The Effects of Hurriacne Katrina on P.A.
Katrina has brought and is steady bringing changes to my small
city--Port Arthur. Many families who lost everything to the
violent hurricane have been relocated to this small place.
They've been spread out among the various apartment complexes
throughout P.A.(Port Arthur)with guaranteed rental/utility
payments for up to 6 months...in cases with larger families
those payments are extended to up to a year.
This actually turns a terrible and horrific event into a
blessing in disguise for many who would have never had a chance
for a new start if New Orleans would NOT have gotten hit. Those
families most affected were definitely the poorest of the
poor...who just happen to be Black
My heart pours compassion out to all those who have lost loved
ones and my advice is to make the best of the new beginings now
being given. One good way to honor those who lost their lives is
to NOT give up!
If we carefully study history we will see that things on this
earth cannot be rebuilt until the old has been
destroyed...unfortunately lives are always lost during the
process. But despair NOT...for many lives --just like other
things on the earth-- shall/will be rebuilt! This has always
been the WAY of our Universe.
One thing that frustrates me is the negative tension amongst
already P.A. residents and N.O.(New Orleans)residents. Some
locals feel greatly neglected as far as recieving assistance
because all attention along with resources seem to be going ONLY
to N.O. refugees. Many are also worried about the crime&violence
increasing.
To P.A. locals--of which I am one: understand the ramifications
of this disaster...how would you feel if you were in the shoes
of someone who lost everything? You would want HELP from
wherever you could get it. We must stop thinking patterns that
are imbedded with negativity and replace them with those that
contain compassion.
It's no secret that this current world structure has always been
SLOW when it comes to helping the poor. This is supposed to be
the wealthiest nation on the planet who immediately gave
BILLIONS to Tsunami victims far across the oceans,yet was VERY
slow to give to Katrina victims right here! This has led many to
believe class and race were the factors for this and it
definitely looked that way.
This led to a revelation or epiphany if you will: since for many
years the poor and truly downtrodden --especially Black people--
were denied the justice of recieving any type of reparations
such as that which was given to other races of people this world
has did evil to...the forces of nature(GOD) has literally forced
them to give!
I see this as SUPREME JUSTICE!
To the N.O. residents now here: any time a new entity is
inserted into an existing structure there is always
tension...call it "fear of the unknown" if you will. The best
thing we can do is respect one another's cultural
differences;thereby,evolving our entire culture here in Port
Arthur as a whole...embrace the new. To goto war with it will
destoy the whole of us altogether because the new is already
here.
As for the potential rise in crime&violence...there's always the
possibility of that simply because of the high rate if
dissatisfaction with life itself. As long as disatisfaction
exists there will be those who will do ANYTHING to be satsfied.
The bottom line is that we must learn to repect one another.
Although I know the destruction isn't completely over yet...we
don't have to allow ourselves to be agents in/of the destruction.
Let us do all we can to help our people overcome this tragedy
and rebuild lives.