WITH THE five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina drawing near, the U.S. media is busy pumping out special reports and retrospectives on the day disaster struck the Gulf Coast.
Most of this reporting is naturally focusing on Katrina’s aftermath and the botched response that continues to impact the area; notably the work done by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, who’s returned to the region semi-regularly over the years to “keep them honest.” He’s there now, actually.
And yes, Katrina was a catastrophe that exposed some disturbing realities; namely, that the U.S. government failed to fulfill its primary duty: to protect the American people; and that black folks apparently are still regarded as second-class citizens in certain parts of the nation.
But natural disasters happen nearly every week somewhere around the world, resulting in far more destruction and higher body counts than Katrina – most recently the floods in Pakistan. Yet these barely register on the radars of most U.S. media.
Of course, everything is more important when it happens in and to America, that’s just the way it is. And it’s inevitable that news organizations will be milking the Katrina anniversary as much as possible. Still, I’m tired of hearing about it.
That said, I think if the U.S. media were to provide broader perspective in its coverage, it just might help to break the country out of its cocoon-like view, if only for a minute or two.
Instead of resorting to the same old solemn, overwrought, melodramatic coverage of post-hurricane New Orleans, perhaps an enterprising television network or newspaper could send reporters to Pakistan to, I don’t know, compare/contrast the impact of the disaster there to that of Katrina.
What are the common threads? Strength in the face of great adversity; lack of help for the poorest citizens; government incompetence, etc. Whatever they may be, it could all make for one of those ”teachable moments.”
Katrina: I think Katrina got a lot of focus because people were surprised to see those images coming from a first world country, I know I was. Not only a first world country, but supposedly the most powerful country in the world. I think it’s okay for the media of a country to focus more on what’s happening inside its own borders (which may explain why Katrina received more attention)but yeah the US media is very inwards looking.
So I’ve read the Time article about Katrina. I have to make it clear here, I’m a white guy from Australia, I haven’t been to New Orleans, so take what I have to say with a grain of salt. Imagine if a white mayor had said, a city will be a vanilla city once again. Outrageous. I can’t even be bothered to go into all this, like you I’m over it. A natural disaster occurred, the rescue efforts weren’t as successful as they could be, so its due to racism. This quote from the article best sums up how I feel.
“But the prevailing conventional wisdom among white people in New Orleans is that African- Americans had no grievances since Katrina, they didn’t suffer any kind of special discrimination in the rescue and recovery, and that there is no merit to their claims that poor African-Americans were being locked out of the city and being deprived of their fundamental rights — that those were all paranoid delusions.”
GZ Mosque: I’ve got so much to say about this, but my comments getting longish. I’ll probably come back and post more. I’ll just say that I’ve been reading the work of Robert Spencer, Pamela Geller, Christopher Hitchens, Michelle Malkin, Melanie Phillips et al and I’m in agreement with the majority of their views. Essentially, the builders have a right to build there, but it’s inappropriate to do so.
THE GUARDIAN — one of the more highly regarded news organizations in the world — has produced this pretty cool “advert” that imagines how the paper and website would have covered the story of the Three Little Pigs. The video … Continue reading → […]
Merry Christmas to all — if you celebrate it, or even if you don’t; and even if you don’t, you’re still going to love Simon’s cat in ‘Santa Claws’ (unless you don’t like cats, in which case, forget you). Happy … Continue reading → […]
NOVEMBER HAS BECOME synonymous with “Movember,” the annual event during which guys around the world grow moustaches to raise money and awareness for men’s health, prostate cancer specifically. It’s a brilliant publicity campaign that has gathered a huge amount of … Continue reading → […]
HOW’S THAT FOR heeding a warning? Saw this head-shaking piece of work on the way into a Toronto-area hospital yesterday. If the genius driver responsible for the damage could read the sign, apparently he didn’t get the message. ryan@roadtostarrdom.com […]
CANADIAN NOVELIST Russell Smith had a thought-provoking column in the Globe and Mail a few weeks back examining the growing tendency these days for young creative people, writers in particular, to work for free. The spur for the discussion was … Continue reading → […]
Perhaps. But check out The New Yorker’s fabulous cover tribute to Jobs: Says it all really, doesn’t it? ryan@roadtostarrdom.com […]
Recent Articles
Dream Home brings green design to the masses (March 13, 2012)
The Dream Home R-House featured at this year’s National Home Show is part of an effort by its developer to “bring contemporary green design to the mass market.”
Massey Tower will ‘breathe new life’ into neglected site (February 25, 2012)
For years, whenever developer Gary Switzer passed by the abandoned Bank of Commerce building at 197 Yonge St., he felt a deep sense of civic disappointment.
Indx: It’s a man’s world (February 25, 2012)
Indx Condos will be the first purely residential tower built in the Financial District, so its developers didn’t have to spend long determining the project's target market.
2011 was ‘astonishing,’ BILD chair says (February 25, 2012)
BILD chair Paul Golini needed just one word to capture his reaction to the GTA real estate market’s 2011 sales totals: “astonishing.
Jared Menkes is building strategically hip condos (January 28, 2012)
Jared Menkes has a simple yet effective way of dreaming up the kinds of condos he’s going to develop. “I want to build projects that I’d want to live in,” he says.
Architect instructed: 'Give me something different' (January 28, 2012)
Architect Richard Witt knew he’d designed a great condo when a community meeting for the project ended with him receiving a round of applause.
Living down by the river (January 28, 2012)
David Wex has been so impressed with what’s happening at Underpass Park that the developer recently threw a party there to show it off.
The value of good karma (January 28, 2012)
Karma condo's charity/marketing campaign generated a great deal of interest in the project and raised over $15,000 for three local charities.
Nice guys really do finish first (January 21, 2012)
A gutsy approach to business — tempered by humility and community mindedness — has served Charles Mady well.
Toronto embraces Shangri-La living (January 14, 2012)
If the rip-roaring success of condo sales at Shangri-La Toronto can serve as any indication, this city appears to have embraced the new arrival with open arms.
New townhomes on the ‘Block’(January 14, 2012)
The success of this redesigned townhouse project is a testament to the demand in the city for at-grade contemporary housing.
Lago takes full advantage of Lake Ontario views (January 7, 2012)
Lovely vistas are a big selling point for Lago Condos, Monarch’s latest project at its Waterview master-planned community in Humber Bay.
Merton townhouses have a custom home feel (January 7, 2012)
It’s a cold morning, but Sarit Chandaria, principal of Tibro Developments, offers a warm grin and firm handshake as he welcomes me to The Merton.
Counting out loud (December 2011)
Women started outnumbering men as law school grads a decade ago, but no one knows how they’re faring in the profession. It’s time for law firms to go public.
Financial Freedom: 50-somethings (December 2011)
It’s an all-too familiar scene: A guy in his mid-50s shoots out of bed at 3 a.m., sweating buckets, deep in the throes of a serious “Oh crap!” moment.
Financial Freedom: 40-somethings (October/November 2011)
So you’ve hit the big 4-0. Your glory days aren’t necessarily behind you, but things aren’t as carefree anymore.
Financial Freedom: 30-somethings (September 2011)
You’re in your 30s and you still know how to live the good life, but the realities of adulthood have set in.
Financial Freedom: 20-somethings (July/August 2011)
A bit of planning and saving in your fancy-free 20s could mean a plump nest egg and stopping work sooner.
The new retirement (May/June 2011)
Retirement isn't what it used to be. How do different generations envision their post-working years?
Keys to a healthy, long-lasting roof (December 2, 2011)
There’s nothing more important to the well-being of your house than a properly functioning roof.
Household insurance and weather damage (August 19, 2011)
Simply purchasing a policy doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be sheltered from the potential financial fallout after a storm hits.
Colleges worried about CSC funding cuts (September 16, 2011)
Ontario schools see great value in the relationships they've formed with the Construction Sector Council.
Project owners fear loss of sector council data (September 14, 2011)
The federal government's decision to phase out core funding to the Construction Sector Council has raised concerns among owners.
Justin Trudeau: The world is watching Canada (October 2010)
Our abundant natural resources, educated workforce and diverse population position Canada to be a global leader, Liberal MP Justin Trudeau says.
WITH THE five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina drawing near, the U.S. media is busy pumping out special reports and retrospectives on the day disaster struck the Gulf Coast.
