Just like in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 tragedy four short years ago, the generosity of Madisonians and millions of others throughout the United States has been nothing short of incredible and overwhelming. Private donations alone have nearly topped $700 million.
Madisonians have opened up their homes, schools, wallets, and hearts to Katrina victims. The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents has responded by enrolling and pushing to waive tuition fees for displaced residents of New Orleans sent to the UW System. Madison Public Schools are also enrolling evacuees. Residential areas on Allied Drive have coordinated an effort to bring New Orleans families up to Madison to live in newly refurbished apartments.
One Madisonian named David Worzala made his driveway available for parking on Badger football Saturday, charging a fee of $25, and donating all of the proceeds to hurricane relief efforts. There have been countless charity benefits, blood drives, telethons, and so much more in our own community. The people of this country overwhelmingly understand that blame and accountability will and should come later, but that now is the time to unite as one and help.
Still, there are ideologues from both political extremes that are already engaged in an attempt to politicize what will be known as one of America's greatest tragedies before we even have a body count.
Kanye West blamed the president by blurting out, "George Bush doesn't care about black people" on NBC's "Concert for Hurricane Relief" last weekend. Kanye West was, not surprisingly, acting selfishly. He was too angry to care about those who are starving and dying in the streets because he needed to get his own anger off of his chest, even if his divisive rhetoric cost those affected by the hurricane millions of dollars in relief money and supplies.
Former wrestling coach turned Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert has already declared, "It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that's seven feet under sea level." Hastert is too pessimistic to understand that it is uniquely American to take risks and rebuild our cities after they undergo disasters. It has happened many times throughout this country's history, including in 1871 after the Chicago fire, in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake, or in 2001 after the Sept. 11 tragedy in New York City. New Orleans has survived other tragedies such as the Napoleonic Wars and the British invasion of 1812. But, for Dennis Hastert, he seems more concerned about what insurance companies will have to pay out if another hurricane hits the region in the future. How compassionate and un-American of you, Denny.
Other comments run the gamut from far-right wingers such as Dr. Brooks Mick of The Conservative Voice, blaming "liberal left-wing social policies" for the devastation. Far-left columnist Alexander Cockburn apparently blames the American people, stating "Katrina the aftermath is payback time for decades of stupidity, greed, pillage, and racism."
People who are politicizing this tragedy so early on must keep this in mind: Not ONE person whose life has been devastated by this Hurricane cares at all about the finger-pointing and bickering from both extreme political sides, left or right. People who are calling George Bush a racist or saying that New Orleans shouldn't be rebuilt because they are worried about their tax dollars are showing that they care more about politicizing this awful tragedy than helping out.
In addition, people who are using this opportunity to blame liberal social policies or take a figurative piss on the institutions of our country are adding nothing to its future, its greatness, or the rebuilding effort.
It is time for people to take the focus off of government. George Bush and Bill Clinton are not going to be the ones that will prevail in this tragedy. It is the people of this country who will be the real heroes of this relief effort. It is the people who always band together in chaotic situations such as this. The average Americans are the ones who are helping, whether it be by their generous donations to public and private charities, by their direct assistance in the relief effort, or by opening up their own homes, schools, and hearts to those in need.
Don't be one of those who finger-points in the immediate aftermath of this tragedy. If you are, just keep in mind that history will not judge you harshly; rather, it will not judge you at all. History will remember those in this wonderful country who banded together and put their sentiments into action. It will reflect on those who moved forward to help, rather than those who looked behind to blame. I am confident, however, that the American people will prevail, as they always do in times of crisis.
