Lynn C. Price
JUST ONE MAN
They criticized the President back in 2005;
Said he didn’t act ‘fast enough’ and many lost their lives.
What some fail to realize is it’s not all left to one,
The blame shall lie at many ‘doors’ for jobs they left undone.
Yes, Bush was on vacation when he first received the news;
He cut it short and met with aides and those ‘within the loop’.
It took a while for his heart to break and begin to form ‘the plan’,
Somewhere in time, will folks be kind and know he’s just one man?
Let’s look for just a moment at the mayor of New Orleans,
Why charter buses for foreign tourists when locals begged and screamed?
Babies died and old folks, too yet, Nagin lay the blame,
Not accepting his own failures, crying ‘foul’ in others’ names.
And what about the governor? She failed in many ways,
Not stepping up to the plate that fateful August day.
Some can never heed the cry to ‘get out while you can’,
No, they chose to blame their loss on the President of our land.
Some three years later, another storm ‘set sights’ on New Orleans,
From ALL mistakes learned in the past, we vowed to help folks leave.
Our fellow citizens boarded buses, cars and many planes,
Along with pets, they said ‘farewell’ and prayed to come home again.
I give thanks that lives were spared and no matter what the cost,
Somewhere in time, we’ll all give thanks for lives that were not lost.
Now they say, ‘Should we have left and who will get us home?’
Not thinking it’s our government who didn’t leave them alone.
Mistakes were made, this is true and more are sure to come,
If we learn from the past, the blame can’t be laid on one.
Folks who live near the coasts know the risks we face each year,
If they’ll prepare as most will do, their plans won’t lead to fear.
I lived through a hurricane way back in ‘89,
Hugo tore a path through towns and left us ‘lost in time’.
No blame was placed on those in ‘charge’, we all worked to mend,
Taking care of our neighbors and checking in on friends.
As ‘Hanna’ sets her course for land, we all are making plans,
‘Hunkering down’ for what’s in store, evacuating ‘on demand’.
We’ll buy our food and be prepared; extending helping hands,
Positive works are better felt when we don’t blame ‘just one man’.
©Copyright September 3, 2008 by Lynn C. Price
Author’s note: By no means is this poem meant to raise hackles. I tend to get upset when I read folks blaming our President (and it wouldn’t matter who he/she is/was) for OUR mistakes. Sorry, but this is just me. I guess by now it should’ve sunk in that, no matter what bad happens in our Country, it’s always the President’s fault. Let something good happen and he/she doesn’t get the credit.
Mistakes were definitely made some 3 years ago as Katrina approached the U.S. Folks didn’t heed the warnings to evacuate New Orleans when they had plenty of time. Didn’t have the money to leave? Where are the extended families that should’ve been there, looking out for their loved ones? Didn’t want to leave the pets? I’m an animal lover for sure, but, when it comes to my family, given the choice between my children/grandchildren and our dog, there’s NO question which way I’d go.
Not to rehash but, MANY in charge made mistakes and innocent lives were lost. Just recently I saw the National Geographic channel show of a nursing home in La… the owners and their families left almost 100 patients in their beds TO DIE, fleeing Katrina. Were they held accountable? NO. Almost 100 of our Elders DIED IN THEIR BEDS. Let’s see, President Bush is to blame for their stupidity? I think not.
Yes, New Orleans is a lush town for the millions of tourists that pour through each year. In 2000, Crystal and I were blessed to attend the annual Jazz festival. We saw MANY poor families (not that we’re rich by any means) and wondered, how can a city this rich not take care of its poor? It broke our hearts to see many of the sites we visited destroyed by Katrina and STILL breaks our hearts to read about families STILL living in the FEMA provided mobile homes some three years later. I guess the good thing is at least they DO have a home.
When I learned that Mayor Nagin had rerouted some chartered buses (destined for those suffering at the superdome) and sent them to one of the luxury hotels downtown to evacuate rich tourists… I was sick. This was one of the last news reports that Shepard Smith (Fox News) made from I10… not a rumor.
Right now, our coastline is in danger of not one, but three major hurricanes. Not one of us is asking for help from our government… no, we are reaching out to help our elderly, shut-ins and will work hard to keep our own families safe. Unlike many in New Orleans, even if we didn’t have a car, we’d find a way to get out of town LONG before the hurricane even arrived. I don’t (and never will) understand why so many chose to stay… and all the looting going on afterwards. Where on earth did they think the wide screen TVs were going?
Off my soapbox before I piss someone off.