katrina is now officially possible to ignore. Jesus, I feel like shit admitting that I tried to ignore her, ignore every picture, every video, and every story. Now, like a huge slap to the face that I deserved, i'm exposed. Its so tough when you have two friends born and raised in NOLA who are dealing with this reality. It is hard when you know what the smell of still water and feces is like. It is hard when you have seen the same flooding in your own neighborhood (not to this horrible of an extent, but look up great flood of 94), and feeling bad for not knowing how to help now. I was a 13 year old child then and now I feel like a 24 year old child, still waiting for someone to tell me what to do.
The media seems to be making a few mistakes. Coming from the midwest, I was close enough to people of southern culture to ignore the stereotypes. I swear some people from other parts of this country are just told that the south is a worthless void, with its ignorant stupid people. I'm not going to go and justify my opinions because I don't have to, but, I know you faithful readers know better.

The mainstream media and their reports are so biased. Believe me, its not all true, its just as bad as other parts of this country. Biased opinions coming on all fronts of socioeconomic, educational, and racial subjects are shown the the world daily.

Take this for example
Black people loot, white people find.
click on the pictures and look for the captions, by the AP no less.

i'm no journalist, but I have friends who are and totally respect their jobs. But its unfortunate that not all journalists are being responsible. Is it a copy error? A sheer mistake? Lets hope so, but we already know the impact that skewered information can have.

I know i've already linked to this above, but my friend Murph, living in LA but born and raised in NOLA has been keeping an extensive blog on all things katrina. It is usually a website filled with amazing music, cinema and social commentary, these things are still there. But for now its devoted to the hometown he loves. I'd suggest you read this and click on his links for a more accurate media portrayal of the disaster in NOLA.

in the meantime, i'm gonna thank my power animal, or maybe the flying spahgetti monster, maybe even god that I'm healthy and safe. Its still sad that it takes disasters to bring people together, but if thats what it takes, well thats it.  ¶ 9/01/2005 06:37:00 AM