An Open Letter to W.

Dear Mr. President ~

Why? Why are the people of New Orleans disposable to you? Why are their lives worth less than yours? Is it because they are poor? Is it because they are black? Is it because they didn't vote for you? Tell us, please.

There are people who are angry you haven't gone to New Orleans yet. Honestly, I don't have a problem with that. What would you do there besides eat food that no one else has, drink potable water that no one else has and use flushing toilets which no one else has? But why, Mr. President, is not every single helicopter in this country not evacuating people out? Why aren't more of out National Guard soldiers here, guardng our nation? And why aren't you in the Astrodome serving turkey dinners to YOUR citizens who have become YOUR refugees as they finally make it to safety? Might you actually have to look them in the eyes?

You must know, as the rest of us do, that the US responded faster to the tsunami than we have responded to one of our own states. You must know, as the rest of us do, that the people who are still left in New Orleans are the ones who were too old, too weak or too poor to leave. You must know, as the rest of us do, that women are being raped. You must know, as the rest of us do, that "survivors" are dying.

These people, these black people, these poor people, these female people, these weak people, even these dead people ARE INDEED PEOPLE, Mr. President. And, last year, you stood up and took the responsibility of making them YOUR people. Do you know, as the rest of us do, that they are none of them, not a single one of them, disposable? Are you willng to know?

From ~

~ The Boston Pobble