On our way to and from Jazzfest, many of us have the opportunity to walk through formerly-flood-ravaged portions of MidCity. Do you notice in the spraypainted Xs that many houses were not visited by boat until September 11th, 2005, almost two weeks after much of New Orleans was submerged? How would you rate the disaster response of your government? Following that, what feelings would you harbor about the legitimacy of your government?
I’ve been wondering what effects the Myanmar Cyclone disaster will have on its government as it headed into voting on a draft constitution that shifts a lot of power to the military. Will accepting aid from foreign countries, especially democracies, force the government to rethink its stance? At considerable risk of not getting this aid to suffering people on time, it’s not unthinkable for foreign governments to hold such aid hostage until such time the current military government steps aside with a quickness.
But, the United States should send that message through someone other than Laura Bush, especially after her own husband’s and his administration’s “inept” response to a similar disaster within the Bushes’ own country. It’s hard to take seriously one’s assessment of the “false legitimacy” of another government, however illegitimate it truly is, when one is married to a doofus who’s out playing guitar and helping John McCain blow out his birthday candles as his people suffered and died.
UPDATE: Athenae points us to Network For Good’s list of how to donate to the cyclone victims. Please give what you can like those who gave to us.
