Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Beacon of Hope
I listened to a gentleman on the radio this morning who organized medical services for New Orleans residents during the ongoing aftrermath of the flooding. Interestingly, he recieves no government funding--none. In fact, while the feds and states were dithering, bickering, and scheming how to raid public funds for private profit, this man and others like him were busy accomodating the needs of volunteer medical people who flew in from around the world to help out. The only involvement of the US government in this was when they prevented a team of Cuban doctors from coming to their aid.
While major media tend to focus on the spectacle of military and other government forces that eventually contributed to the rescue efforts, the real story appears to be the self-organizing by the destitute and desperate themselves, despite the malign neglect of those who control the public purse strings. A harbinger, perhaps, of a new era of freedom schools and clinics and other authentic social institutions.
While major media tend to focus on the spectacle of military and other government forces that eventually contributed to the rescue efforts, the real story appears to be the self-organizing by the destitute and desperate themselves, despite the malign neglect of those who control the public purse strings. A harbinger, perhaps, of a new era of freedom schools and clinics and other authentic social institutions.
