To all of our International (NON US) Friends

[scottybooj]

To all of our non-us friends, I would like to say thanks for the various forms of support shown to us during Katrina's aftermath.

I don't know what your news is showing, I only get EuroNews here in NY, but let me fill you in with some tidbits that are not making the headlines.

The 'widespread' lawlessness was not widespread. You did have gangs roving in the beginning, but remember, prisons had to be emptied combined with a zero police presence the very beginning of the aftermath.

The incoming highways are jammed with americans coming in from all over to help with the rescue effort. Many roads are still blocked so the highways are packed as if it were rush hour, with many people waiting over night to enter the city.

We did fail miserably in getting essential items to victims, but remember. Local enforcement personnel were also victims. Couple this with no communication and blocked roads, and you have mayhem.

It seems that sensationalism still prevails in news reporting. They are starting to show humanitarian stories now on our news. I only hope the 'lawless' hype has slowed in yours.

[jonothan]

Interesting posting - I take your point.

Does anyone ever really fully know the whole picture? No, they don't. And that really applies whether you live in Grimsby or Long Island, New York.

I think that the whole picture was not even fully evident at Ground Zero in NO because the scale of the disaster was such that even those on the ground wouldn't have a full picture, not for some days.

Some very heartening stories are now coming out mixed with the sensationalised horror stories.

But believe me, all our thoughts here in the UK are with you all.

Jonothan

PS I see your sig, that made me laugh! I'm the biggest fan of National Lampoon's Animal House as well. One of my favourite all time films!

"You mention extortion again and I'll have your legs broken!"

[scottybooj]

jonathan, you're right. My cousin has friends from the area and they've been reporting to him, and him to me.


Niedemeyer, Dead.

[jonothan]

"Put Niedermeyer on it - he's a sneaky little poo - just like you."

I still think that the best scenes were the cafeteria scene with Belushi and the horse scene in the dean's office.

The other film is The Italian Job (the original, with Michael Caine) - a classic film that, like Animal House, can be watched time and time again.

J

[Gord]

To all of our non-us friends, I would like to say thanks for the various forms of support shown to us during Katrina's aftermath.

Amen to that Scott. Despite all the flak out there about how the U.S. flexes its strength as the most powerful nation on the planet, we should be thankful that the U.S. does. It is easy to focus on the best laid plans that go awry or are works in progress. But there is tons of solid, quiet work in the background that goes unrecognized and unacknowledged. And the world should be thankful for that. And it is right that the world should give back some of what you have shared with us.

I have been a fierce critic of our government in Canada who has taken advantage of the protective shield that being your neighbour provides. Who benefits so much from a trading relationship that is unparallelled between any other countries in the world. Who have fostered a smug sense of superiority about Canadian social values when in fact Canadians do not get nearly the level of service (especially in health care) that Americans have access to. Our Liberal government has for the past 10-15 years used the U.S. as a whipping boy to stir up paranoia at home and get itself re-elected. Shameful indeed.

But I like to think that in the aftermath of New Orleans, Canada has finally displayed its true colours. Frank Stronach - head of Magna International - has put up 220 refugees at his horse training facilities in (I believe) West Palm Beach (or was that Palm Springs). He has housed them in the dormatories until he can develop a 1000 acre plot of land in Louisiana into a temporary (4-5 year life span) housing facility - likely a mobile home park - so that the people can return to live closer to home. Knowing Frank's reputation, this will not be a downscale trailer park.

And even our government has responded. As I type, there are 3 Canadian Navy destroyers and a Canadian Coast Guard vessel loaded to the brim with building supplies, water purification plants, medical supplies, and engineers steaming from Halifax to the Mississippi delta. The Canadian Red Cross is conducting extensive fund raising and have deployed 60 people to the region. A special team of sea / underwater rescue and recovery personnel from Vancouver are already deployed.

It bothers me that when things are good, the history of relations between Canada and the US are turbulent to say the least. But it is comforting to see that when the chips are down, we put aside our grievances and come to your aid. Just as I know you would come to ours should some disaster befall Canada.

My hope from all this is that the people who lost so much to nature's fury recover and can resume a normal life. And I pray that out of this, Canada and the US can resume more cordial relations than we have had recently.