Katrina vs. New York - Some Perspective
Posted by: Denelle
Last week I wrote an entry commenting on New Orleans Mayor Nagin and his comments comparing the rebuilding of his city one year after hurricane Katrina and NYC's handling of the World Trade Center site.
I would first of all like to thank Stephanie (one of our readers who is from the New Orleans area) for taking the time to share her feelings on the same issue with me. While we may not always agree on issues or see eye to eye it is nice to be able to examine an issue from multiple viewpoints. It's that dialogue that helps to bring things into perspective.
Secondly, I would like to say that I in no way intended for that blog to make light of the ravages that Katrina wrought upon the Gulf Coast region. I have many friends and family members that live in the area and I know how much they have suffered.
It is not fair or right to draw comparisons between 9/11 and Katrina anymore than it is to do so between Katrina and the 2004 Tsunami (despite what Spike Lee may think). Different circumstances, different levels of devastation, different levels of warning and/or preparedness.
And someone in a position like Mr. Nagin's should know this.
I stand by my belief that Mayor Nagin overstepped his bounds when he started making jabs at New York. That kind of behavior is petty and mean-spirited and he should know better. Not to mention, his office demands a certain level of dignity that should inspire him to be above such behavior. Instead it comes across as trying to dodge a question and divert attention elsewhere so that he does not have to take responsibility for his own actions (or lack thereof).
I know we have a large number of readers who were affected by Katrina. As always, I would love to hear from more of you on this subject.
Last week I wrote an entry commenting on New Orleans Mayor Nagin and his comments comparing the rebuilding of his city one year after hurricane Katrina and NYC's handling of the World Trade Center site.
I would first of all like to thank Stephanie (one of our readers who is from the New Orleans area) for taking the time to share her feelings on the same issue with me. While we may not always agree on issues or see eye to eye it is nice to be able to examine an issue from multiple viewpoints. It's that dialogue that helps to bring things into perspective.
Secondly, I would like to say that I in no way intended for that blog to make light of the ravages that Katrina wrought upon the Gulf Coast region. I have many friends and family members that live in the area and I know how much they have suffered.
It is not fair or right to draw comparisons between 9/11 and Katrina anymore than it is to do so between Katrina and the 2004 Tsunami (despite what Spike Lee may think). Different circumstances, different levels of devastation, different levels of warning and/or preparedness.
And someone in a position like Mr. Nagin's should know this.
I stand by my belief that Mayor Nagin overstepped his bounds when he started making jabs at New York. That kind of behavior is petty and mean-spirited and he should know better. Not to mention, his office demands a certain level of dignity that should inspire him to be above such behavior. Instead it comes across as trying to dodge a question and divert attention elsewhere so that he does not have to take responsibility for his own actions (or lack thereof).
I know we have a large number of readers who were affected by Katrina. As always, I would love to hear from more of you on this subject.
