It's Time for Memphis to Step Up
Last night, as I was watching local news coverage of the aftermath of Katrina, it dawned on me that Memphis can show its true colors on a National stage. We have the opportunity right now to show what our community is made of in helping the victims of this tragedy. What an opportunity we have to magnify the positive aspects of this city, while helping these people in dire need.
Instead of being a shining light to the world, I hear reports of our citizens taking advantage of these helpless people. Families are forced to pack everything they can salvage into their automobile, only to have some savage break into these vehicles and steal belongings and sometimes the car itself. And, in this time, where are the local leaders publicly condemning these actions? Why is our city Mayor sending out press releases instead of getting out and demanding civility and respect for these victims?
I know that there are many outstanding acts of kindness that we could speak of. However, the savagery we are witnessing can easily over shadow the good our community is doing.
I hope we can all come together as a tight knit community and show the victims of Katrina and the rest of the world that Memphis is a wonderful place, and that we held out our hands to assist those in a time of need.
Instead of being a shining light to the world, I hear reports of our citizens taking advantage of these helpless people. Families are forced to pack everything they can salvage into their automobile, only to have some savage break into these vehicles and steal belongings and sometimes the car itself. And, in this time, where are the local leaders publicly condemning these actions? Why is our city Mayor sending out press releases instead of getting out and demanding civility and respect for these victims?
I know that there are many outstanding acts of kindness that we could speak of. However, the savagery we are witnessing can easily over shadow the good our community is doing.
I hope we can all come together as a tight knit community and show the victims of Katrina and the rest of the world that Memphis is a wonderful place, and that we held out our hands to assist those in a time of need.
posted by Mike Rude at 9:47 AM
2 Comments:
I spoke to a refugee this morning who fled to Memphis, only to have his vehicle broken into. Thankfully, he says the good actions have outweighed the bad.
Still, it seems our city still hasn't learned how to treat its visitors, as we also saw when the Iraq delegation came for a lesson in democracy and went away knowing only what not to do.
The most disturbing part of these stories is that criminals are actually targeting cars with Louisiana tags.
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