It was the worst of times, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of credulity, it was the season of darkness ? in short some of this season?s noisiest authorities insisted upon its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
Bitches.
FEMA chief Michael Brown, apparently still stinging from the one-two punch of being removed from NOLA relief and being spanked by the press, sent out a ?candid? email to family and friends this week in which he complained:
?I don?t mind the negative press (well, actually, I do, but I try to ignore it) but it is really wearing out the family ? No wonder people don?t go into public service. This country is devouring itself, the 24-hour news cycle is numbing our ability to think for ourselves ??
Poor baby! I mean, my God, people were actually expecting him to do his job? It?s almost as if the press didn?t know that FEMA Director is just a neocon sinecure. No wonder people don?t go into public service! Where?s the gratitude? The way they pick at you when the slightest little thing goes wrong! I mean really, what?s wrong with Brownie?s resume?
Meanwhile, on the other side of metaphorical town: nonprofits that rely on public charitable giving (i.e. most nonprofits) were already taking a hit in favor of Katrina relief. While an L.A.-based cultural center cancelled a major fundraiser for lack of ticket sales, United Way fretted about its ability to maintain:
?It?s important that people realize that the nonprofits that are here are providing resources for a critical safety net that would not otherwise be there,? said Elise Buik, the group?s president and chief executive. ?We have 90,000 homeless right here in Los Angeles County.?
Social service and cultural nonprofits may have already taken a hit this year because of the overwhelming response to the call for tsunami relief. The generosity Katrina has called out in folks is truly awesome. But everyone, please keep in mind that the hurricane was so devastating because it came on top of all the problems of homelessness and poverty and poor education that America already has.
This year is extra harsh. Please try to give a little extra this year, even if it isn?t money. Don?t let this year be a tale of two competing generosities.
