I just watched Spike Lee’s special “When the Levees Broke.” Do I live in America – the most powerful country in the world – or a freaking third-world armpit of a place?!?! I am so embarrassed by the way our government has handled this tragic event that happened almost a YEAR AGO! People have been dying from health-related issues in greater numbers because they don’t have any healthcare, now that the hospitals are gone and so are all their records. They are still finding bodies and insurance agencies are refusing to pay out on policies that have been active for years and years. One 80-year-old man has been paying All-State for 50 years and he got a check for just over $600. He lost EVERYTHING. I had no idea it was so bad. I have been so focused on the Middle East bullshit that I took my eyes and heart off New Orleans.

Basically, FEMA is a 4-letter F word and the president has been rowing up the river “de Nile” for the past 12 months. What the hell! I just read an AP report today that says, and I quote verbatim:

“Wednesday, August 23, 2006 (Washington):

The Marine Corps will soon begin ordering thousands of its troops back to active duty to fill a shortage of volunteers for Iraq and Afghanistan. Up to 2,500 Marines will be brought back at a time, and there is no cap on the total number who may be forced back into service as the military helps fight the war on terror. The number of troops in Iraq has climbed back to 138,000, the prevailing number for much of last year. Escalating violence in Baghdad has led military leaders to increase the US presence there. The Army, meanwhile, has issued orders recalling about 10,000 soldiers so far, but many of those may be granted exemptions. (AP)”

DO WE NEED TO BREAK OUT IN A CIVIL WAR IN NEW ORLEANS TO GET THE PRESIDENT’S ATTENTION? SUICIDE BOMBERS? EXPLOSIVES? WHAT WILL IT TAKE??

WAIT! Those troops could be in New Orleans helping our civilians, our people, our family members, our friends, our Americans. I am not ever going to tell you how I feel about the war in Iraq, or the money we have wasted there (when we could be fixing Louisiana and educating our children) I am so disgusted by the whole mess. I am embarrassed to be an American right now. So, I challenge all of us to do something. Register to vote, read the news, find out how your congressmen and Senators stand on important issues and make sure you know where you stand in all this. Remember Divas, knowledge is power!

If you know of reputable service providers that are assisting Katrina victims, please post here.