Disaster Slut, revisited

Okay.

Well.
Wasn't thinking about the tears, when i was anticipating the pics of the aftermath of Katrina. I mean i own up 2 bawling at phone and beverage commercials during the holidays, but i was a little surprised at how stunned and deeply felt my reaction 2 some of the video and interviews with the survivors of Katrina's visit was, and is.
Didn't really think there'd b the death toll there has been, and there's still so much of the area that hasn't been gotten 2 yet.
The awful scenes yet 2 b discovered...
The water is STILL rising.
And the pics and video have been much more powerful than i expected.
Yet in the back of my mind.., the idea of the eventual folly of living in someplace where only the small, insignificant, ultimately pathetic attempts of 'man' 2 keep something like the OCEAN away are all an area depends on 2 exist. That whole area is a bowl, the insides of which are actually below sea level.
There's no power in most places. As i write this, soon it's gonna b nite there.
Initially only 1 of the levies that keep the some of the areas dry had broken. As the morning wore on another has let go, sending water many feet high in2 streets and areas that had initially been spared. Now all four of the levies that surround the area are at least partially broken, water flowing over and into the city. And they can't even pump it out, as that would only put it in the Lake, which is already overflowing with the rain from Katrina.
They say very probably 100's of people on rooftops.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
The Superdome where they hastily sheltered 10's of thousands, will now have 2 be evacuated, due 2 the rising water now nearing that downtown area, which had previously been spared.
Water is 10,20 and more ft high.

And then..
What 2 think of the people u see actually looting damaged stores. The rain soaking them as they run, the water above their ankles. What do i feel as i see that they are all BLACK.
In 1 pic i saw a 'brotha' was CHEST HIGH in water, his bag of stolen shyt floating behind him, over his shoulder.
That side of me that feels like it can sympathize with almost ANY other fellow human tries 2 make the rest of me understand..
"Look, ST, u know being poor. U understand that lack of knowing anything better means u do ONLY what u know, or what u see around u. Look at the near complete devastation those people are seeing around them. Stuff is literally in the streets 4 them 2 take..."
Somehow, I'm happy that none of that is really winning the argument 4 me.Besides-where the fuck do u take ur looted shyt,when there's no where 2 go..?THAT'S a special kind of ignorance.

Y'know...i think i know why this may b hitting me like it is.., at least partly.

These feelings kinda remind me of a certain beautful, clear Tuesday morning in Sept. of 2001.
I remember what it's like 2 wonder if mayb the world as u know it can absolutely END.

Yup. Sorry, Virgina, it still absolutely CAN.