In some communities struck by Hurricane Katrina, only one in
five families has a new home after its old one was destroyed in
August 2005. That’s pitiful progress for a year and a
half.
President Bush missed the memo and failed to mention recovery
regarding the hurricane-ravaged southern states during last
week’s State of the Union Address.
Does anybody else find it worrisome that even the man who signed
over billions of dollars of aid isn’t following up on the
progress enough to add a blurb about it in seven pages of
rhetoric?
In fact, in some areas where Katrina hit, non-governmental
organizations have accounted for 80 percent of the rebuilding
progress in financing and labor, according to The Washington
Post.
Apparently the federal government can’t handle the 20
percent of Katrina rebuilding defaulted to it. The $3.2 billion of
federal money delegated to Mississippi has been wrapped up in red
tape at the state level, leaving non-governmental organizations to
restore some sense of order.
Instead of aiding the American people in recovery, Bush decided
to send 21,500 troops to Iraq. Instead of giving his people homes,
he has sent their sons and daughters to war.
OK, so the government did pledge some funds. Twenty-billion
dollars short of the approximately $81 billion needed. And, yes, it
did disburse it. But the money hasn’t reached nearly as many
families as it should.
Why isn’t the federal government acting? It’s
ridiculous that the Bush administration seems to have forgotten
about these lost federal funds. It should be pressuring the state
and local governments to speed up the recovery in the seven states
where Katrina hit.
Even UCLA has been part of the recovery. Last spring break, UCLA
Campus Crusade for Christ took a team of almost 80 students,
Christians and non-Christians, to New Orleans to assist in cleaning
up the city seven months after the disaster, and plans to take a
team this year too.
Camden Crane, a third-year psychology student and Campus Crusade
member, went to New Orleans. “The hurricane hit people in our
backyard,” Crane said. “And this was a unique
opportunity to instill love and hope in the people around me.
Volunteers are the lifeline for many of the people in New Orleans.
One woman told me that the students gutting her house were bringing
her motivation, hope and faith.”
Another student believes the people need more than just a
home.
“I think the people of New Orleans are looking for hope
and love,” said Chris Wessel, a fourth-year civil engineering
student who also went on the Campus Crusade relief project.
“For us, it’s a minimal amount of work and we
don’t lose anything to help those who lost
everything.”
Instead of counting down the days till Bush says bye-bye to the
White House (about 717 days in case you are wondering), the focus
should be on the charity groups and people taking the initiative to
repair the havoc wreaked on the U.S.
We should applaud the efforts of Habitat for Humanity, Campus
Crusade for Christ and the thousands of volunteers who are doing
something instead of watching Bush twiddle his thumbs.
In fact, the American people can offer the hurricane victims
something the government seems to lack ““ compassion.
“The first house we gutted, we salvaged some mementos of
the woman who lived there. When she came and saw the box, she broke
down. She was sorrowful yet grateful that we had thought to save
these things for her,” Wessel said. “It was awesome to
help her.”
The government in no way should forget it is accountable for
Katrina progress. However, the fact that the American people are
taking a personal responsibility for the rebuilding shows a unity
that no war or war protest could show.
Thinking about an alternative spring break? E-mail Bissell
at abissell@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to
viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.
Thinking about an alternative spring break? E-mail Bissell at abissell@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.