Posted on 09/16/2005 5:34:51 AM PDT by slowhandluke
Jim Lodoen shakes his head at some of the news reports out of Houston. They feature angry Hurricane Katrina victims lodged at the Astrodome who insist they are receiving insufficient assistance. Lodoen, a Minneapolis attorney with the Lindquist & Vennum law firm, just got back from a week as a volunteer at the Astrodome complex.
"That's not what I saw," he says.
Lodoen didn't plan his Houston trip with hurricane victims in mind. He went to visit his sick mother. But before he left, he mentioned to two colleagues that he would be staying at the Holiday Inn, temporary home to dozens of victims. "I told them I planned to make contact with a few families, take them to Target or to a restaurant," he says.
The two eagerly asked to contribute, and pressed cash donations on him. The next day, as others at the firm heard about Lodoen's plans, donations poured in. An amazed Lodoen left on Sunday with $3,700, which swelled to almost $8,000 as the week wore on. He used the money to buy $50 and $100 Target gift cards to distribute to displaced families.
...snip...
Lodoen circulated among residents' cots, striking up conversations. "Everyone has lost their possessions, their jobs, many friends and perhaps some family. No one knows what tomorrow holds."
But to his surprise, he saw no resentment. People were eager to talk, he says -- not about grievance, but about hope and gratitude.
(end of excerpt)
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
When your tears flood up to your knees, evacuate!
After reading most of your comments I can see you are an equal opportunity insult-er
I believe I read one of your responses where you say something to the effect that "free-cheese brings out rats"???Sound familiar?
My aren't you and the other 2 sarcastic people feeling all grown up today?
It will not be wasteful if it renews an area of the country that is VITAL to our economy. New Orleans is an important port and it's infrastructure has been ignored for decades by political corruption. If you notice in the 'fine print' of this proposal, the money will not be given without oversight. Granted, bureaucrazies will be managing it, but it won't be a gift to the Democrat Machine in Louisiana as the levee monies have been for so long.
South Mississippi is also has a vibrant economy separate from the gambling. The casinos will re-build because they made goo-gobs of money, and they know they will again. It is the small family owned businesses that will need help getting started again. I have absolutely NO problem helping them because they are not contributing tax revenues to the government while they are idle. See, it's not solely altruism; it's also economics that's driving the President to offer to help re-build the region.
Good post, I like people who debate with logic and another point of view, I respect that!You make some good points.
Please, don't hold back!
Did you mean to ping me? These comments were not mine.
Try Coop. These comments weren't mine.
Sorry, clicked on the wrong post.
" Okay flame away!"
Your post isn't worth the effort.
I pray that my faith will remain as strong if I am ever faced with similar hardships.
BUMP
This is a terrific article..Thanks..
Are you seriously trying to pick a quarrel?
Move on.
They probably hunted desperately for the woman in Atlanta, and they'll play those sound bites for days. :) I'm so glad my local AM station switched from ABC News to Fox News radio. Of course, the station's motto is "part of the vast right wing conspiracy and proud of it", which doesn't ever hurt to hear, lol.
The refugees were having none of it.
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