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[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 21:09:30 09/03/05 Sat Author: Heartsick too. Hindsight 20/20. Please don't point fingers. Subject: Please don't blame our President. I don't blame anybody, it was a long chain of events that went wrong-it is no one person's fault. In reply to: Pamela Hamer-Hood 's message, "I am so heartsick, they wouldn't take my help..." on 08:40:28 09/03/05 Sat >My Dear Friends, >I live in the DFW area and I am so frustrated and so >angry over this whole mess. I have fired off emails >to everyone I can find an email address for. This is >the worst thing I will ever see in my lifetime. > >Kidd, my heart breaks for you too, I know you are >heartsick as well and good for you for not allowing >politics to keep you from speaking up for those who >can't be heard. > >I too believe with my whole heart that George W. made >a decision to punish those people. He fooled the >people around him with crap like, we're doing all >we can. I don't want to use our soldiers and >such, because that would just make this nation >vulnerable to Terroist. But, the truth is there is >so much they could have done. So many things they >could have dropped into those areas not accessible. >It wasn't until George W. saw that tide was turning >and that people were getting furious that he was >deliberately withholding and delaying getting help, >real help in there. He abandoned not just the poor, >but also the sick, the elderly, the children, >everyone. First they were victimized by the storm and >then we did. > >I also believe from the bottom of my heart that when >the entire city goes under water, we should be glad >there were stores they could get into and get some >food. It will just sit there and rot in the filth and >the water, so why shouldn't they get diapers and >water, etc. Why were they threatened with being shot >when they suffered for 3 days without food, water, >any communication, any protection and finally the >majority of them were getting staples. Only a few >punks, just like everywhere, went about terroizing the >weak, the helpless, the unprotected. They sat in >that fish bowl with no idea that we were all out here >crying and begging our govt to get them out, help >them, drop them supplies in those outreaches instead >of setting up portable food places that required >many to die just trying to get there, most couldn't >get there period. They went into a city collapsed, >with no means of communication and expected the >people to just come to them. > >Did you know they turned people back over and over >that went and offered to carry people out? No, no, >no. It's dangerous. Bull... they had been given >orders by our elitist President and they followed it >to a tee. Even when a group of tourist collected >10,000 in order to buy their own bus out, this after >their's was taken from them. They just headed out on >the highway and kept walking and walking and they >come over a hill and there for miles and miles are >buses lined up, trucks with supplies, all kinds of >people there being told no they couldn't, ask yourself >why that is... there is no excuse for the suffering >that our brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers >and babies and kids should be in this horrible >nightmare. I am weeping and can't stop, except when >I am yelling out loud at the t.v. > >Today, I got up at 3 a.m. and went to the 24 hr >Walmart and bought $200 worth of supplies, grabbed my >Book of Common Prayer, and headed 30 miles to Mesquite >where I grew up. There is a small mall there were >they are stopping the buses first. I don't know why >they are stopping in Mesquite. I was so angry I >started crying. They wouldn't take my donations, they >aren't accepting any there. They make those buses >pull off the highway and wait until daylight to >actually move them on into Dallas, maybe 20 mi away at >best. > >All the parking lot entrances were maned by local >police. I begged them to just let me go in and tell >them they are loved and being prayed for by millions >of people around the world. I brought my birth >certificate, my drivers license, my marriage license, >and proof that I had been sanctioned by the Bishop of >the Dallas Episcopal Diocese as a lay minister. That >I am a Rehabilitation Science intern, due to graduate >in December and that I just want to hold their hands, >look into their eyes and let them see they are loved >and cared for. > >But they wouldn't let me in. I said that when I was >ill for so long, it was the early, early morning hours >that I felt the most hopeless and alone and I didn't >want them to feel that way, even if I could only help >one person. But no, they said only the Red Cross >Volunteers and police were being allowed in there. I >asked why, who made that decision, and of course he >said he was told that by his supervisor. So I drove >another 20 mi's down the road to Reunion Arena, again >they were surrounding Reunion. I said that I had the >supplies they had put a call out for but none of the >police were helpful. They would look up and say >around the corner, around the corner. Finally I >parked and went in search of where to put these >supplies. I got 5 loaves of bread, a case of peanut >butter, a case of jelly, baby stuff like pacifiers and >bottles, a case of bottled water. A giant size jug of >chocolate syrup for the kids, big jug of pickles, and >a huge jar of Louisiana hot sauce. I also bought 5 >flash lights with batteries, 2 children sleeping bags, >2 adult sleeping bags, 2 kids chairs, 2 adult chairs, >the kind in the bag. I bought five giant bags of >mixed fresh fruit, with apples and oranges in it. 10 >lbs of fresh bananas. I bought as much as I could and >went in search of a place to leave it. > >Finally I found the area. There was a ton of stuff >all over the floor, and a dozen salvation army men >were just sitting in the back of a truck watching me >bring stuff in. Finally they came and helped me >unload the last of it and I asked again. Would it be >alright if I go in and minister to the people. Same >thing over and over, I just want to tell them how sad >we are and how heartsick we are for them and that they >are loved, so the police said go around the corner and >you will see the entrance. After I walked several >blocks, I found the entrance that they were bringing >the evacuated people in through and walked up to the > armed entrance, where the Red Cross people were >standing blocking the entrance. I begged them to let >me just check to see if someone just needed someone to >talk too. I brought my cell phone fully charged to >see if anyone wanted to use it. I brought a notebook >for them to write down family members who are >missing.I When I saw people pull into the parking lot >just in from Louisiana, I also got to see them go in >and then they were back. > >They were turned away because they hadn't come in on >the buses. The woman was crying and her son was just >standing to the side of her where 3 police officers >quickly converged. I could see how upset whe was. >So when I was driving out, I stopped beside the 5 of >them. I dug out my last $40 and gave it to the >woman. She began to cry and was so thankful and kind, >I felt like i should be thanking her. I attempted >to go to Tarrant County, another so-called shelter. >where only red cross volunteers and police were >allowed, turned away again. I couldn't believe it. >I still can't believe it. As I was leaving, there >was young man sitting outside with his puppy. They >wouldn't let him come in and shower with his dog, so >he just sat outside. When he asked if they wouldn't >let me in, I stopped and asked how he was. So here >comes a red cross volunteer man and blocks me from >even speaking to him. I don't think they are >evacuees, I think they are prisoners, and I don't know >why. So I came back here where I have internet so I >could update everyone. > >Hundreds of people have offered their homes, >supplies, furnniture, whatever they need. But the >sad thing is that they too are being told to leave >their name, number, address, etc. but "sorry, we need >at least 48hours to check you out... > >It really is a crisis here, everywhere they go they >are being denied the services and homes that we have >to offer. > >You might be asking yourself why i don't I just >volunteer with the Red Cross?i Well I tried that >Wednesday. I caled, I went to their website and >dowloaded the application, only to be told that it >would take at a minimum of 2 weeks before they had >another orientation, hopefully. I said, "Are you >saying you don't have an emergency orientation, this >is Dallas, why wouldn't you." > >It is so frusting and so heartbreaking not to be >allowed to help, to hold their hands, tell them they >are loved, that we never stopped praying for them. >The standard line here is that they don't need any >volunteers in Dallas, only already oriented Red Cross >people. In Houston they are happy for the volunteers, >they put out a call for the volunteers > >I just want to scream. >Love and hugs to all, >pam > >p.s. For anyone who is asking themselves or each >other, "why didn't they get out". They couldn't get > gas, there were no buses or any other type of >transportation available to help them leave, they are >the very poorest people in this nation, we must not >give up, we have to be their voice. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |