Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Imagine
Juli Meanwhile has an important post up about the psychological violence done to the New Orleans survivors by the US government throughout their ordeal--violence that continues during their exile. Compounded on the base violence of being second class citizens that Feral Scholar wrote so eloquently about in the post I referenced yesterday, it should surprise no one that the stress disorders many of them are likely to exhibit in the coming months and years will create a whole new industry for social workers and family counselors.
It all reminds me of a young Pacific Northwest Salish Indian man who broke down crying when telling a story at a benefit musical concert I attended. His grandparents had lost their home on their tribal reservation when the white Indian Health Service physician wrongly told them they were not entitled to medical care, and would have to sign over title to their land in order to receive services. The sorrow he expressed in his story and the music of his woeful violin composition for the loss of his heritage and the anguish his ancestors endured while trying in vain to bequeath him and his parents a place to belong is almost indescribable. Listening to the dispossessed of New Orleans, one can imagine what I mean.
So go read Juli at http://www.idyllopuspress.com/meanwhile/?p=506
It all reminds me of a young Pacific Northwest Salish Indian man who broke down crying when telling a story at a benefit musical concert I attended. His grandparents had lost their home on their tribal reservation when the white Indian Health Service physician wrongly told them they were not entitled to medical care, and would have to sign over title to their land in order to receive services. The sorrow he expressed in his story and the music of his woeful violin composition for the loss of his heritage and the anguish his ancestors endured while trying in vain to bequeath him and his parents a place to belong is almost indescribable. Listening to the dispossessed of New Orleans, one can imagine what I mean.
So go read Juli at http://www.idyllopuspress.com/meanwhile/?p=506
