutely ignorant and incomprehensible words of certain nitwits on diaryland only pissed me off, but at the same time, made me sit down and really take a look at what was going on.

HOLY.FUCKING.SHIT.

There are so many places to lay blame in all of this. It seems that everyone knew what was coming, but no one wanted to do anything. Or perhaps they didn't know what to do.

I can't understand the people who sit in their comfortable homes, spouting off about how stupid the people of that region are, for not leaving. Because they knew well in advance what was coming and did nothing. I have no earthly idea what I would do if I were in that situation. I have no idea how I would react, so how could I presume to judge these people who didn't do exactly what everyone else thinks they should have done?

As one very smart diarist said, unless you were there, you can not know. Truer words were never spoken, I think.

But at least good old GW cut his vacation short and showed up FOUR DAYS after that area was completely devastated. And dead bodies were laying in the streets, people were looting, people were being killed, women and children were being raped, stranded people were starving, and families were ripped apart, having no idea where their loved ones were, or if they were even alive. It really troubles me (makes me ill, actually) that Americans were treated this way IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY.

I don't like when people play the race card. I think 99 times out of 100 it's a cop out, but I honestly do believe that in this situation, if Palm Beach, or Malibu was underwater, and Tom Cruise or Donald Trump was sitting on his house hanging on for dear life begging to be saved, it wouldn't be an issue. And he sure as hell wouldn't have to wait five days for help.

It's all very overwhelming. And I don't understand any of it.

Being in California, I felt today like I did with 9/11 and the tsunami - I have this overwhelming desire to go help, but I can't do anything from where I am. I can donate money, and burn some cd's for a friend's brother who was smart enough to get out early, but that's about it.

I feel a little bit helpless. And sad that I'll never get to see that city as it was, rich with culture, history, and spirit.