Good point, MBC. When someone is drowning, they don't care who throws the lifeline, they just want help and fast. I'm sure once she realises how much people were trying to help but were being held back, she'll come to a much different conclusion. I don't think it's one that will be too favorable toward the government, though.

I do humbly disagree Wendy. As GD pointed out, her issues are more in line with the response from the government, both state and local. And as sleepyjeff stated, it wasn't after the fact that Americans nationwide sprang into action. Medical teams started to gear up as the storm was making landfall. Supplies were being pulled together before there was any indication of how severe the situation was. It was apparent from the night before, when I first saw any news about Katrina, that this was going to be a disaster. The weather service plainly stated that ahead of time, and around the country groups began getting ready. I’m sure that if the local government hadn’t drug their feet the Red Cross would have been in New Orleans before the winds even fully died. So no, I do not agree that the outpouring of support came after the fact. And that is why I take personal offense to Ms. Rice’s statement. If she were complaining about the governmental response to the situation I would stand right beside her, but she specifically addressed her comments to “her country” and accused us all of turning a blind eye and dismissing the victims there. That simply did not happen, and it’s disrespectful to every American who has sent checks to the Red Cross or Salvation Army, collected clothing and supplies, or put their lives on hold to run down and rescue people they’ve never met to say that. This has been a national tragedy, regardless of where it was located, and from the first moments it has seen a national response. I do sympathize with her and what she must be feeling right now, but I hope that you’re right and that she does amend her comments, because Ms. Rice needs to get some perspective on who she’s talking about.

Though it seems clear that she does not place as much blame on the local authorities (Blanco and Nagin) as she does all the rest of us.....

That's ridiculous-and misinformed at best.....

Anne Rice was in the midst of the distruction, shortly after Katrina hit, when she wrote this. I'm sure her feeling and perceptions were valid then. I know she is not the only one who felt that the collective "we" had failed her fair city. This is a strongly emotional piece written from a position and anger and frustration. Take it for what it is at the time and place it was written. We have hindsight, she had nothing.

I do take that into consideration- and then I realize that means that her first reaction was to accuse people of turning their backs on N'awlins. I still have to question her motivation, emotional or not.

I'm quite certain her intent was to slight the American public so they would stop buying her darned books!

Again, most of us weren't there and have no idea what these people went through and are continuing to go through. We do have a few members who live in the area, so as far as I'm concerned their comments hold a lot more weight than yours, mine or anyone elses who have not been directly affected. I'm not going to knee jerk react to Ms. Rice's comments because I'm feeling a little touchy about Mr. Bush being under fire, either.;)

I know that you winked, but I really do hope that nobody has actually done that here. I can't believe that, in the face of all that's going on down there, anyone would form opinions and react to this disaster according to political affiliations. I know that many are elsewhere, but I reaaallllyy hope that we're all above that here.

I am going to try to ignore the mocking tone of this post- really.

I don't have a "knee jerk" reaction- and my comment about Rice has nothing whatsoever to do with anyone's comments regarding Bush.

I'm curious - How does one ignore something by pointing it out?

You can't ignore something you're not aware of... you can only "be ignorant" of it. So in order to purposely "ignore" it, she must first be aware of it.