Just Kidding

Okay, I might have one more post in me.

Let's talk about the victims of Katrina. Please, please, please shake your head violently until you begin bleeding out your eyes if you've referred to these people as "those who chose to stay behind." These people didn't have the choice. Even if they did have a choice, so what?

There were Jews who, for one reason or another, didn't leave Nazi Germany when they could. Never mind that the anti-semitism of the Nazis was less surprising than the incompetence of the Bush Administration. You would never, ever refer to the victims of the Holocaust as "those who chose to stay behind", would you?

(Not meaning to devalue the holocaust, obviously. But dead is dead. Stop blaming the victims, for Christ's sake.)

Besides, the poor aren't exactly overflowing with options, y'know? Do you think you'd be able to get out if you didn't have enough money for gas? Could you walk/swim the kilometres-long journey to safety?

As for the people who are still refusing to leave, consider for a moment that these people might not exactly be inspired with confidence with events thus far. As bizarre as it may seem, some must not believe it will take months to drain the city - and are worried about their home still being there when they get back. But I can't say that I blame them. And neither should you.