Leviathan in Louisiana
Hey, it's been a while since we posted something for you nighthawks to read. I referenced this article in class way back when and never actually posted it. Well here it is now. As Heather said to me one day in class....it's nice to see stuff we haved learned about in class show up in the current news. (I'm not quoting her word for word as Heather never uses the word "stuff")
Anyways, for those of you that are missing our unit on philosophers, here's a chance to reminisce about the man who once said "covenants without the sword...."!!
Seriously, it is a George Will article from Newsweek shortly after Katrina. Great article and I will give credit for those who want to comment on Will's statement right below the headline about "Katrina's lingering reverberations".
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9014028/
Mr. Thompson
posted by erdecker @ 1:36 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
So honored I am to be mentioned on the blog!(think the inversion of Beowulf's gotten to me?)..and because of your gracious name-dropping, I felt compeled to read the article...
I don't think that Katrina will have more of an impact than 9/11. 9/11 involved international relations, and put a face (or nationality??) to the cause of our fear. Whereas Katrina's "face" can only be nature (although we've tried to put it upon people). 9/11 has influenced our mindset and perceptions, not only of our nation's security, but inner confidence is our safety and the government's ability to provide safety. Katrina (obviously in retrospect) will not have the security issue attached to it in the same way as 9/11.
I think Katrina has and will continue to have a huge impact on the US. It truly did humble the US. If the richest country in the world can't handle a national disaster, who can. I feel like the Asian Earthquake that hit Pakistan/India/Afganistan is being shrugged off by America. It's like "yeah the people are suffering, their country isn't as great as ours, so ofcourse things are going badly." And might I just mention here that I think we should start more wars. Enough people aren't dying from these natural disasters. There aren't enough diseases going around either. There aren't enough people going hungry. We need to make more misery and sorrow by creating wars, especially ones that you keep have to convincing yourself is worth it. And most of all, i think those who have never seen true poverty or been in real war should keep commenting on how great it all really is.
a liberal annoyed rant, yes. but please people, realize how great of a life you have. be thankful that you are getting getting an education where teachers actually take time to make a blog...or just be thankful you are getting an education.
-your totally off topic sarcastic melodramatic but totally serious arpita
Right....
Well, in my opinion after reading that it's God that is punishing New Orleans, I WHOLE-HEARTEDLY AGREE. That's why I've decided to take this genius's idea and declare war for America on God. That right on God. After 9/11 we justly declared war on terror (this comment isn't sarcasm). Now, according to this reporter, since Katrina is bigger, we need another war. I think we should add God to the list of terrorists against America. After all, how strong can he be, We're America!
Just kidding, but seriously, it's not God punishing us. This reporter sounds like a Puritan.
I was watching the Daily show last night and they were tearing these "divine punishments" apart. I can't do it justice without you actually watcing it. Check it out here, http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/videos/stephen_colbert/index.jhtml It's hilarious!!!
That genius previous post was by his lordship (that would be me).
just to clarify when I said (this comment isn't sarcasm) I was serious. I think the war on terror is just. However I took it to a mocking level when I said we should go to war with God, I was joking so don't give me any anti-Christ comments please. I've made three straight posts on this thread. I'll shut up now... all hail US Pacifist Party!
This article kind of left a lot open to interpretation, so I'll say this: it is definitely very humbling seeing what destruction the earth can cause. however, it's not as if New Orleans didn't see it coming. I was recently reading an article about hurricanes, and it asked Scott Kiser, a tropical-cyclone program manager for the Nation Weather Service to name one place in the world where a hurricane would be most catastrophic, and he only took a split-second to say New Orleans. I don't really think that comparing a natural disaster to a war is justified, because they both occur for different reasons and affect different types of people. Sure, chaos broke out, but I think this guy's stretching things a bit far here.
I don't think the hurricane is going to change people's mindsets. Those who left New Orleans are going to go back asap. for instance, if you don't believe me, think about mt. vesuvius. It demolished pompeii over 2000 years ago, yet today, over two million people live in the shadow of the volcano (in Naples). if you didn't know, it's not an inactive volcano. so basically, people are kind of to blame for trying to control the earth so much. you shouldn't be messing with these forces that are completely and 100% uncontrollable, and occasionally unpredictable. war is much more precalculated and etc.
whatev, i'm done, cause this is way longer than i meant it to be. whoops. hey, i think natural disasters are very interesting to learn about, just not to be in.
Hurricane Katrina will alter the makeup of the nation's mind far more than 9/11 did because of many reasons.
First, Katrina pointed out that even the world's greatest superpower cannot practically prepare for all natural disasters. It was impossible to get an entire city, which is mostly inhabited by poor stubborn people (both blacks and whites) living off food stamps, evacuated on time! Also, weather forecasters have a tendency to exagerrate things; therefore, the people there were skeptical about this coming hurricane. However, stopping terrorists, who are mere mortals, is possible.
Second, before Katrina, America seemed to scoff at other countries when they were hit by natural disasters or anything in that category. We were the "big dawgs" and didn't need to worry about anything. However, after Katrina, America no longer has that arrogant attitude.
Third, in my opinion, this natural disaster (unlike 9/11 which was caused by mortals) was caused by God to punishment to the unmoral, drug-addicted people of Louisiana. Like Sodom and Gomorrah in the Bible times, Louisiana has a huge moral problem. The most obvious example is "Marti Gras," which is an annual event that promotes sexual behavior and men fulfilling their erotic fantasies. Advocates might say that Marti Gras is just plain fun and filled with "happy" dancing, but everyone knows the undermining factor of that whole event (SEX)! Thus, instead of destroying the city with fire like in Sodom and Gomorrah, God used water this time--a fitting contrast.
In conclusion, Katrina will impact America far more than 9/11did. Katrina was more fearful than 9/11, because it's impossible to stop or practically prepare for a natural disaster. Terrorists, however, are mere mortals, and thus are able to be stopped. In my opinion, 9/11 was done by angry middle-eastern men to punish America. However, Katrina was done by God to punish America. The difference is obvious.
--Kevin Han
Thus why the French Quarter was left almost untouched, right Kevin?
Kevin and everyone else here is entitled to their opinion, but before posting that God caused Katrina, please watch the Daily Show's report on it that I posted.
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