In the face of a Natural Disaster

The scenes in New Orleans, after Hurricane Katrina had struck, have been devastating. As an outsider, it was a shock to see that even a super power could not do much in the face of a natural disaster. The events have reinforced the fact that we should not take our environment for granted and there is need to abandon such activities which are changing the fragile balance on this globe. The human tragedy which has followed could have been minimised with a more vigorous pre hurricane evacuations. The people who stayed back most probably underestimated the sheer power of the hurricane and also because they had no choice but to face the hurricane and be a risk taker for being less resourceful and marginalised.

As an aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, U.S. is definitely witnessing one of the worst humanitarian crises in its recent history. The images are shocking, as it is appalling to see that the sole global power is as vulnerable as the ones in the developing world who recently suffered from tsunami. Every body would expect USA to be better prepared against any such calamity as well as more equipped to handle the situation in much better way afterwards. However it has become evident that U.S., despite all its resources, was neither prepared nor well-equipped for Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. This does raise a valid question whether it was New Orleans which received neglect by the government or the same would happen if a similar thing happens near its commercial hubs.

Interestingly after 9/11, which was a much minor incidence vis-à-vis humanitarian crisis in New Orleans is concerned; US secondary markets had come crashing down. We can say that then the rich American "white American" was hit, and the whole country was mobilised not only by the State but by the people themselves. In Hurricane Katrina case, despite its devastating effect on key American oil rigs in gulf of Mexico which resulted in the shortage of oil, the US economy especially its barometers ‘the New York stock exchange’ remained robust and worked as it would on any other business day. In fact most stocks have showed bullish trends. It seems that even the American stocks have been insensitive to Hurricane Katrina, which struck a predominantly Black city.

American press is already coming very hard on Bush administration for its apparent slow reactions to ease the humanitarian crisis. President Bush has been implicated for being insensitive towards the Black population for he remained in Camp David and failed to show up in New Orleans right after the Hurricane had struck. The dawdling rescue efforts are attributed to as yet another incidence of Racism against the Blacks who have suffered the most by the Hurricane.

Though I personally think that no one had expected the extent of devastation Hurricane would bring. The floods Hurricane Katrina brought caught every body by surprise: the government as well as the people who stayed back. However, in any case there has been an exposition of apparent disregard for the refugees and the ones still trapped in drowned city of New Orleans which raises many questions about American Society as well as the current regime. For example the state of Texas is only allowing 8000 refugees which is a very small fraction of total number who has been displaced.

Whether this relative insensitivity by U.S. towards the Post Hurricane catastrophe is a case of Racism apparently still prevalent in the hearts of White America and its leadership or it is that after all America is not as mighty a power and as developed as we as an outsiders think it is?

Though the sensitive press of U.S. has already interpreted the poor handling of displaced people of New Orleans as well the slow rescue efforts as a case of Racism by Bush administration since the majority of affected ones have been Blacks, I think it is not a case of conscious racism if any. If the New Oleanders are treated any differently from the ones who, for example suffered, from 9/11, it is not because the former are predominantly Black, but because later were caught in the attack against key symbols of Capitalist America.

Today it is not U.S. or alleged racism in the hearts of white Americans which is exposed but it is crude Capitalism which has shown its colours yet again. Crux of the matter is that America might not be a power today if it were not for its sheer military might. In reality America is ailing as the world in general is in the face of pro capitalist policies which help you out if you are extremely poor but would not do much if you are marginalised.

You may call it racism and some would call it uneven development or simple inequality. All mean the same as racism is one of the manifestations of inequality. Racism towards a particular sex, towards a particular ethnicity or towards a particular economic group has been in the heart of capitalist system. Though many are trying to address this inherent weakness of capitalism, even capitalists themselves, many still remain gullible to negate it.

Some say USA is great because it gives equal opportunities to all. What they mean is that the equal opportunity is of competition not resource distribution. Equal opportunity to compete in an unequal world with biased intentions would create the breeding grounds for what has happened to the New Orleanders.

So may be it is neither the fault of the people nor the government (lets exonerate Bush for this one he is implicated for and might not be guilty of) but the system they work with and believe in.

Hurricane Katrina is a yet another strong reminder to the world that inequalities matter! And whenever a crisis stricks, these inequalities bring with brute force some of the fascism one thought long buried in the buds by the civilised and globalised.