Reply #3: It's hard talking with Katrina survivors anymore.

[frustrated_lefty]

I'm a cynical bastard, and so always expected the worst. But there were a lot of people in the shelters saying "FEMA will fix it." That turned into, "at least I had insurance." Two years down the line, there's just a glassy eyed stare which turns to rage when the issue is raised.

The people (and, yes, I'm one of them) who survived Katrina and Rita lost all of their physical possessions. I think everyone could have dealt with that, though some heartaches never fully heal. You move on. On good days, you forget the panic and fear and really bad things you've seen, and it can just be a good day. In retrospect, something that simple becomes a treasure. If you're lucky, you might even remember the way people came together....gender, race, religion all went out the window, leaving nothing but people trying to help one another.

What hurts, I think, is the sense of betrayal. The government left us to die, the insurance companies just wish we'd go away, and, sadly, I do think the very generous people of this nation are tired of hearing about it. Katrina-fatigue is one term I've heard used repeatedly. It's hard to blame the people for being fatigued. Really, it is....people gave so much so freely, trying to help.

I guess I'm trying to say the people who went through that aren't really fixed yet. I don't think they/we need or even want money. Patience, lending an ear, trying to understand: those are the things we all need. To not feel like a refugee, but a fellow citizen. Not just someone you'd ship away in a toxic trailer.