The Bitter: My heart drowns along with the city of New Orleans. I am terrified for the people stranded in the chaos right now. I have been following every news source online and every news channel on satellite TV as closely as possible, addicted to the point of being sick with images of the conditions of the living. Heartbreaking--it amazes me for how long this scenario has been predicted and how very little, SO Little!, had been done to prepare people and the city for this. And who is left? Those with absolutely no means to leave, no resources left to stay, and nothing left to rebuild. Have you seen the Interactive Graphics Sidebar on the New York Times website? (See link on my sidebar). It does not surprise me that of the various Types of Maps that you can chose one is "Non-White Population" and another is "Median Household Income." Look! Compare with the maps of the city underwater! Those are the thousand wandering about the streets, waiting for busses, water, food, supplies. Those are the anxiety-ridden looters and shooters. Maybe you don't have to look at these maps, maybe the pictures in the media represent the anguish and despair of being left behind.
I encourage you to do whatever it is you can to help out--talk about it at work, get people involved, donate money. I don't know--what can be done? Is the whole nation awake to the issue? I'm assuming they are. In Egypt, the people I talk to, my local Egyptian friends, know about the storm and floods somewhere in the States, and it was reported about in local papers and there is surely info about it online. And most Americans I know are concerned, as I make them talk about it all the time, show them the maps and explain the geography of the city and the levee system. If you have news or good information or ways of getting updates, please pass that on to me.
The Sweet: On a totally separate note, I have accepted a full-time position at the Rare Books Library and will be working and living in Cairo at least until mid-January. Very exciting news this is, but became official during Katrina and I'm finding it a bit hard to concentrate on the job and life here. Nonetheless, I encourage all and everyone to hop on over to Cairo if you get the chance. I'm currently searching for an apartment, so everyone is welcome. More on this later.
Take care and keep in touch.
Jennifer
I encourage you to do whatever it is you can to help out--talk about it at work, get people involved, donate money. I don't know--what can be done? Is the whole nation awake to the issue? I'm assuming they are. In Egypt, the people I talk to, my local Egyptian friends, know about the storm and floods somewhere in the States, and it was reported about in local papers and there is surely info about it online. And most Americans I know are concerned, as I make them talk about it all the time, show them the maps and explain the geography of the city and the levee system. If you have news or good information or ways of getting updates, please pass that on to me.
The Sweet: On a totally separate note, I have accepted a full-time position at the Rare Books Library and will be working and living in Cairo at least until mid-January. Very exciting news this is, but became official during Katrina and I'm finding it a bit hard to concentrate on the job and life here. Nonetheless, I encourage all and everyone to hop on over to Cairo if you get the chance. I'm currently searching for an apartment, so everyone is welcome. More on this later.
Take care and keep in touch.
Jennifer
2 comments:
Great Blog… I will be back again..
Cheers!
Gas Prices In 1976
Hello Anonymous! In case you come back and read this note, my question to you is, out of curiousity, how did you find this blog? Thanks for reading. --jen
Post a Comment