Katrina

i know that Katrina wiped out a few towns 5-6 days ago (depending on where u stay ) and lots of problems have arised because of that. i refrained from talking much about it at that time, because the media is often known to blow up circumstances or report circumstances that they do not know much about.

they would only say “oh look, poor people are dying (flashes white people) and evil people are looting the poor (flashes black people)” and it’s not uncommon. a few documentaries ago, it has also been pointed out how the media often portray the black people in a bad light. if there’s a crime, the criminal that’s often telecast is a black. so, while i did read news about katrina, it was on bbc where they wrote it in a semi neutral way (aka how they received the news) and on some australian news.

like typical news though, australian newspapers concentrates on what matters to them most. the aussie suvivors and the missing people in new orleans that could be from aussie. they are not to be blamed tho, they have a right to care about their own, it is what most local newspapers anywhere in the world would have done. 70% local news, 30% world news.

anyways, reading enough about the media hyped up, i finally heard a cnn interview with the New Orleans mayor, Ray Nagins. you can find it here as a transcript (links to the actual interview too).

First off, my first feeling towards it was, “THAT IS ONE AWESOME MAYOR!!!” i don’t know why, maybe it was the colloquail use of his language, maybe it was his hard felt words and expressions (man, man, man, man) or maybe just the fact that he tells other governors, mayors whatnots to stop holding press conferences. he knew what was going on in his little place somewhat, and he knows what needs to be done, but can’t get it because of the red tape, because of the idiots who refuse to answer to his call.

while studying for my journalism dip before, we had to watch a certain movie, called wag the dog or something. it was based around what happens in a pr department when the president have to make a speech in the white house. more than half the time, the president does not know what he has to deliver, but he just have to follow the speech, the actions written in the speech so that everything comes out right.

like in a disaster situation, and he has to declare war or say something emotional, he goes up to the podium, with a speech already on the table, complete with actions on what to do. so in the right times, he teared. at the right times, he cleared his throat, as if emotionally caught, and called for a glass of water.

and the news media ate it all up.

and then we have mayor nagin who goes off on the interview, little cussings, little anger, emotional and crap. it feels real, and at times, you wonder if it is real. but this guy’s office is in the water anyways, so where is his pr agent?

so he’s still cool! because some of the street language, i don’t think any pr agent would have allowed. moreover, whatever he has said, might put his political career in danger.

then we look at george bush. arriving at some point in time 2 days after katrina, with the media dogging his steps, looking pretty in pictures, hugging kids and talking and more speeches. at this point in time, do we really need more speeches? do we need the media there or the reinforcements? how is it that the media can get to the “survivors” more easily than the help needed?

as kanye west puts it “GEORGE BUSH DOESN’T CARE ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE.” it’s all about the publicity…

my heart’s with you people of new orleans

i forgot to add though, that i agree with him on many points. no one asked USA to help out iraq, but they did. no one asked USA to help out the tsunami victims, but they did. the speed of help is tremendously fast, and yet when it comes to home grounds.. what happened? 4-5 days to start relief works? and we are not even talking about a third world country, we are talking about the wannabe police force of the world, the great ol’ USA.

and it took 4-5 days to have proper relief work started from the country itself. for people to take notice. 4-5 days in which looters have started rolling.

4-5 days that could have saved more people, less suicide, less rape, less woes. less everything but more survivors.

The country has failed their own.