#31 Tom Joyner, Oprah, Refugees, the Goverment and What It All Means for Real

I was listening to the Tom Joyner Morning Show and something he said got me to thinking. He was talking about how Oprah Winfrey can get dozens of houses built and furnished for Hurricane Katrina refugees by donating $10 million of her own money and asking other people to give at whatever level they could. She even set up a special area dedicated to helping refugees on her website. Of course there is some kind of management of the monies she's donated and the money she's collecting and clearly the managment is effective because only weeks after the announcement there is a community built and people with homes. Oprah is a business woman and media icon and if she got things done so effectivly what is wrong with the government? Joyner went on to say that with the infinite resouces and reach of the goverment they haven't been as effective and there is much less tangible result from thier efforts. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been donated yet scores of empty trailers sit in fields and refugees get the run around while their real needs are not met.

As with all things on a radio show Tom and the crew soon moved on to another subject and I was left to ponder the subject. What Oprah's effectivness juxtaposed against the government's ineffectivness says to me is that the people have always done a better job taken care of themselves or depending upon other private citizens than they ever have when they depended upon the government. Be it long term or short term hoping that the government will make everything all right is delusional. There are too many examples of government efforts going wrong or government policies working against the welfare of people. See housing projects, Native reservations, welfare programs, standardized testing and healthcare if you don't believe me. Oprah's donation puts the exclaimation mark on the situation. She is a woman with means and she's using a substantial amount to support the needs of people who are truly in jepordy. She stepped up to the plate and is doing what she can and what she's guided to do. She is in the tradition of Booker T. Washington who started Tuskeegee University, W.E.B. Dubois who co-founded the NAACP. Seeing a need all three of them stepped up to the plate and did what they could. History will tell us Oprah's impact but that's not the point. The point is that in a time of need Oprah is doing what we should all be doing. She's stepping up. It's not about sound bites or good press. Oprah has tons of that already. I believe that she announced her contribution to serve as an example and to get more help.

Hurricane Katrina is the latest in a history of issues and events that remind us that the power structure is on the wrong side of doin' the right thing way too much. To many politicians are busy talking about blame and trying to use the situation for political currancy than pushing aid through for the refugees. The president of the New Orleans City Council even had the gaul to say that only workers are welcome back in the city. His comments are reminicient of jim crow politicians that pushed through laws that made black unemployment criminally punishable. He has since his original comments recanted much of the language he used but he still holds fast to the spirit. And these are the types of people who supposedly represent the citizenry.

The bottom line of it all is that people need to help each other because waiting on an agency or government help will leave the thirsty with sand in their mouths. People in need should accept any help that's offered but they shouldn't hold their breath thinking that governmental help will solve the problem. Goverment has a responsibility it is failing. It is not taking care of the people when the people have no where to turn in a time of need. How much red tape is there to get funding and supplies to American refugees. I would bet that funding Iraqi rebuilding and other war oriented efforts hasn't gotten half of the scrutiny and debate as the sustainance of American citizens driven from their homes by natural catastrope. (As a side note: in the aftermath of the hurricane a friend emailed me pictures of refugees riding in the back of open flatbeds while animals traveled in air conditioned busses. What does that say about priorities?)

Katrina lays bare all of the inconsistancy, beauty and confusion of class and race in America. When the storm initially hit and there was the outcry and outpouring of support Kanye West said that the president didn't like Black people and that's why things were so fucked up. I don't know how specifically Bush doesn't like Black people but it's clear he doesn't give a gottdamn about poor people. Not enough government officials truly care about the welfare of people in lower tax brackets. If they did there wouldn't be all of this confusion. Until they get their heads out of their collective asses it will be up to the efforts of private citizens and competent organizations to help refugees. When Americans looked at Americans on TV going through the tragedy and aftermath of the hurricane America responded. Since that initial response the fur has begun to fly, fingers have been pointed, hearings have been held and people have been fired. The government machine rolls on. Meanwhile everyone displaced faces an uncertain future where insurance is looking for excuses not to pay and the government doesn't know who or what to pay and when they do they seem to mess up one way or another.

Instead of indulging in the debate or the finger pointing everyone should follow Oprah's example and give/do what they can. All we have is ourselves after all.