Saturday, September 10, 2005
A Song No More?
Not a morning goes by in my sleepy little town of Kankakee, IL. that Arlo Guthrie's song, "City of New Orleans" doesn't begin automatically, as my heart beats, singing in my head and then often out loud with a smile, as I watch the Amtrak train pass over the bridge above me as it begins to slow to pull into the train station. Then just to repeat itself all over at 5:15 pm heading south.
Sadly however, this past two weeks, I find tears swelling up in my eyes as I realize the words coming from my lips are "Good mornin' American how are ya..." and then I wonder, where will that train go now? Perhaps to a new town named ExonMobile, Orleans?
All of America knows why New Orleans is like it is today, the questions that need to be answered is WHY did we allow it to happen? Is our government and environment so controlled by corporate driven profit that the lively hood of the American people means nothing any more? Was our government willing to risk sacrificing an entire American city for big business? Did our government weigh the liability and insurance costs of a complete devastation of a city against long term profit for business despite the loss of life and home?
The American people cannot not afford for the government to investigate itself in answering these questions. It is in the best interest of the American People that an Independent Panel be convened to investigate why this total devastation of a very historical American city was allowed to happen. And I would suggest that the panel also contain local New Orleanans who's lives have been changed forever.
"Good morning America how are ya,don't ya know me, I'm your native son. I'm the train they call the City of New Orleans, I'll be gone 500 miles when the day is done."
You can cry, it's OK.
Sadly however, this past two weeks, I find tears swelling up in my eyes as I realize the words coming from my lips are "Good mornin' American how are ya..." and then I wonder, where will that train go now? Perhaps to a new town named ExonMobile, Orleans?
All of America knows why New Orleans is like it is today, the questions that need to be answered is WHY did we allow it to happen? Is our government and environment so controlled by corporate driven profit that the lively hood of the American people means nothing any more? Was our government willing to risk sacrificing an entire American city for big business? Did our government weigh the liability and insurance costs of a complete devastation of a city against long term profit for business despite the loss of life and home?
The American people cannot not afford for the government to investigate itself in answering these questions. It is in the best interest of the American People that an Independent Panel be convened to investigate why this total devastation of a very historical American city was allowed to happen. And I would suggest that the panel also contain local New Orleanans who's lives have been changed forever.
"Good morning America how are ya,don't ya know me, I'm your native son. I'm the train they call the City of New Orleans, I'll be gone 500 miles when the day is done."
You can cry, it's OK.
