I’m probably stepping beyond my reach, but the fallout from Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast has made an incredible impression on me.
When federal and local government officials warned citizens of the area of the impending crisis, and advised them to flee, were they not aware of the thousands upon thousands of people, mostly poor, who had no means to do so?
Of course they were.
So why didn’t those government officials step forward to help those underprivileged citizens get out of harm’s way?
It’s impossible not to notice that most of the people left beyond were black. Sure, some had opportunity to leave before the storm but were irresponsible. But the majority of these people had no way to leave. They were left behind to fend for themselves and the people responsible for that should feel great shame.
Think of all the lives that could have been saved had those people we entrust with our public safety been doing their jobs? The storm still would have been catastrophic to property, but not nearly as many people would have died.
Once the government proposed evacuation for citizens along the Gulf Coast, it should have made sure that anyone who wanted to avoid danger had a way to do so.
We have witnessed a great tragedy in human history. And the hurricane was terrible, too.