3 years later: hurricane katrina
By Ryan Byrd
politics, general life, popular culture, current events, news, culture
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it’s hard to believe that today is the 3rd anniversary of hurricane katrina’s landfall on new orleans. i can definitely say that, besides 9/11, that was probably the most heartbreaking and difficult thing to watch play out on t.v. it was really a sad time to be an american.
i’m not on of those politically nearsighted people who want to blame george bush or the republicans or whoever (who can forget this ridiculousness by our favorite douchebag of a rapper friend…). blame isn’t helpful. but, it was certainly a harsh look at the lack of response by our government. moreover than that, it gave an embarrassing and heartbreaking look at the state of race and class in america.
anyway, i thought it might be an appropriate time to offer a personal (i probably need one worse than anyone else…) and communal wakeup call to crises like this (especially with the potential of hurricane gustav…). after katrina, chris cornell wrote a song in response to what he perceived as george bush’s lack of response. again, i don’t falsely push blame on president bush, but i think his song is amazingly poignant and important to the conversation. so, here’s a live version of wide awake.
You can a look a hurricane right in the eye1200 people dead or left to dieFollow the leaders, we’re in an eye for an eye we’ll all be blindDeath for murder and this I’m sure in this uncertain timeSo come pull the sheet over my eyesSo I can sleep tonightDespite what I’ve seen todayI find you guilty of a crime, of sleeping at a timeWhen you should have been wide awakeDown on the road the world is floating byThe poor and undefended left behindWhile you’re somewhere trading lives for oilAs if the whole world were blind, heySo come pull the sheet over my eyesSo I can sleep tonightDespite what I’ve seen todayI find you guilty of a crime of sleeping at a timeWhen you should have been wide awakeCome pull the sheet over my eyesSo I can sleep tonightDespite what I’ve seen todayI find you guilty of a crime of sleeping at a timeWhen you should have been wide awakeWide awake! Wide awake! Wide awake! Wide awake!
