The Golden State would be better named were it called the Action & Adventure State. Californians know how the ecological cycle goes. Just like our rootin' tootin' forbears, we're ready for a little danger. We all know that the state quakes and mudslides and droughts and burns. We all recognize that, despite all of this, the state refuses to fall into the ocean. We live there anyway. The natural ecology demands that the landscape undergo drastic natural overhauls. It ain't all botox and movie stars. No, Californians grow up (if they're even really from the state to begin with. Most aren't.) knowing how to run from danger in the form of natural occurrences. For example:
Earthquake: turn off the gas main, run outside, hide under a table/in doorway, rebuild.
Mudslide: purchase good insurance, run for your life, rebuild.
Drought: conserve water, flush toilet periodically (yellow= mellow/brown= flush it down), deal with it.
Fire: pack it up and run for your life.
Here's some coverage of the latest just in case you haven't heard what is going on in California:
What the latest wildfires bring into sharp focus is our great Nation's readiness to deal with natural disasters. One wonders how those now million or so displaced by the latest burn will fare as compared to Katrina's victims. Perhaps there are some characteristics that render them better able to deal with nature's whims and cycles. To begin with they all know that the state is a tinderbox. Fire insurance is not optional. Firefighters go to college and learn fire science. Smokey the Bear works overtime. But, the 9th ward knew too that they were doomed in the event of a hurricane. They knew that hurricanes happened in their region. So, how are they different from the latest victims of disaster?
I realize that I'm perhaps a step or two ahead of things. Many people are displaced and suffering hardship. Not all fire victims are the same. Is it possible to make generalizations about a situation that has yet to be deemed under control? Perhaps not. Of course, there's always recent history. While the police are busy gunning down suspected arsonists, I'd like to ask how these events reflect on our country?
First, a look at who lives where. If you're not from the region effected by the disaster in question it matters not who actually lives in the locations being highlighted but, rather, who is being represented as victims of the catastrophe. Check out this slide show from the NY Times, click here. You'll notice a few points of contrast in comparison to Katrina coverage. There don't seem to be many people in the photos. In fact most of the coverage depicts really big houses being burned to the ground, click here. Then there are scenes that often come to mind when California is being talked about (surf, sun, Malibu) but with smoke and people in fire gear. Wait, in the second slide show, forget the lone photo of an Indian Reservation burning, look people! But what is the difference between them and the people we saw in Katrina photos...I'll give you two guesses...okay, fine click here.
Califronia officials are saying that they've learned from Katrina. Photos of shelters look much less chaotic. The elderly were evacuated efficiently. While deaths have occurred, they are not in the desperate numbers seen in Katrina's wake. Help is not only on the way but present; the fire squads have been called in and are working diligently. Is this really a case of lessons learned or are race and class issues playing out just as predicted? When the victims are rich and white (or at least represented that way) tragedy is occurring. If the victims are poor and or of color...well, who hasn't YouTubed the Kanye West quote? If you haven't here's a more eloquent version of the outrage:
And so, I'll be watching and waiting to see what will happen. Will race and class influence the response to tragedy or won't they? We shall see.
Earthquake: turn off the gas main, run outside, hide under a table/in doorway, rebuild.
Mudslide: purchase good insurance, run for your life, rebuild.
Drought: conserve water, flush toilet periodically (yellow= mellow/brown= flush it down), deal with it.
Fire: pack it up and run for your life.
Here's some coverage of the latest just in case you haven't heard what is going on in California:
What the latest wildfires bring into sharp focus is our great Nation's readiness to deal with natural disasters. One wonders how those now million or so displaced by the latest burn will fare as compared to Katrina's victims. Perhaps there are some characteristics that render them better able to deal with nature's whims and cycles. To begin with they all know that the state is a tinderbox. Fire insurance is not optional. Firefighters go to college and learn fire science. Smokey the Bear works overtime. But, the 9th ward knew too that they were doomed in the event of a hurricane. They knew that hurricanes happened in their region. So, how are they different from the latest victims of disaster?
I realize that I'm perhaps a step or two ahead of things. Many people are displaced and suffering hardship. Not all fire victims are the same. Is it possible to make generalizations about a situation that has yet to be deemed under control? Perhaps not. Of course, there's always recent history. While the police are busy gunning down suspected arsonists, I'd like to ask how these events reflect on our country?
First, a look at who lives where. If you're not from the region effected by the disaster in question it matters not who actually lives in the locations being highlighted but, rather, who is being represented as victims of the catastrophe. Check out this slide show from the NY Times, click here. You'll notice a few points of contrast in comparison to Katrina coverage. There don't seem to be many people in the photos. In fact most of the coverage depicts really big houses being burned to the ground, click here. Then there are scenes that often come to mind when California is being talked about (surf, sun, Malibu) but with smoke and people in fire gear. Wait, in the second slide show, forget the lone photo of an Indian Reservation burning, look people! But what is the difference between them and the people we saw in Katrina photos...I'll give you two guesses...okay, fine click here.
Califronia officials are saying that they've learned from Katrina. Photos of shelters look much less chaotic. The elderly were evacuated efficiently. While deaths have occurred, they are not in the desperate numbers seen in Katrina's wake. Help is not only on the way but present; the fire squads have been called in and are working diligently. Is this really a case of lessons learned or are race and class issues playing out just as predicted? When the victims are rich and white (or at least represented that way) tragedy is occurring. If the victims are poor and or of color...well, who hasn't YouTubed the Kanye West quote? If you haven't here's a more eloquent version of the outrage:
And so, I'll be watching and waiting to see what will happen. Will race and class influence the response to tragedy or won't they? We shall see.
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