I need to explain a post from yesterday re:DU and Katrina

[Armstead]

Yesterday, I got a bit hot headed after reading DU, and vented at what I perceived as hypocricy on DU regarding Katrina and Bush.


( http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?I guess it's a personality thing, az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4516170&mesg_id=4516170 )

This was a case where I should have counted to ten before typing. I stand by my basic point, but I put it in the wrong terms.

I guess it's a personality thing, but what bothered me was that almost any major tragic event sets off certain reactions on DU that I feel uncomfortable about here. Such as automatically linking Bush with the hurricane and automatically saying it's all Bush's fault.

My own perspective is that politics should play second fiddle to humanity. IMO, the first reaction should be on a human, non-political level. Katrina is -- above all -- a natural disaster in which thousands (millions?) of people are going to either die or suffer major hardship and misery.

That trumps everything else on a purely human level. And, much as I dislike Bush, we ought to hope he actially does something right for the sake of the people there, and the nation as a whole.

There is plenty of time to sort through the many related issues, including the political implications. And, at this point, Bush certainly deserves criticism for his insensitive, ham-handed response (or lack thereof).

But, as with other tragedies we have gone through since DU was started, we shouldn't let our politics corrupt what should be an initial reaction of humanity and compassion and desire for success in response, regardless of politics.