In others' words

I want the country I grew up thinking we were, back.

Randall Robinson

Douglas Rushkoff

Michael Moore

Adam Felber

Dave Greten

*Update. One more from Neil Gaiman's Journal, this article from a 2001 issue of Scientific American

Comments

[Smartypants]

We're doing what we can in Texas but, like so many others, I'm horrified that so much of a N.O. hurricane plan was left to chance.

It's shameful. You should see what these people looked like when they got to my city.

[claire]

Thanks for those links, Shane.

I want the country I thought we were back too. Maybe that American Dream was never real, but I think it's always important to strive for and things just feel so incredibly slack in that regard now.

[Merujo]

If you find that America again, will you drop a line?

I'd like to know where she is. I miss her.

[BBOCK]

Well, we may get a little bit of our country back. Or at least, just maybe the erosion will be slowed. Watch the poll numbers turn. And watch the media come back to life and accept back their role as proxies of the public's right to know.

It seems even the media, which has been in a compliant coma since 9/11 has reached their tipping point and are demanding more than the usual spin. Robert Siegel on NPR, whose voice is as modulated and unemotional as a phone tree recording argued when the Sec. of Homeland Security tried to dismiss the Convention Center disaster as being just a rumor. We saw it when intrepid boy reporter Anderson Cooper nearly tore Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) when she sing-songed her appreciation for all the help and how great the president was in offering help.

Since then, she's changed her tune. Turns out that she witnessed an attempt to fix a levy and it was only a photo-op staged for the President.

Then there were editorials in the Dallas Morning News and the Moonie run Washington Times, both Bush boosters, who ripped into him for the horrible response.

And for me, the oddest thing was seeing Fox News ripping into FEMA, Homeland Security and Bush over their neglect.

[michelle]

It's time America began holding our government accountable for it's actions, or lack thereof. I'm not sure we ever had the America we thought we had, but now that we've had our wakeup call, and seen what we've elected to office, I pray that we don't fall into our coma again.

[js]

"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country" - JFK

[Tina]

Here's something you can do for your country, Nickerbloggers.

Katrina Wiki People Finder

If you have a computer and the time, you can help transfer raw data from places like Craig's List into one giant consolidated database about the missing.

There are plenty of tips on the site to guide you through, you can do as much or as little as you want, and I can tell you it feels great to do something in addition to giving money.

[Melissa]

I think that the America you're thinking of is still around. How about all the money raised already from the little people all over the place?

While I agree that help sooner is always better that later, I am tired of all the bitching. I know there are people helping out in NOLA and I want to hear about them. I want to see more shots of the coast guard or hear about those folks in the French Quarter taking care of each other. I guess I am just tired of those people who seem to just like to bitch at, about, etc the President.

ry, I'd just had enough of listening to everyone complain on every news channel.

Melissa

[Tina]

Melissa,

When as many people will have died unnecessarily as will be the case here, the word is not bitching nor is the word complaining.

The word is raging and it is entirely appropriate.

[Kelly]

Melissa,
Is your bed dry tonight?