I spoke with a person this morning from India. Speaking of New Orleans he said: “This tragedy reveals America to be no different than any other country in the world. It shows you have no deep respect for human life.”
To me, New Orleans reveals that racism is just below the thin veneer of American civilization. Second, it shows the growing importance of class. There were no provisions made to evacuate the poor. Third, it reveals the strong undercurrent of indifference that lies at the heart of American individualism.
Fourth, it reveals the craziness of the crack-headed Republican notion that government must be privatized wherever possible. This policy is not only a false ideology, it is one that is damn dangerous. In the area of public diplomacy, the crazy notion that private sector is sufficient to get America’s message out has been allowed to move decisions for too long. Even broadcasting. This needs to be challenge directly, across the broad breadth of government. Experience is necessary in government. A frontal assault against this notion is critical.
I’ve never understood why that wasn’t nipped in the bud from the very beginning. I remember the photo department at USIA, once a marvel to behold. it was destroyed and the work farmed out. Cornell used to tell me that ever since privatization took place, they were unable to get quality pictures for their publications. Well, that is just tiny little story. This movement to privatize is government wide. It is a movement like a cancer. It is mere ideology.
Today, I am ashamed to be an American. I can’t even begin to express my anger at everything official. I can’t even begin to express my anger at the dominance of class, of racism, of indifference in this country. If people don’t rise up against what is going on now, there will be no hope for the future. Two places to begin are: the re-creation of an independent USIA and the dismantling of the Department of Homeland Security. Both are necessary.
One final point. There are strong reasons to consider this whole tragedy within the context of “crimes and misdemeanors”, or at the very least, criminal negligence. This failure trumps 9/11 a thousand fold.
Ultimately, New Orleans can be traced to decisions made by public officials. Don’t be mislead by statements about the category five hurricane. Yes that happened. But the second phase of this tragedy is where the real tragedy began. This second tragedy — the human tragedy
— must be seen for what it is.
We should not allow the lies to recreate reality. There will be a strong attempt to do so. It is already happening. But that should not be allowed. There will be a strong effort to generate a reality-distortion field.
Decisions so wrongheaded must be brought to account. The future of this nations requires it. This is not a matter of vengeance. It is a matter of prudence.
Ironically, you’ll notice that the only one’s who will come out against public accountability for this disaster are public officials themselves. They will circle the wagons — Republicans and Democrats alike.