Bush is a shamelful person and a shameful leader. It is so tragic that anyone was hurt, it is even more tragic that neglecting and destroying the environment, which Bush cares nothing about except how he can exploit it, hurt primarily the poor, whom Bush also cares nothing about. Why does it feel like he has won when so many people are suffering?

Luckily, the people of the US are coming together without any presidential leadership. FEMA seems to be doing its best with working around the new physical obstacles and many states are trying to really come through. I do fear that a focus those breaking laws and looting will discourage some people from donating. I think the media has been trying to show that anyone looting anymore, however, is looting items for survival.

i always feel so helpless at times like this. miles away from being able to DO anything other than donate money.

Since you have many law student readers, I thought this might be helpful info to pass along --

via Boingboing:
Law Schools accepting (some tuition free) displaced Tulane students, etc.

http://www.aals.org/neworleans/schoolsbystate.html

Hi, I've been reading your for a while and I love it. I'm a TFA alum ('93 Houston) and I am still teaching in urban Phoenix. These past days I've been thinking about the NO corp members and what they must be going through, whether they stayed or even if they just have to see the endless pictures of those kids and wonder what is happening to their own students. I know how much I care and love my students, and just the idea is overwhelming.

I read that a lot of the shelters are looking for displaced teachers to set up class. Even if it is for a week, I think your education skills would help to bring some sort of normalcy and stability to those children. Also, my brother is a co-director of a TFAish charter school in Houston, called YES college prep. (Its very organized and established and was started by TFA alumni). I know they are organizing a bunch of stuff to help out the victims. As luck would have it my brother will be here in Phoenix today and I can ask him if he knows of anything, or I can get you the names of some former TFA people who work at the school. I think its great of you to help. Let me know if I can assist you.

Hi, Jess, I've also been reading your site for a while now. There's a lot going wrong here in this situation. What shocks me most is the unbelievable lack of empathy that plagues Americans and our politicians. We are completely desensitized to violence and tragedy in this country. Shame on the local officials for not packing up city buses with the poor and disabled (during a "mandatory" evacuation) and getting them out of there. Shame on the federal government for not funding the reinforcement of the levees New Orleans desperately needed, but instead used that money to fund (poorly I might add) an unjust war. And the head of FEMA says that the victims have to accept responsibility for for their fates because they "chose" to stay behind? Can we say: resignation?

I think the eyes of many have been opened to how bad our leadership is, and how many mistakes have been made

I am keeping a list off my blog (http://www.danisown.com/blog/katrina.htm) of places to donate to, as well as the volunteer list I posted in your request for the Houston area.

PS _ forgot to give these links - some HONEST updates on what is going on down there:
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html
and
http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/
The last one is from an ISP that has managed to stay online thru the whole storm and its aftermath. They have links to pics, a webcam and online streams of local police scanners.

Hey Jessica,
I totally agree.
I'm relieved to see that some relief is now coming in, however it is simply unacceptable that it took four days. There is no doubt that if the federal government wanted to get these people out they would have. The truth is that Bush was not motivated to do so; perhaps if the disaster had been terrorism-related he'd have been quick to react. Even so, all he's really good for is threatening the enemy, and sending people in to kill. I was totally disgusted by the smug look on his face when he visited some of the storm victims--there was not a hint of understanding or sympathy on his face, as if it really did not get through or even bother him.

Thanks Jessica.
Tere