How Long?

I remember hearing about an oil rig explosion which killed 11 workers. That was sad, and I wondered who they were and if they had children. But I thought that would be the end of the story. Before I knew it, there was an oil spill of immeasurable proportions, and the news reports grew more and more grim. People started pointing fingers at the oil company and the government, while many pointed the fingers at every person who drives a car for allowing a disaster like this to occur. Instead of pointing fingers at whose to blame, let's focus on the aftermath and how to decrease the devastation.

You see, I've found that MSNBC and CNN, among others, think that all we need to know is that there is an investigation going on to determine who to blame, that BP has tried some new strategies, and that the president wants to kick ass. Well, I think the people of Louisiana are telling a different story - and instead of taking what MSNBC and CNN feed us, we should listen to what's going on in Congress - we should hear for ourselves what's being said and who's saying it. Unfortunately, though, the closest we come to that, many times, is C-SPAN. We should pay attention to the fact that the leaders of Louisiana are trying to solve this problem and that the powers that be are hesitant to give up control to the people who have the will and determination to actually get something done. Louisiana is at risk of losing it's precious marshes, and life has all but been sucked out of them already.

I'm wondering why our nation isn't in a state of emergency. And I echo the question of one of my dear friends when she asked, "Where is Sean Penn now?" I've noticed that he's not floating around in oil infested water. Why is that? Where is the support of the rest of the nation? Quit arguing. Quit threatening to kick ass. Get rid of the beaucracy that holds up action and renders plans useless because they are approved too late. Every citizen in this country is watching the pathetic response to this emergency, and we should be enraged. So do it. Be angry. Protest. Wake up from the apathy.

Enough is enough.