The Swiss News Reports
By far, the number one story reported by the Swiss and the French these days is Hurricane Katrina. Most of the reports focus on the stories of loss and confusion experienced by those left behind in New Orleans. Other stories interviewed survivors in Biloxi and dwelt on the ways people were trying to help each other out. Well over two thirds of the broadcasts were spent on this events.
The editorials, after expressing deep sympathy for the inhabitants of Louisiana and Mississippi, see this as a strong test to American leadership. They think that the President can do good through this catastrophe if he puts his mind to it. They also think it is a wake-up call for American politics to really do something about global warming and poverty in the USA.
The number two story is the 840 people killed on the bridge in Baghdad.
We will meet tonight to eat, pray and sing. In our prayers we will remember those thousands affected by these events and the millions who will reach out to them to console and restore.
posted by Brady @ 2:20 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
Here we are getting too many reports of the same thing. Everyone is wondering why no one is doing anything, where is the leadership, etc. The newsmen and women are dutifully calling attention the fact that our government is not doing enough, while filming the wreckage and displaced bodies, then presumably going back to their cozy hotels. They ask W questions such as: "Why can't the most powerful country in the world take care of this?" as if it were a canine surprise that can be quickly scooped up and put in the trash.
There is undoubtedly an overwhelming sense of impotence when one considers what needs to be done. If you were to ask me, leadership is one thing, but more than anything there is a need for people to just act selflessly, without being coaxed along.
I scoured the European press too, well, Spain at least. Again, all the focus is on the leaders. I did not come across too much in way of thoughtful editorials. Though one Spanish paper has published an open letter to the President from Michael Moore, in which he asks where are all the helicopters and reserve soldiers. Nice.
And, with regard to your earlier posting, in some parts, now gas prices are indeed akin to those in Europe.
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