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Arizona Daily Wildcat
September 6, 2005
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Feds responsible for success of Katrina effort

Hurricane Katrina could have been a disaster, but it wasn't. Because we live in the United States, things are different. With our penetrating media and watchful civil authority structure we were able to ensure that every citizen was well advised ahead of the storm, allowing for everyone to evacuate or at least prepare well by stocking up on survival items.

Furthermore our citizens were educated and realized the health hazard presented by raging floodwaters, avoiding them at all costs. The military and para-military federal organizations - which in the United States are viewed to be as humanitarian as they are combat-ready and were mobilized (by our thoughtful leaders) well in advance of the storm's landfall - were able to lend a huge hand by keeping the numerous levees that protect our towns and cities in top condition, efficiently rescuing the few stranded individuals within hours following the storm, organizing food and water distribution (while the understanding citizens cooperated with infinite patience), and were instrumental in keeping the peace in hard-hit areas where potential trouble-makers were expected to run rampant seeing as local law enforcement was devastated.

This last function was soon proved unnecessary, as citizens of our country would never take advantage of one another, and in the wake of the storm, crime almost disappeared altogether in urban zones.

Jake Campbell
computer science senior

Cuban embargo is source of misery for country's people

It doesn't take a genius to realize the Cuban embargo is "asinine" ("Free Cuba - and my cigars"). However, the main reasons columnist Mike Morefield listed to "liberate" the island certainly trivialized the situation. While he dreams of creating another spring break mecca flush with cocktails and cigars, the people of Cuba endure enormous hardship. Most Americans are content to just blame Castro, but the embargo is the chief source of misery.

I also found it hilarious that Morefield cited China as an example of how open trade will cause "slow but growing adoption of democratic ideals." China has simply gone from a communist dictatorship to a mixed model dictatorship. The only thing we have done is exacerbate the gap between rich and poor in both countries, as we have simultaneously decimated our manufacturing base. The notion that political freedom will follow sounds like something that doofus Tom Friedman pulled out of his behind.

Of course, Morefield's half-baked analysis does not surprise me. After all, he is ill-informed enough to state that President Hugo Chavez "rules his country with an iron fist." Obviously, you have never seen Venezuelan television. If you had, you'd think Fox News' incendiary commentary is tame. The oligarchs are free to criticize the government all they want, thanks to the new constitution developed by Chavez and the people, which removed the old fourth republic's media restrictions. This contrasts markedly with the United States, where reporters are being prosecuted and imprisoned for not divulging information.

Michael Galhouse
UA alumnus

Time to play politics with Katrina, get on President Bush

It was reported to President Bush late in 2001 that New Orleans was a ticking time bomb. A large bowl sitting below sea level, countless experts in the field had stated time and time again that things needed to be done to avert what was ultimately an inevitable disaster.

The disaster in New Orleans is one that is hurting this entire country, if not in morale then at the very least in our pocketbooks. President Bush quickly went on the defensive, stating, "I hope people don't play politics at this time of a natural disaster, the likes of which this country has never seen."

This statement came on the same day he said, "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees."

No one anticipated it? Everyone anticipated it. That's a well-known fact. Bush took the advice of FEMA, and he didn't just ignore it. He proceeded to gut the very agency now doing its best to help those afflicted.

This administration cut funds to build up the specific levees in question so those funds could be diverted to Iraq. Rough estimates have placed the cost of cleaning up after Hurricane Andrew at around $50 billion. We're rapidly approaching $200 billion already spent in Iraq. Wouldn't that money be nice right now? Wouldn't the personnel be nice?

And let's not forget the ultimate hypocrisy in Bush's words. He's parading around trying to look like the savior of the country when in reality his decisions can be partly blamed for the difficulty we're having getting things under control. Never mind the fact that the Republicans running this country have been doing everything in their power to benefit from and outright politicize Sept. 11.

Do not allow this hypocrisy to go unnoticed. Now is exactly the time to bring politics into the foray. If the Republicans could blatantly exploit Sept. 11, there is no reason why anyone else should not point out how those decisions are now affecting real Americans. This is an issue of Homeland Security, and George, you've let us all down.

Joseph Jaramillo
computer science senior

Bush reaction to Katrina too slow

How long does it take for this president to react to horrendous events? Believe me when I tell you I am not a Democrat or Republican, but come on! Why did he hesitate when he was informed of the Sept. 11 attacks? Why did it take him five days to get to New Orleans?

These people are experiencing hardship that has not been seen in this country before, and yet the government of the greatest country in the world is slow to react. I'm sure the aid that has reached the area is greatly appreciated by everybody there, but the United States should be able to do a lot more for its own people and in a much quicker form.

Sergio Olmedo-Nieto
senior majoring in Spanish

Bush reaction delayed, inappropriate

My 26-year-old brother is flying in to Phoenix tomorrow to stay with my mother because his house in New Orleans is gone. He has no home, no job, four changes of clothes, two pairs of shoes and some toiletries. He is, however, one of the lucky ones. He is alive. My uncle is still missing.

I don't know why the leader of our nation waited so long to help. Bear with me, this is not political - this is personal. He says he loves America, but it seems to me like he hates Americans. I don't want to express my politics, but I want to urge you to help. If he will not, then we can. Even if you have no floor to offer someone and no way to send someone aid in a direct manner, please pray for them.

In an interview with the mayor of New Orleans they had to bleep out about every other word because he was so distressed and disgusted at our government's efforts. The police chief of New Orleans was reduced to tears because he cannot get the help he needs to restore order to his city where people are dying, being robbed, girls are being raped and property is being even further destroyed.

I wish for our troops to come home and help if they wish, and then go to their families instead of dying for a zealot's holy war. This is an outrage at how our leader is treating the American people. When the twin towers fell he was there among the rubble promising unity and vengeance before the dust cleared. When a hurricane rocked our nation he was nowhere to be seen, perhaps because swearing vengeance against Mother Nature would seem ludicrous or perhaps because he simply didn't care.

At least I am thankful that amid this lack of humanity I have found mine, and I cannot idly stand by.

Aaron Grafe
German studies junior

Borders, fences should be torn down

This is in response to June's editorial letter about the discussion of illegal immigrants being unnecessary ("Discussion of illegal immigrants unnecessary"). I totally agree but not for the reason (aiding and abetting is against the law, she stated). I think it is unnecessary because there shouldn't be a border. We should tear down all the fences and other deterrents keeping people out. "Illegal immigrants" are human beings and people who wish to forget that fact hide behind labeling them as otherwise.

As for the "destruction of America" there are plenty of "Americans" doing that without any help from people who come from other countries. Just read any daily newspapers or Internet news and the glaring effects of what damage Americans do to property, adults and children are heartbreaking. In America there are also people who are born and raised here who are violent, who offer and accept bribes and who have no respect for the laws of the United States.

It seems that America has a history of allowing "illegal immigrants" into this country only when they serve a purpose (i.e. slavery). And something else on which I agree with June is that business owners shouldn't hire the "illegal immigrants" unless they are willing to help them acquire legal status and afford them the same job entitlements that "legal American immigrants" receive. Some business owners tend to take advantage of the fact that some people don't feel legally free to expose the mistreatment that they are receiving from their bosses.

I am grateful that American Indians didn't keep out the first people who came from another country (and all the other "illegal immigrants" who followed), otherwise I most probably would not be here in this wonderful, caring, loving land.

Pam Rada
psychology and sociology senior

Katrina aftermath reveals American weakness

Just as the events of Sept. 11 revealed the deficit in the average American's understanding of the peoples of the Middle East, so has the increasing tragedy on the Gulf Coast shown our ignorance of ourselves, of our own identity.

There is no denying that the vast majority of those too poor to evacuate New Orleans and Biloxi before the hurricane struck were black, yet we in America seem to have been in denial of such a reality.

The race problem in this country is as real this week as it was in Montgomery, as it was at Appomattox and as it was in Jamestown almost 400 years ago. Any raw census information will show that blacks and other minorities are disproportionately poor, undereducated and involved in crime.

So, having disposed in this enlightened age our past and backward ideas about race and humanity, how are we as Americans to explain what was quite literally blown open in the gulf?

As I see it, the only way is to embrace our history - our awful, terrible history - and to allow it to shape our identity just as we have allowed the denial of this history to form us these last centuries. It's a part of us and to fix it we must know it.

Nobody is unseen, whether we in drier climates like it or not. And we must guard ourselves from thinking so because believing that someone does not exist changes the world for the worse.

Jordy VandeBunte
Near Eastern studies graduate student

Politics to blame for Katrina failure

The phrase "survival of the fittest" is wildly optimistic for the situation of the Gulf Coast this month. I don't think that Americans were the victims of the hurricane. It is a natural disaster after all; the entire nation this past week has been victimized. Opening the Internet browser this morning, the MSNBC home page showed a depressing reality. "Katrina cleanup - Residents return to parish; Grim New Orleans recovery continues." More powerful was a picture of a grave, which appears to be a large piece of fabric covering a body, holding to the ground with an outline of bricks from a garden, spray painted on the fabric are the words "Here Lies Vera (a picture of a cross) God Help Us."

Politics. Politics are everything in this country, if not more. We as a nation have created a Department of Homeland Security. The United States spends roughly $100 billion per year on homeland security. My understanding of this is that our country is ready to protect its people. Our government is ready to protect us from bombs, suicide bombers and any other form of a terrorist attack. But a hurricane?

Robert Valenzuela
pre-business freshman



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