Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

New Orleans: We are on our own (an atheist rant)

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (Through 2005) Donate to DU
 
Modem Butterfly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 01:39 PM
Original message
New Orleans: We are on our own (an atheist rant)
Edited on Thu Sep-01-05 01:43 PM by Modem Butterfly
There may be a light at the end of this tunnel, but there is no one keeping it. No one will swoop down and magically dry out the city of New Orleans. There is no deus ex machina that will present itself to fix the levees and/or evacuate the survivors. The cavalry isn't coming. There will be no miracle of Dunkirk this time. And whoever writes the story of New Orleans, it won't be Horatio Alger.

Like every other American in the history of our nation, I have always believed, on a certain childish level, in the invulnerability of America. "It can't happen here," Well, it is happening here. "We will be okay," Not for a long, long time kiddies. We are so fucking far from okay now it's almost comical. "We will overcome," Some of us will, many of us won't.

We are left on our own, people. You and I can quibble about gods or karma or pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps all damn day but it won't put a single butt on a single seat to Houston and it won't get grandma out of that attic. "Hands that help are better than lips that pray," said Bertrand Russel, and we should heed those words now more than ever. Pray if you must. Complain about W or the "liberal meja" or the white folks or the black folks but for crying out loud DO SOMETHING. We can't just wait for a hero to emerge any minute now. The time is now. And we are the only hero visible for miles and miles.

Edited for spelling.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
Winston702 Donating Member (106 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 01:42 PM
Response to Original message
1. AMEN!!!
This is the first post to get it right in days.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Modem Butterfly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 01:42 PM
Response to Original message
2. Kicking my own, damnit
:kick:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Beetwasher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 01:43 PM
Response to Original message
3. Indeed
kick
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
beam me up scottie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 01:43 PM
Response to Original message
4. You said it, MB!
Kick!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Nicholas D Wolfwood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 01:44 PM
Response to Original message
5. Nominated. Wonderful.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
arwalden Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 01:45 PM
Response to Original message
6. "Hands that help are better than lips that pray"
Indeed.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mzmolly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 02:00 PM
Response to Original message
7. As a non-atheist I agree with every word.
Thanks.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ananda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 02:03 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. hmm, as a believer that..
.. social darwinism is the order of the day for this American government, yes, disaster victims are pretty much on their own.

It's dog eat dog.. survival of the fittest.

Sue
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Modem Butterfly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 02:18 PM
Response to Reply #8
10. That may be the administration's stance
But it doesn't have to be the stance of the American people.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
YankeyMCC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 02:08 PM
Response to Original message
9. Bullseye
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
snappyturtle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 02:20 PM
Response to Original message
11. kick
We may be on our own--we really always have been--it's just a facade, the things the government wants us to believe that they do for our welfare! BUT, the problem is, while we're on our own, THEY'RE watching--every move we make---every step we take. I wish they'd just leave us alone to be on our own, dreamer that I am.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mongo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 02:27 PM
Response to Original message
12. Well said
and I wish that more people caught in N.O. had your attitude.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Modem Butterfly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 02:36 PM
Response to Reply #12
14. Thanks, but...
...it's easy to have this attitude when you're clean and dry and have plenty to eat and drink. The people of New Orleans lack even these basic luxuries. It's up to us who do to step up to the plate for them.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Anarcho-Socialist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 02:29 PM
Response to Original message
13. Nominated, great post
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mopinko Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 02:51 PM
Response to Original message
15. quoting dick durbin- "the ownership society means
we are all in this ALONE!" said at ss hearing.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
BurtWorm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 02:54 PM
Response to Original message
16. Amen, sister!
Very well said. :applause:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Modem Butterfly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 03:17 PM
Response to Reply #16
17. You said amen
Tee-hee!

:evilgrin:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
lildreamer316 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-01-05 03:18 PM
Response to Original message
18. Helps those who help themselves.
and I'm a damn Wiccan.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Modem Butterfly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Sep-02-05 07:35 AM
Response to Reply #18
20. Well there you go then
If you're a wiccan you probably believe in the three-fold rule, right?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Gelliebeans Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Sep-02-05 04:14 AM
Response to Original message
19. Absodamnlutely MB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Mon Apr 29th 2024, 12:40 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (Through 2005) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC